What Cal Solar does

Cal Solar Inc. (legal: California Solar Integrators, Inc.) is a California-based solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor specializing in commercial, multifamily, institutional, and government solar PV, solar water heating, battery storage, and EV charging installations. The company designs, permits, and self-performs construction of distributed energy projects using in-house engineering and field crews, serving real estate developers, general contractors, government agencies, and corporate end users across California. It was founded around 2010 with operations beginning in 2008, and is headquartered in Los Angeles with additional regional offices in San Diego and Hayward.

The company operates across 13 California utility territories and works with 130+ building departments and 100+ Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), supporting permitting and interconnection for projects throughout the state. Since founding, Cal Solar has delivered 500-700 projects with cumulative project value of approximately $150 million, including 200+ prevailing-wage compliant installations. Its technical offerings span design-only services, full design-build EPC delivery, operations and maintenance (O&M), project financing facilitation, solar hosting and PPA facilitation, and a proprietary solar tenant billing methodology for multifamily master-metered properties. Engineering oversight is led by a P.E. with practice dating to 2009 and a team of approximately 10 engineers.

Cal Solar generates revenue through project-based EPC contracts with custom quotes and multi-million-dollar deal sizes, alongside recurring O&M and financing facilitation streams. Its go-to-market targets three primary channels: multifamily developers (including AvalonBay, Greystar, Related CA, Fairfield Residential, and Mercy Housing), general contractors (Suffolk, Clark Construction, Swinerton, Cahill), and direct enterprise and government end users (Google, Costco, Starbucks, LA Community College District, FileKeepers, Marriott, Public Storage, Vandenberg Air Force Base, and HACLA). The business holds three California contractor licenses (C-10 electrical, C-46 solar, B-General building) and leverages self-performed construction crews as the primary execution asset across all engagements.

Name

Cal Solar

Legal name

California Solar Integrators, Inc.

Website

https://calsolarinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cal Solar is a California solar EPC contractor delivering commercial, multifamily, institutional, and government PV, battery storage, and EV charging installations across 13 utility territories. The company self-performs design-build, O&M, and project financing for developers, contractors, and public-sector clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy EPC and Design-Build Contracting

NAICS

Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO), Solar Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF), PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC)

Keywords

• Solar PV design-build
• Battery storage systems
• EV charging infrastructure
• Renewable energy EPC contracting
• Commercial solar installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. EPC Contracting: Engineering, procurement, and construction services for solar PV, battery storage, and EV charging systems. Cal Solar self-performs all project phases from design through installation and commissioning. Revenue is project-based, typically multi-million dollar contracts for commercial and multifamily projects.
2. Design-Build Services: Complete design and construction services for new construction projects and building retrofits. Includes early engagement design-assist counsel, permit-ready packages, and ongoing construction management through occupancy permits.
3. Design-Only Contracts: Design-only services enabling clients to utilize free design assist counsel early in the process to ensure buildings are solar-ready and optimized. Provides permit-ready packages while allowing clients flexibility on vendor scope.
4. Project Financing Facilitation: Facilitates competitive bid process for project financing including solar hosting payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and multi-tenant billing options. Acts as intermediary connecting developers with financiers.
5. Solar Hosting Payments: Third-party financier owns, operates, and maintains system, paying annual roof lease or hosting payments to building owner in exchange for right to bill tenants for solar energy.
6. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Third-party owns system, sells power at fixed price to building owner who resells to tenants. Enables building owner to capture spread between PPA cost and tenant billing revenue.
7. Solar Tenant Billing: Revenue stream for property owners who produce solar onsite and sell to tenants at discounted rates. Generates $500-$1200 per unit per year over 20+ year period, increasing NOI and property value.
8. Operations & Maintenance Services: Ongoing service packages including monthly and annual inspections, system monitoring, and maintenance support for the lifetime of installed systems.
9. Permitting Services: In-house permitting services navigating California utility requirements across all three investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities for timely project permitting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cal Solar is a full-service renewable energy design-build contractor that designs, engineers, permits, constructs, and maintains solar PV, solar hot water, battery storage/microgrid, and EV charging systems for commercial, multifamily, and public sector buildings across California. The company self-performs all project phases using in-house crews, holds C-10 Electrical, C-46 Solar, and B-General licenses, and operates exclusively in California with offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Hayward.

