LightWave Solar
LightWave Solar is a Nashville-headquartered turnkey solar EPC founded in 2006, designing, installing, and maintaining photovoltaic and battery storage systems for residential, commercial, municipal, and utility customers across the Tennessee Valley and Southeast.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What LightWave Solar does
LightWave Solar is a Nashville-headquartered, turnkey solar EPC and battery storage provider founded in 2006 by Steve Johnson and led since 2017 by President & CEO Chris Koczaja. The company designs, installs, and services photovoltaic systems and battery storage for residential, commercial, municipal, and utility-scale customers across the Tennessee Valley and Southeast United States, reporting more than 1,500 completed PV projects, over 100 MW of cumulative installed capacity, and approximately 250,000 panels installed since inception.
Core offerings include residential and commercial solar, utility-scale solar, off-grid systems, solar parking canopies, and a dedicated Operations & Maintenance (O&M) service covering preventive and corrective maintenance and performance monitoring. The technology stack centers on FAA-licensed drone-based site surveys with 3D modeling for shading and roof analysis, DC optimizers for NEC rapid-shutdown compliance, multi-OEM battery storage integration (Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, Savant Power Solutions), and custom PV system design from 0.5 kW to 2 MW. The company also layers in add-on services such as USDA REAP grant application assistance (reporting a 97% approval rate on 100+ submissions) and renewable energy educational sessions.
Revenue mechanics are predominantly one-time system sales and installation (residential, commercial, and utility), supplemented by recurring O&M service contracts on the installed base. Go-to-market is consultative and sales-led: free phone consultations transition into on-site drone surveys and custom designs delivered by named project consultants. End customers are diverse — individual homeowners, SMBs (e.g., Tailgate Brewery), enterprises (Lexicon, Silicon Ranch, Bank of America, Makan Hospitality), municipal bodies (Metro Nashville), and nonprofits — with the largest single disclosed installation at 2.6 MW. The company operates as a privately held corporation with no disclosed external funding, structured buying leverage through its founding membership in the Amicus Solar Cooperative, and regional governance influence via TenneSEIA leadership.
LightWave Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LightWave Solar
- Legal name
- Lightwave Solar
- Website
- https://lightwavesolar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LightWave Solar is a Nashville-headquartered turnkey solar EPC founded in 2006, designing, installing, and maintaining photovoltaic and battery storage systems for residential, commercial, municipal, and utility customers across the Tennessee Valley and Southeast.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LightWave 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
- PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC), Solar Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF)
Keywords
Where LightWave Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LightWave Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Solar System Sales and Installation: Turnkey solar and battery system installation services for residential, commercial, municipal, and utility-scale customers. Revenue is generated from system design, permitting, equipment procurement, and installation. The company handles the entire project lifecycle from consultation to final activation.
- Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Services: Ongoing maintenance services for large commercial solar projects and existing residential/commercial systems. Includes preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, monitoring, and comprehensive maintenance plans.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Consultation |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Off-Grid System Installation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
LightWave Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LightWave Solar is a full turn-key solar and battery provider serving residential, commercial, and utility-scale customers in the Tennessee Valley and Southeast US. The company designs, engineers, and installs photovoltaic solar systems with integrated battery storage, then provides ongoing operations and maintenance. Core offerings include Residential Solar, Commercial Solar, Utility Solar, Battery Storage (Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, Savant), Solar Parking Canopies, Off-Grid Systems, and Solar O&M services.
Product overview
LightWave Solar is a full turn-key solar and battery provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for residential, commercial, and utility-scale customers. The core offerings include Residential Solar and Commercial Solar installations, Battery Storage systems (featuring Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, and Savant Power Solutions), Utility Solar projects, Solar Parking Canopies, and Solar Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services. Specialized offerings include Off-Grid Solar Systems for complete energy independence and USDA REAP Grant Assistance for rural businesses. The company also provides Renewable Energy Education Sessions as a community outreach service. All offerings are delivered as an integrated turn-key solution from consultation through installation and ongoing maintenance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Solar Custom-designed solar PV systems for homes, including roof or ground-mounted installations, battery storage integration, and ongoing maintenance support for homeowners seeking to reduce energy costs and gain backup power.
- Commercial Solar Solar energy solutions for businesses, including rooftop, ground-mounted, and canopy solar arrays designed to reduce operating costs and meet sustainability goals.
- Battery Storage Battery backup systems including Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, and Savant Power Solutions that store solar energy for use during outages or evening hours, providing grid independence.
- Utility Solar Large-scale solar installations for utility companies and municipalities, including ground-mounted arrays and solar farms.
- Solar Parking Canopies Solar canopy structures that provide covered parking while generating renewable energy, with options for EV charging integration.
- Solar Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Ongoing maintenance and monitoring services for solar installations, including preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, and performance monitoring for commercial and utility-scale projects.
- Off-Grid Solar Systems Complete off-grid solar energy systems for remote properties or customers seeking full energy independence, including battery storage and backup generator integration; typically $60,000-$120,000+.
