Chart House Energy
Chart House Energy is a Michigan-based Independent Power Producer that develops, owns, and operates solar PV systems with battery storage and EV charging for municipalities, commercial/industrial customers, and faith-based non-profits, financed primarily through long-duration Power Purchase Agreements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersMuskegon, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Chart House Energy does
Chart House Energy LLC is a Muskegon, Michigan-based Independent Power Producer (IPP) founded in 2009 by Rob Rafson, PE. The company develops, owns, and operates medium-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems paired with battery storage, backup generation, and EV charging infrastructure for residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and non-profit customers across Michigan and the broader Midwest. Its technology stack centers on turnkey solar PV arrays with integrated battery storage and bidirectional EV charging, designed to maximize self-consumption, provide resiliency, and enable energy independence; the firm is NABCEP-certified and emphasizes US-made equipment.
The company's core business model is the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Chart House finances, installs, and operates solar arrays on customer sites (typically under 40-year contracts), while customers purchase the generated electricity at a discount with no upfront capital outlay. Capital for installations is sourced from third-party financial investors—most notably Sunwealth and New Energy Equity—allowing Chart House to monetize project development and long-term operations without balance-sheet strain. Customers may alternatively purchase systems outright, with payback periods of 4–7 years.
Chart House pursues a sales-led go-to-market targeting three primary segments: municipalities (City of Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, Norton Shores), commercial/industrial customers (Smart Vision Lights, Torresen Marine, Hillside Farm), and—through its co-founded Solar Faithful sub-brand—houses of worship and faith-based non-profits unable to use federal tax credits. Differentiation rests on regulatory and policy expertise (PURPA, interconnection, ITC stacking), fully integrated system design, US-made equipment preference, and a community job-training program for low-to-moderate-income residents. Cumulative installed capacity exceeds 4 MW, including projects that were the largest PV installations in Michigan and Iowa at the time of completion.
Chart House Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chart House Energy
- Legal name
- Chart House Energy LLC
- Website
- https://charthouseenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chart House Energy is a Michigan-based Independent Power Producer that develops, owns, and operates solar PV systems with battery storage and EV charging for municipalities, commercial/industrial customers, and faith-based non-profits, financed primarily through long-duration Power Purchase Agreements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chart House Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Energy Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop) (EUAMABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Vegetation, Spares, SCADA) (EUACAGAH), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
Keywords
Where Chart House Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Muskegon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chart House Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Chart House Energy owns, operates, and maintains solar PV systems installed on customer properties. Customers purchase the generated electricity at discounted rates through 40-year Power Purchase Agreements. This model provides steady cash flows from electricity sales and requires no upfront capital from customers.
- Direct System Purchase: Customers can purchase solar systems outright. Chart House Energy provides analysis, design, permitting, project management, commissioning, and long-term operation services. Payback periods range from 4-7 years depending on custom design.
- Project Development Services: Consulting services including analysis, design, permitting, project management, and commissioning for sustainable energy strategies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Power Purchase Agreement - No upfront cost model where customer purchases discounted solar power |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Outright Purchase - Customer-owned system with upfront capital investment |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Chart House Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chart House Energy develops, owns, and operates medium-sized solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and non-profit customers, supplemented by battery storage, backup generation, and EV charging solutions. The company finances projects primarily through long-term (up to 40-year) Power Purchase Agreements under which customers purchase generated electricity at discounted rates with no upfront capital outlay.
Product overview
Chart House Energy offers a unified suite of solar energy solutions centered on photovoltaic (PV) installation services. The core offerings include Solar Photovoltaic Installation for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers, Battery Backup/Energy Storage solutions, and EV Charging Stations including bidirectional charging. These are supplemented by Consulting Services (covering PPAs, outright purchases, resource analysis, and project development) and a Job Training Program. The company also operates Solar Faithful as a sub-brand focused on faith-based solar projects with donated panels for houses of worship. As an Independent Power Producer (IPP), the company uses a Power Purchase Agreement business model providing 40-year electricity sales contracts. The company has installed over 4MW of solar capacity across Michigan and the Midwest.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar Photovoltaic Installation
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% utility purchase reduction for municipal customers (Norton Shores Fire Station)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Chart House Energy
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chart House Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Chart House Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Solar FaithfulcoreSolar Faithful is a Michigan-based nonprofit launched by Chart House Energy, Climate Witness Project, Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, and an interfaith group of climate activists. It aims to increase solar access for houses of worship and faith-based nonprofits. Chart House Energy serves as an approved vendor and certified installer for Solar Faithful projects.
