Solar Energy Partners
Solar Energy Partners is a privately-held residential solar sales intermediary that deploys door-to-door consultants and a franchise-free dealer program to route homeowners to partner installers including SunRun, Tesla, and SunNova, earning commissions on completed installations across multiple U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersTurlock, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Solar Energy Partners does
Solar Energy Partners (SEP) is a privately-held residential solar services company founded in 2017 by Alex Williams, Clint Williams, and Dave Madrid, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. The company acts as a sales intermediary and lead-generation channel rather than a primary installer: it deploys door-to-door and field sales consultants who guide homeowners through the solar evaluation process and then route qualified customers to one of six partner installers — Bright Planet Solar, SunRun, Infinity Energy, SunNova, EXO Energy, and Tesla. Revenue is earned through commissions on completed solar installations routed through these partnerships, with individual quotes varying by property type, roof characteristics, and ownership status.
The company's product surface spans core solar installation coordination, a Dealer Program allowing entrepreneurs to build franchise-free solar sales businesses using SEP's technology platform, structured solar sales consultant career paths with a three-week training boot camp, and consumer-facing interactive tools including a Solar Savings Calculator and Carbon Footprint Calculator. The proprietary technology component — a real-time dynamic proposal and contract package platform available to dealers — is the closest thing to a technical differentiator and is described as enabling faster customer installs than competitors. The company also extends into commercial and institutional property segments in addition to its residential core.
SEP's go-to-market is dual-channel: a direct-to-consumer field sales force that walks homeowners through the solar transition, complemented by a dealer/reseller channel that recruits independent entrepreneurs to build their own solar teams using SEP's training, support, and installer network. In March 2021 the company merged with The Standard, and prior to that it claimed 500% revenue growth during the pandemic shutdown period. The firm remains founder-controlled with no disclosed institutional or venture capital backing, and was recognized across multiple 2021 business publications including Business Sights, StarCentral Magazine, and Total Prestige Magazine for its entrepreneurial leadership in residential solar.
Solar Energy Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solar Energy Partners
- Legal name
- Solar Energy Partners
- Website
- https://solarenergy.partners
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Solar Energy Partners is a privately-held residential solar sales intermediary that deploys door-to-door consultants and a franchise-free dealer program to route homeowners to partner installers including SunRun, Tesla, and SunNova, earning commissions on completed installations across multiple U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solar Energy Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Solar Installation Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
Keywords
Where Solar Energy Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Turlock
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Solar Energy Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Solar Installation Services Commission: SEP earns revenue through partnerships with major solar providers (Bright Planet Solar, SunRun, Infinity Energy, SunNova, EXO Energy, Tesla). The company connects customers with installers and earns commissions on completed solar installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Solar Solutions - Quote Based |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Solar Energy Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solar Energy Partners is a residential solar services company that matches homeowners with trusted solar panel installers from a network that includes Bright Planet Solar, SunRun, Infinity Energy, SunNova, EXO Energy, and Tesla. SEP provides solar consultation, system sizing, financing facilitation, and installation coordination, earning commission revenue on completed solar installations. The company also runs a franchise-free dealer program that enables independent entrepreneurs to operate solar sales businesses using SEP's training, proposals platform, and installer network.
Product overview
Solar Energy Partners operates as a solar energy services company offering a portfolio of residential solar solutions. The core offering is solar panel installation consultation and coordination, supported by a dealer program for entrepreneurs seeking to build solar businesses, and career opportunities for solar sales consultants. The company provides interactive tools including a Solar Savings Calculator and Carbon Footprint Calculator to help homeowners evaluate switching to solar. SEP partners with major solar providers including Bright Planet Solar, SunRun, Infinity Energy, SunNova, EXO energy, and Tesla to deliver installation and financing options to customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Solar Panel Installation Services Consultation, system sizing, and installation coordination service for residential homeowners that connects customers with vetted installer partners and facilitates financing for rooftop solar installations; available across multiple U.S. states.
- Dealer Program Franchise-free partner program that enables independent entrepreneurs to build and scale solar sales businesses using SEP's training, 24/7 support, installer network, and a real-time proposals and contract platform including installation and financing packages.