- USDA REAP Grant Assistance Grant application submission service for rural small businesses to obtain USDA Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) grants covering up to 50% of solar project costs.
- Starter Packages Entry-level solar packages designed for homeowners looking to begin their solar journey with affordable initial options.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,500 PV systems completed totaling 100+ MW installed capacity
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LightWave Solar
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LightWave Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
LightWave Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Amicus Solar CooperativecoreFounding member of Amicus Solar Cooperative, a member-owned purchasing cooperative of 60 independent, values-driven solar energy companies across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. Provides national buying power for equipment and supplies. Chris Koczaja serves on the Amicus Solar Co-op Board of Directors.
- Amicus O&M CooperativecoreFounding member of Amicus O&M Cooperative which helps provide top-notch operations and maintenance services across the country. Kelly Marett serves on the Amicus O&M Co-op Board of Directors.
- Aegis MarketingminorMarketing partner listed on LightWave Solar's partnerships page
- Seal SolarminorPartner company in the solar industry, listed on LightWave Solar's partnerships page
- Straight Up SolarminorPartner company in the solar industry, listed on LightWave Solar's partnerships page
- Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA)coreState affiliate for the national Solar Energy Industries Association. Chris Koczaja serves as President of TenneSEIA. Promotes solar energy development and complementary technologies in the Tennessee Valley.
- Tennessee Women in GreenminorOrganization promoting women in green industries, partnered with LightWave Solar
- Urban Green LabminorSustainability organization partnered with LightWave Solar for community education
- On the Avenue FoundationminorNon-profit organization supporting people with learning challenges. CEO Chris Koczaja is a board member. LightWave partnered with On the Avenue to create artwork inspired by their solar projects.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LightWave Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trinity Solar: Largest privately held residential solar installer in the US, with strong East Coast and growing Southeast presence. Directly comparable turnkey residential solar offering and consultative sales approach.
- Momentum Solar: National residential solar installer with direct sales model. Comparable in customer segment (residential) and vertical integration of sales-to-installation.
- Silicon Ranch: Nashville-based utility-scale solar developer and operator. Overlaps with LightWave's utility/municipal segment (LightWave has installed projects for Silicon Ranch) and competes for similar large-scale Tennessee Valley opportunities.
- Freedom Forever: National residential solar installer with operations in multiple states. Direct competitor on residential turnkey solar installations; comparable consultative sales model and equipment-agnostic positioning.
- Renu Energy Solutions: Charlotte, NC-based turnkey solar installer serving the Carolinas and Southeast. Direct competitor for residential and commercial solar customers in the adjacent Southeast regional market.
- Straight Up Solar: Missouri-based solar installer and listed partner of LightWave through Amicus Solar Cooperative. Similar turnkey residential and commercial solar offerings, NABCEP-certified professional staff, and values-driven positioning.
- Palmetto Solar: Regional Southeast residential solar installer (Charleston, SC HQ) with similar turnkey residential and commercial offerings. Closest direct regional peer to LightWave in geography, product mix, and customer segment.
Broad incumbents
- Sunrun: National residential solar installer and battery storage provider with a focus on lease/PPA financing. Competes with LightWave for residential customers in the Southeast but with vastly larger scale and capital access.
- Tesla Energy: Tesla's energy business includes residential solar (formerly SolarCity) and Powerwall battery storage. Direct overlap with LightWave on residential solar+battery installations, though Tesla operates at national scale with vertically integrated hardware/software.
Others
- Amicus Solar Cooperative: Member-owned purchasing cooperative of 60+ independent solar companies including LightWave. Provides national buying power and peer networking rather than competing directly, but is a strategic ecosystem participant for LightWave.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LightWave Solar social profiles
Digital presenceLightWave Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LightWave Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
LightWave Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LightWave 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 LightWave Solar
What does LightWave Solar do?
LightWave Solar is a full turn-key solar and battery provider serving residential, commercial, and utility-scale customers in the Tennessee Valley and Southeast US. The company designs, engineers, and installs photovoltaic solar systems with integrated battery storage, then provides ongoing operations and maintenance. Core offerings include Residential Solar, Commercial Solar, Utility Solar, Battery Storage (Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, Savant), Solar Parking Canopies, Off-Grid Systems, and Solar O&M services.
Is LightWave Solar a public or private company?
LightWave Solar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was LightWave Solar founded?
LightWave Solar was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LightWave Solar based?
LightWave Solar is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does LightWave Solar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Solar System Sales and Installation is the primary driver. The others are operations and Maintenance (O&M) Services.
Who are LightWave Solar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trinity Solar, Momentum Solar, Silicon Ranch, Freedom Forever, Renu Energy Solutions, Straight Up Solar and Palmetto Solar. Broad incumbents are Sunrun and Tesla Energy. Amicus Solar Cooperative is listed as an others.
Does LightWave Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for LightWave Solar.
What industry is LightWave Solar in?
LightWave 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 EUACAGAC, PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 1731.