Product overview

Cal Solar Inc. is a full-service renewable energy design-build contractor offering an integrated portfolio of solar and energy solutions. The core product suite includes Solar PV, Solar Hot Water, Energy Storage & Microgrids, and EV Charging systems, supported by in-house services spanning Design & Engineering, Permitting, Construction, and Operations & Maintenance. The company specializes in New Construction and Building Retrofit projects, with EPC Contracting and Project Financing as key specialty offerings. Solar Tenant Billing enables property owners to monetize solar generation by billing tenants. All services are delivered through self-performing crews across California, with capabilities extending from initial site analysis through long-term maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solar PV Photovoltaic solar energy systems available as canopy/carport, ground-mount, and rooftop installations for commercial, multifamily, and residential applications, providing electricity cost savings and Title 24 California Solar Mandate compliance.
• Solar Hot Water Solar thermal systems using indirect closed-loop antifreeze technology for commercial and residential hot water heating, reducing gas expenses by 50–70% and boosting Title 24 compliance.
• Energy Storage and Microgrids Battery energy storage systems paired with solar to store excess energy for use during non-sun hours, reduce peak demand charges, and provide backup power through microgrid configurations.
• EV Charging Electric vehicle charging station installation for commercial and multifamily properties, generating additional revenue and future-readying buildings for CALGreen compliance, with vendor optimization to avoid costly demand charges.
• EPC Contracting Engineering, procurement, and construction services for solar and energy development companies, providing turnkey project delivery for multi-site portfolios with in-house engineers, estimators, and statewide installation crews capable of dynamic weekly scheduling and short-notice mobilization.
• Design and Engineering In-house engineering services for new construction and retrofit projects, providing early engagement, design-only contracts, Title 24 code compliance counsel, permit-ready packages, and coordination with architects and building design teams.
• Permitting Permitting services initiated early in design phase, leveraging experience with California's electric utilities (13 IOU and municipal territories) and 130+ building departments to navigate complex permitting processes and secure timely approvals.
• Construction Self-performing construction services using Cal Solar's own in-house crews across California, providing dynamic scheduling, trade coordination, and installation across commercial and multifamily projects. Licensed as B-General and C-10 Electrical contractor (License #1004246).
• Operations and Maintenance Recurring service packages including monthly and annual inspections, system monitoring, and post-installation support for the operational lifetime of installed solar, storage, EV charging, and solar water heating systems.
• New Construction Renewable energy integration from project inception, including site analysis, permitting, construction, and commissioning for new buildings meeting California solar mandates (effective January 1, 2023).
• Building Retrofit Energy solutions for existing buildings built before 1978 efficiency standards, reducing or optimizing energy use, integrating solar, storage, and EV charging while meeting environmental goals.
• Project Financing Facilitation of a competitive bid process for financing options including solar hosting payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and multi-tenant billing solutions, acting as intermediary connecting building owners with third-party financiers.
• Solar Tenant Billing Proprietary billing solution enabling commercial and multi-tenant property owners to generate ongoing revenue by selling on-site solar energy to tenants at a discount (~10%) to utility rates, delivering $500–$1,200 per unit per year over 20+ year periods and increasing NOI and property value.

Quantifiable outcome

• $500-$1,200 per unit per year additional revenue through solar tenant billing
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2023Cal Solar partnered with HACLA to support hiring of local Section 3 workers on Related Development's Rose Hill Courts affordable housing redevelopment project in northeast Los Angeles. The project includes 330kW of solar PV on 185 new units for extremely low, very low, and low-income families. Cal Solar hired 10 members of PVJobs' local workforce onsite.
• PVJobs Youthbuild ProgramsupportingOthersPartnership to assist low-income youth ages 16-24 with educational assistance and skills to prepare them for careers in construction. Participants hired for solar installation work at Rose Hill Courts project.
• Related DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for Rose Hill Courts affordable housing redevelopment project where Cal Solar installed 330kW solar PV system.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• REC Solar: Commercial and industrial solar EPC company (now part of Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions). Comparable on commercial-scale solar EPC delivery, O&M services, and PPA/hosting business models.
• PetersenDean Roofing and Solar: Large California-based roofing and solar contractor offering residential and commercial solar installation with self-perform crews. Comparable California focus, self-perform delivery, and integrated roofing + solar scope.
• Namaste Solar: Employee-owned commercial and residential solar EPC firm with self-perform crews. Comparable on cooperative/self-perform culture, commercial solar delivery, and integrated PV + storage offerings.
• Solar Optimum: California-based solar and battery storage installer serving residential and commercial markets. Comparable on California geographic focus, PV + storage offering, and turnkey design-build approach.
• Baker Electric: Southern California-based commercial solar EPC and electrical contractor with C-10 electrical license and self-perform crews. Direct competitor for commercial and multifamily solar projects across Southern California.
• Catalyst Partners: California-based commercial solar EPC and energy storage contractor focused on commercial, multifamily, and public-sector projects. Closely comparable in segment focus (multifamily, public sector), geography (California), and turnkey delivery model.
• Citadel Roofing and Solar: California-headquartered roofing and solar contractor offering commercial and residential solar EPC. Comparable on California footprint, bundled solar/roofing scope, and commercial customer base.
• Borrego Solar: One of the largest commercial and utility-scale solar EPC and development firms in the U.S. Compares directly on commercial solar EPC services, multi-state operation, and O&M offerings.
• Solar Landscape: Commercial and community solar rooftop EPC developer operating across multiple U.S. states. Direct peer given overlap in commercial rooftop solar EPC delivery and prior employer of Cal Solar's SVP Andrew Hunt.

Broad incumbents

• Swinerton Renewable Energy: National general contractor with a dedicated renewable energy division. Cal Solar is an existing subcontractor/partner; Swinerton is a broad incumbent offering general contracting plus solar EPC for commercial projects nationwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cal-solar-inc.

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cal Solar