Affordable Solar
Affordable Solar is a New Mexico-based solar PV installation company, founded in 1998 in Albuquerque, that designs, finances, and installs grid-tied solar systems for residential, commercial, industrial, community, and tribal customers across the state.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersAlbuquerque, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Affordable Solar does
Affordable Solar is a vertically organized solar photovoltaic (PV) installation company headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded in 1998 by David Hughes. The company designs, permits, installs, and maintains grid-tied solar arrays for residential, commercial, industrial, community, and tribal customers across New Mexico, using microinverter and module-level power electronics (MLPE) architecture together with rapid shutdown safety systems and ballasted racking in partnership with Unirac. Completed asset history includes the 50-Megawatt Britton Solar Energy Center (2019, the largest solar facility on PNM's system), all solar projects for Facebook's Los Lunas Data Center, and an in-construction 35-Megawatt community solar portfolio (seven projects, the first of which broke ground in February 2025 in Valencia County).
The business model combines a one-time turnkey installation revenue stream with an emerging subscription layer from community solar subscribers who receive utility-bill credits. Customer acquisition is consultative and direct (phone, Quickstart Form, Free Virtual Solar Proposal), supplemented by a $250 referral program and an embedded financing channel through Nusenda Credit Union that enables $0-down, 15-year fixed-rate loans using the PV system itself as collateral. The company claims 60%+ of New Mexico's installed solar capacity (2019) and 100+ employees, with no disclosed outside funding and no parent company; named partners include Gridworks (EPC), Unirac (racking), Cuidando Los Niños and Habitat for Humanity (community projects), and PNM (utility interconnection and net metering).
Geographic exposure is concentrated in New Mexico, and the customer mix is dominated by long-tail residential installs (typical system ~$20K) with selective enterprise and institutional anchors (Facebook, NMSU, Roadrunner Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity ReStore). The strategic emphasis in 2024-2025 is the shift toward community solar as recurring revenue (50% of each project's production reserved for low-income subscribers) and operational build-out in tribal and USDA REAP-funded rural segments. No AI/ML capabilities, no disclosed funding events, and no M&A activity appear in the source record.
Affordable Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Affordable Solar
- Legal name
- Affordable Solar Group
- Website
- https://affordable-solar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Affordable Solar is a New Mexico-based solar PV installation company, founded in 1998 in Albuquerque, that designs, finances, and installs grid-tied solar systems for residential, commercial, industrial, community, and tribal customers across the state.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Affordable Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Installation Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electrical Work (1731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
Keywords
Where Affordable Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albuquerque
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Affordable Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Solar Panel System Sales and Installation: Affordable Solar sells and installs complete turnkey solar arrays to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The company designs custom solar systems, handles permitting and interconnection with utilities, and provides professional installation services. Customers can finance systems through partner lenders or pay upfront.
- Community Solar Subscriptions: The company develops and operates community solar projects where subscribers (individuals, businesses, nonprofits) can subscribe to power produced by renewable energy facilities up to 5 MWs. Subscribers receive credits on their utility bills for their share of energy production.
- Referral Program Revenue: The company incentivizes referrals by paying $250 to referrers for each successful solar array sale, regardless of whether the referrer is an existing customer.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Monthly | $0 Down Financing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | $250 Referral Bonus |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Affordable Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Affordable Solar designs, sells, and installs custom grid-tied photovoltaic solar systems for residential, light commercial, industrial/utility, community, and tribal customers in New Mexico. The full-service offering spans quote, system design, permitting, utility interconnection, professional installation, and post-install monitoring via a mobile app, with financing facilitated through Nusenda Credit Union for $0 down payments. The company has also been awarded seven community solar projects totaling 35 MW and operates a subscription-based community solar program.
Product overview
Affordable Solar is a solar panel installation company offering a comprehensive portfolio of solar energy solutions across multiple market segments: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Community, and Tribal. The company provides custom-designed solar systems with a full-service approach encompassing upfront quoting, system design, $0 down financing facilitation, expert installation, and ongoing monitoring via mobile app. Key products include residential rooftop solar, commercial installations, utility-scale industrial projects, and community solar programs (with seven awarded projects totaling 35 MW). The company partners with Unirac for solar racking solutions and offers EV charging accessories. All installations come with 5-year performance guarantees, 10-year workmanship warranties, and 25-year equipment warranties. Financing options through Nusenda Credit Union allow customers to go solar with no out-of-pocket costs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Solar Installation Custom-designed rooftop solar PV systems for homeowners, with full-service delivery from upfront quote and design through permitting, utility interconnection, installation, and ongoing mobile-app monitoring. Includes $0 down financing through Nusenda Credit Union, 5-year performance guarantee, 10-year workmanship warranty, and 25-year equipment warranty.
- Commercial Solar Installation Solar PV installation services for light commercial businesses, nonprofits, and commercial facilities, helping commercial entities reduce operating costs and achieve sustainability goals through custom-designed solar systems.
- Industrial / Utility-Scale Solar Installation Large-scale solar and storage EPC services for industrial and utility-scale projects, including facilities such as the 50-Megawatt Britton Solar Energy Center (built 2019 for NMRD), the Jicarilla Solar Plant (50 MW), and the NMSU Aggie Power Solar System.
- Community Solar Community-shared solar projects in which multiple subscribers (individuals, businesses, nonprofits) receive credits on their utility bills for their share of energy production. Targets renters, low-income households, and others unable to install their own solar systems; 50% of Cuidando Los Niños capacity is reserved for qualified low-income New Mexicans.
- Tribal Solar Solar energy solutions designed and installed for tribal communities and organizations in New Mexico, supporting energy sovereignty and reducing utility costs on tribal lands.