Quantifiable outcome
- Save $10,000 to $30,000 over the lifetime of solar panel system
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Solar Energy Partners
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Solar Energy Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Solar Energy Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Bright Planet SolarcoreSolar installation partner providing residential and commercial solar solutions. One of multiple trusted installers SEP partners with to serve customers across service areas.
- SunRuncoreMajor residential solar provider and installation partner. SunRun is one of the largest residential solar companies in the U.S.
- Infinity EnergycoreSolar installation partner offering residential solar solutions. Part of SEP's network of trusted installers.
- SunNovacoreSolar energy company providing residential solar and storage solutions. Part of SEP's installer network.
- EXO EnergycoreSolar provider partner offering residential solar installation services through SEP's dealer network.
- TeslacoreTesla Solar (formerly SolarCity) provides solar panel installations. SEP partners with Tesla as one of multiple installation options for customers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Solar Energy Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Freedom Forever: Residential solar installer operating a dealer-style affiliate program with in-house installation crews. Comparable in using a multi-channel partner model to scale residential solar; direct overlap in customer and service offering.
- Momentum Solar: Residential solar installer with a large in-house direct salesforce and vertical integration. Comparable in target market and consultative door-to-door/field sales motion; differs in that Momentum self-installs rather than referring to third-party installers.
- Palmetto Solar: Residential solar platform combining lead generation, financing, and installation services. Comparable in targeting homeowners with a technology-enabled solar purchase experience, and represents a more vertically integrated model of what SEP aspires to.
- SunRun: Largest U.S. residential solar installer and one of SEP's installation partners. Direct comparable because both target the same homeowner customer with rooftop solar + storage, though SunRun is vertically integrated and far larger.
- Blue Raven Solar: U.S. residential solar installer with a direct salesforce model and proprietary financing product. Comparable in customer segment, sales-led GTM, and multi-state rollout strategy.
- Vivint Solar: Residential solar installer (now part of SunRun) historically known for door-to-door and inside sales. Comparable in GTM motion and target customer; key historical reference point for the door-to-door residential solar model SEP employs.
- Sunnova Energy: Residential solar and battery storage provider and SEP installation partner. Comparable in customer target (homeowners) and service offering, but operates as a direct installer/financer rather than as a sales intermediary.
- Trinity Solar: One of the largest U.S. residential solar installers, operating a direct-to-homeowner sales motion across multiple states. Highly comparable in GTM (consultative/door-to-door consultative sales) and target segment (residential).
- Tesla Energy: Tesla Solar is a direct-to-consumer residential solar offering and an SEP installation partner. Comparable in target customer and product; Tesla's brand and direct sales motion make it both a partner and a competitive threat to SEP's lead-gen value.
Emerging players
- Green Home Systems: Residential solar installer using a consultative direct-sales approach and dealer network. Smaller and earlier-stage than SEP's named partners but a comparable emerging player operating in the same homeowner segment with similar partner-enabled scaling.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Solar Energy Partners social profiles
Digital presenceSolar Energy Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solar Energy Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Solar Energy Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solar Energy Partners 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 Solar Energy Partners
What does Solar Energy Partners do?
Solar Energy Partners is a residential solar services company that matches homeowners with trusted solar panel installers from a network that includes Bright Planet Solar, SunRun, Infinity Energy, SunNova, EXO Energy, and Tesla. SEP provides solar consultation, system sizing, financing facilitation, and installation coordination, earning commission revenue on completed solar installations. The company also runs a franchise-free dealer program that enables independent entrepreneurs to operate solar sales businesses using SEP's training, proposals platform, and installer network.
Is Solar Energy Partners a public or private company?
Solar Energy Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solar Energy Partners founded?
Solar Energy Partners was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Solar Energy Partners based?
Solar Energy Partners is headquartered in Turlock, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solar Energy Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: solar Installation Services Commission.
Who are Solar Energy Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Freedom Forever, Momentum Solar, Palmetto Solar, SunRun, Blue Raven Solar, Vivint Solar, Sunnova Energy, Trinity Solar and Tesla Energy. Green Home Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does Solar Energy Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solar Energy Partners.
What industry is Solar Energy Partners in?
Solar Energy Partners's product category is Residential Solar Installation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.