- Michigan Interfaith Power and LightminorState affiliate of national Interfaith Power and Light network. Works with congregations on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects as a moral call to care for creation.
- Interfaith Power and LightminorNational network focused on climate action and religion, started in 1998 as a coalition of Episcopal churches. Has expanded to work with various denominations and faiths on renewable energy projects.
- Climate Witness ProjectminorCo-founder of Solar Faithful initiative alongside Chart House Energy, Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, and Detroit-area climate activists.
- World RenewminorPartner organization in Solar Faithful initiative focused on increasing solar access for faith communities.
- D2 SolarminorPartner in Solar Faithful initiative working to expand solar access for houses of worship and faith-based nonprofits.
- Inovateus SolarcoreInovateus Solar partnered with Chart House Energy as project manager to install a 150 kW solar power array at Torresen Marine facility. Inovateus specified Scheuten Solar USA panels for the installation, representing the first application of this technology in the United States. This was the largest solar PV project in Michigan at the time.
- Torresen MarineminorFamily-owned marina since 1965, known for 'clean and green' business practices. Hosted the largest solar PV project in Michigan (150 kW) on their 28,000 sq ft sailboat storage facility.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chart House Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- D2 Solar: Solar installer partner within the Solar Faithful initiative. Operates in the same Michigan residential and small-commercial solar installation market as Chart House.
- Inovateus Solar: Mid-sized commercial and municipal solar EPC and IPP. Has been a project partner with Chart House on the Torresen Marine installation, operates a comparable PPA-driven model, and serves similar institutional and commercial customers in the Midwest.
Broad incumbents
- Cypress Creek Renewables: National solar IPP that develops, owns, and operates utility-scale and community solar projects via PPAs. Comparable IPP/owner-operator business model, though at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Chart House.
- New Energy Equity: Maryland-based solar developer and financier that structured Chart House's Muskegon Heights multi-site project. Develops, finances, and owns commercial, municipal, and non-profit solar assets through PPAs — directly comparable business model.
- Sunwealth: Massachusetts-based solar financier and IPP that owns and operates commercial and non-profit solar projects through PPAs. Sunwealth is Chart House's primary financial partner on the Trinity Health Arena project and serves the same customer segments under a similar ownership model.
Others
- Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) member installers: Industry trade association representing the U.S. solar industry. Relevant ecosystem participant for tracking competitive landscape, policy advocacy, and supply chain dynamics that directly affect Chart House's project economics.
Emerging players
- Solar Faithful: Michigan-based nonprofit initiative co-founded by Chart House Energy that provides donated solar panels to houses of worship. Operates as both a partner and adjacent channel within the same faith-based solar segment Chart House serves.
- Michigan Interfaith Power and Light: State affiliate of the Interfaith Power and Light network and a co-founder of Solar Faithful alongside Chart House. Operates in the same faith-based solar niche and channels the same houses-of-worship customer base that Chart House targets.
Regional players
- Grand Rapids Community Solar: Regional community solar program in Michigan serving similar municipal and residential customers. Comparable geography and customer mix to Chart House, though structured as a community solar program rather than a developer-owned PPA model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chart House Energy social profiles
Digital presenceChart House Energy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Chart House Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chart House Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Chart House Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chart House Energy 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 Chart House Energy
What does Chart House Energy do?
Chart House Energy develops, owns, and operates medium-sized solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and non-profit customers, supplemented by battery storage, backup generation, and EV charging solutions. The company finances projects primarily through long-term (up to 40-year) Power Purchase Agreements under which customers purchase generated electricity at discounted rates with no upfront capital outlay.
Is Chart House Energy a public or private company?
Chart House Energy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chart House Energy founded?
Chart House Energy was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chart House Energy based?
Chart House Energy is headquartered in Muskegon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chart House Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is the primary driver. The others are direct System Purchase and project Development Services.
Who are Chart House Energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are D2 Solar and Inovateus Solar. Broad incumbents are Cypress Creek Renewables, New Energy Equity and Sunwealth. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) member installers is listed as an others. Emerging players are Solar Faithful and Michigan Interfaith Power and Light. Grand Rapids Community Solar is listed as a regional player.
Does Chart House Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chart House Energy.
What industry is Chart House Energy in?
Chart House Energy's product category is Solar Energy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAA, Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop), with a secondary code of EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4991.