- USDA REAP Grant Program Assistance Service helping agricultural producers and rural small businesses access U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to fund solar installations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Eliminate electricity bills - customers report paying $0 or only $8/month connection fee after solar installation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Affordable Solar
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Affordable Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Affordable Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- GridworkscoreAffordable Solar partnered with Gridworks, a top-ranked engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm based in Albuquerque, for construction of New Mexico's first Community Solar project (Cuidando Los Niños). Gridworks has installed over 1.9 GW+ of renewable energy across the United States.
- Cuidando Los NiñosflagshipNew Mexico nonprofit providing critical services for children and families experiencing homelessness. The Cuidando Los Niños Community Solar Project is named in honor of the organization, with 50% of project energy production supporting low-income subscribers. Affordable Solar made an initial donation upon project award with larger contribution planned upon completion.
- UniraccoreAffordable Solar partnered with Unirac, a leader in solar racking solutions with 25+ years of experience and over 25 GW of installations, to bring clean energy to Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Albuquerque. Unirac provides innovative racking and mounting solutions for the project.
- Greater Albuquerque Habitat for HumanitycoreAffordable Solar and Unirac partnered to install a $150,000, 43kW solar panel system on the Habitat for Humanity ReStore building, projected to save the nonprofit $11,000 in yearly energy costs.
- Nusenda Credit UnioncoreNusenda Credit Union provides solar financing to Affordable Solar customers. Their financing programs allow homeowners to have solar installed with no out-of-pocket expenditure, with monthly payments often less than previous utility bills. Loans use solar equipment as collateral without placing liens on homes.
- PNM (PNM Resources)corePNM is the primary utility provider in New Mexico. Affordable Solar works with PNM on interconnection applications, net metering programs, and REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) payments. PNM allows solar customers to bank excess energy for later use and offers net metering credits.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Affordable Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sunrun: Largest U.S. residential solar installer offering turnkey rooftop solar with lease/loan/PPA financing. Directly competes with Affordable Solar's residential segment with similar value proposition (lower electricity bills, $0 down, predictable payments) and competes in New Mexico among other states.
- Swell Energy: Community solar and virtual power plant developer that builds, owns, and operates distributed energy resources with utility partnerships. Comparable to Affordable Solar's community solar subscription model and could compete for the same low-income subscriber base in New Mexico.
- ADT Solar (formerly Sunpro Solar): National residential solar installer acquired by ADT, operating across many U.S. states with door-to-door and direct sales motions. Directly comparable to Affordable Solar on residential turnkey solar offerings and competes for similar middle-income homeowners seeking $0 down financing.
- Momentum Solar: Residential solar installer operating in multiple U.S. states with a direct sales force. Directly comparable to Affordable Solar on residential turnkey installations and uses a similar project-manager-based customer experience model.
- Trinity Solar: Privately-held regional solar installer headquartered in the Northeast U.S. with 25+ years of operating history. Highly comparable to Affordable Solar on regional incumbent model, residential focus, long operating tenure, and integrated sales-to-installation approach.
- Pivot Energy: National community solar developer and operator that develops, finances, and owns community solar projects across multiple U.S. states. Directly comparable to Affordable Solar's newly-awarded community solar portfolio (7 projects, 35MW) and represents both a competitive threat and a potential partnership or acquisition target.
- Tesla Energy: Tesla's solar business offers residential and commercial solar installations (rooftop + Solar Roof), battery storage, and a vertically integrated supply chain. Competes with Affordable Solar in residential and light commercial segments and benefits from national brand and balance sheet that Affordable Solar lacks.
- Freedom Forever: National residential solar installer operating in 30+ U.S. states with a direct-to-consumer sales model and a master dealer network. Comparable to Affordable Solar on residential and light commercial installation services and targets many of the same value propositions (predictable bills, $0 down financing).
- Baker Electric: Privately-held regional solar EPC and electrical contractor headquartered in Southern California serving residential, commercial, and utility-scale customers. Comparable to Affordable Solar's integrated EPC model across multiple customer segments and similar privately-held, founder-era operating history.
Others
- PNM Resources: Investor-owned utility serving New Mexico through its PNM subsidiary — the primary utility partner for Affordable Solar's interconnection, net metering, and community solar billing infrastructure. Not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem dependency; PNM's regulatory decisions on net metering rates and community solar subscription structures directly shape Affordable Solar's value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Affordable Solar social profiles
Digital presenceAffordable Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Affordable Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Affordable Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Affordable Solar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Affordable Solar
What does Affordable Solar do?
Affordable Solar designs, sells, and installs custom grid-tied photovoltaic solar systems for residential, light commercial, industrial/utility, community, and tribal customers in New Mexico. The full-service offering spans quote, system design, permitting, utility interconnection, professional installation, and post-install monitoring via a mobile app, with financing facilitated through Nusenda Credit Union for $0 down payments. The company has also been awarded seven community solar projects totaling 35 MW and operates a subscription-based community solar program.
Is Affordable Solar a public or private company?
Affordable Solar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Affordable Solar founded?
Affordable Solar was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Affordable Solar based?
Affordable Solar is headquartered in Albuquerque, United States, in the North America region.
How does Affordable Solar make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Solar Panel System Sales and Installation is the primary driver. The others are community Solar Subscriptions and referral Program Revenue.
Who are Affordable Solar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sunrun, Swell Energy, ADT Solar (formerly Sunpro Solar), Momentum Solar, Trinity Solar, Pivot Energy, Tesla Energy, Freedom Forever and Baker Electric. PNM Resources is listed as an others.
Does Affordable Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Affordable Solar.
What industry is Affordable Solar in?
Affordable Solar's product category is Solar Installation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System), with a secondary code of EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management. Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 1731.