Big Sun Solar
Big Sun Solar is a Texas-based commercial solar EPC firm that designs, installs, and services rooftop, ground-mount, and solar canopy photovoltaic systems with battery storage for manufacturers, auto dealers, nonprofits, municipalities, and utilities across Texas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Antonio, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Big Sun Solar does
Big Sun Solar is a Texas-based commercial solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm headquartered in San Antonio with an additional office in Austin. Founded in 2015 (previously operating as Go Smart Solar LLC) by Robert Miggins and Jason Pittman, the company designs, installs, and services rooftop, ground-mount, and solar canopy photovoltaic systems, plus battery energy storage, for commercial, nonprofit, municipal, and utility customers across Texas.
The company's core offering is end-to-end commercial solar installation executed by in-house NABCEP-certified engineering and construction teams, complemented by performance monitoring, annual inspections, inverter service, and optional panel cleaning as recurring post-installation services. It also structures third-party-owned Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in utility territories that permit them (for example, via a 3-party PPA with GVEC and Vitesco Technologies), provides sustainability/ESG reporting, and operates a community solar waitlist program through CPS Energy. Pricing is quote-based, typically $2-4 per watt before incentives, with reported commercial payback periods of 4-7 years after the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit and depreciation benefits.
Big Sun Solar goes to market through direct enterprise field sales targeting manufacturers, auto dealers, nonprofits, multi-family and hotel operators, office and self-storage owners, and public-sector buyers including school districts (via the TIPS cooperative purchasing program), municipalities, and utilities. Major contract wins include the $30 million City of San Antonio onsite solar project (the largest municipality project in Texas and second-largest in the US), a 5,200-panel solar canopy at El Paso International Airport funded by FAA and DOE grants, and projects for Safran Helicopter Engines, H-E-B, Cavender Auto Group, Ancira Auto Group, and Vitesco Technologies. The company holds SOC 2 Type II, NABCEP PVIP, NABCEP ESIP, TECL #32590, and Texas PACE Authority credentials, and pursues a 1% Pledge carbon-neutrality-by-2025 commitment.
Big Sun Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Sun Solar
- Legal name
- Big Sun Solar LLC
- Website
- https://bigsunsolar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Big Sun Solar is a Texas-based commercial solar EPC firm that designs, installs, and services rooftop, ground-mount, and solar canopy photovoltaic systems with battery storage for manufacturers, auto dealers, nonprofits, municipalities, and utilities across Texas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Sun Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Solar Installation Services
- NAICS
- Utility System Construction (2371)
- SIC
- Electrical Work (1731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Solar Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Solar Balance-of-System Components (Cables, Combiner Boxes, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAMABAG)
Keywords
Where Big Sun Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Antonio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Big Sun Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Solar Installation Services: Design, engineering, permitting, installation, and interconnection services for commercial solar systems. Revenue generated from project installation fees based on system size (typically $2-4 per watt before incentives).
- Power Purchase Agreements (PPA): Third-party owned solar projects where Big Sun Solar owns and operates the system while customers purchase the electricity generated. Available in some utility territories with 3-party agreements.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance: Recurring monitoring services, annual inspections, inverter service, and optional panel cleaning to maintain system performance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Commercial Solar Installation - Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Big Sun Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Sun Solar designs, engineers, permits, installs, and commissions commercial-scale solar photovoltaic systems for Texas businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, schools, and utilities. Offerings span rooftop arrays, ground-mount systems, and parking-lot solar canopies, with battery energy storage, ongoing performance monitoring, and optional power purchase agreement (PPA) financing structures.
Product overview
Big Sun Solar is a Texas-based commercial solar installation company offering a unified portfolio of solar products and services. The core offering consists of Commercial Solar Installation services, which include rooftop, ground-mount, and solar canopy systems. The company also offers Battery Storage as an add-on module for demand charge reduction and backup power. Additional services include Sustainability Reporting for ESG tracking and a Community Solar Program for residential customers. The products work together to provide comprehensive solar energy solutions for commercial businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, and utility partners across Texas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Solar Installation (Rooftop and Ground-Mount) End-to-end commercial solar PV installation services for Texas businesses and institutions, including site assessment, in-house engineering, permitting, construction, and interconnection with the utility grid. Systems are delivered as rooftop arrays or ground-mount arrays, sized to offset commercial electricity consumption.
- Solar Canopies (Solar Carports) Parking-lot canopy structures that support solar panels to provide shaded parking while generating electricity. Targets airports, auto dealerships, hotels, and commercial properties; lowers insurance premiums by protecting vehicles and inventory from hail and heat.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Battery Energy Storage Systems that store solar energy for later use, enabling peak shaving, demand-charge reduction, and backup power capabilities for commercial and institutional customers.
- Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) Third-party owned solar project structures in eligible utility territories (for example, via 3-party PPAs with GVEC), in which Big Sun Solar owns and operates the system while the customer purchases the electricity generated.
- Performance Monitoring and Maintenance Services Recurring performance monitoring, annual system inspections, inverter servicing, and optional panel cleaning to maintain expected system performance over the asset's lifetime.
- Sustainability Reporting ESG and sustainability reporting services that help businesses track carbon reduction, energy savings, and environmental impact metrics generated from their solar installations.
- Community Solar Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces payback period to 4-7 years for Texas commercial systems depending on utility territory, size, and incentives
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Sun Solar
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Big Sun Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Big Sun Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CPS EnergycoreSelected by CPS Energy for largest community solar program in Texas. In CPS Energy territory, customers are generally required to directly own the solar system, and third party owned PPAs are not permitted. CPS Energy offers rebates and interconnection for commercial customers.
- Austin EnergycoreRegistered and approved Austin Energy commercial solar contractor. Offers Performance Based Incentive (PBI), Value of Solar (VoS) rate, and Solar Standard Offer Program for commercial customers. Big Sun Solar manages full process from engineering and application to interconnection and verification.
- Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC)coreApproved 3-party power purchase agreement (PPA) with Big Sun Solar and Vitesco Technologies. GVEC enables the PPA structure that allows Vitesco to purchase electricity from Big Sun Solar's solar project to offset their energy consumption.
- Ready to WorkminorWorkforce development program that Big Sun Solar actively participates in for recruiting talent. Part of company's commitment to building meaningful jobs in San Antonio.
- Venture for AmericaminorTalent recruitment partnership program for building meaningful jobs in San Antonio.
- Students and StartupsminorTalent recruitment partnership for recruiting from local startup and student programs in San Antonio.
- Silver Ventures and PearlminorPartnership with Silver Ventures and Pearl for Full Goods Building solar repower project, donating solar equipment to Alamo College District St. Philip's College Power Generation and Alternative Energy program.
- TIPS (Texas Public Schools)corePre-negotiated solar pricing for Texas Public Schools through TIPS (Texas Education Agency's cooperative purchasing program). Allows school districts to access Big Sun Solar services through established procurement contracts.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Big Sun Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Borrego Solar: National commercial and utility-scale solar EPC with in-house engineering, construction, and O&M services; comparable to Big Sun's vertically integrated model but at significantly larger scale across multiple states.
- Baker Renewable Energy: California-based commercial and residential solar EPC with in-house design, installation, and NABCEP-certified teams; comparable vertically integrated model focused on commercial customers.
- Longhorn Solar: Texas-focused solar EPC with both residential and commercial offerings, competing for the same local commercial customer base and incentive-driven demand Big Sun targets.
- Renu Energy Solutions: Regional commercial and residential solar EPC with NABCEP-certified installers offering solar + battery storage; comparable operating model and product set but serves the Carolinas rather than Texas.
- NATIVE Solar: Austin-based commercial and residential solar EPC operating across Texas with a similar end-to-end installation model and focus on Texas-specific incentives — directly comparable as a same-state competitor targeting overlapping commercial segments.
- TriSMART Solar: Texas-based commercial solar installer providing design, installation, and maintenance to businesses, municipalities, and nonprofits in the same core verticals (manufacturing, schools, government) as Big Sun Solar.
Regional players
- ReVision Energy: Northeast U.S.-based employee-owned commercial and residential solar installer; similar in-house engineering/construction model and NABCEP-certified approach but geographically non-overlapping.
Broad incumbents
- Tesla Energy: Large diversified solar, battery storage, and energy products provider; overlaps with Big Sun on commercial-scale solar and storage deployments but is a broad incumbent rather than a Texas-focused commercial specialist.
- Freedom Forever: National solar installer with growing commercial presence; competes with Big Sun on commercial solar installs but is significantly larger and primarily residential-led.
- SunPower (Commercial): National solar provider with a commercial division offering rooftop and ground-mount systems plus storage; competes with Big Sun on commercial installs but at significantly broader geographic and product scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Big Sun Solar social profiles
Digital presenceBig Sun Solar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Big Sun Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Sun Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Big Sun Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Sun 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 Big Sun Solar
What does Big Sun Solar do?
Big Sun Solar designs, engineers, permits, installs, and commissions commercial-scale solar photovoltaic systems for Texas businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, schools, and utilities. Offerings span rooftop arrays, ground-mount systems, and parking-lot solar canopies, with battery energy storage, ongoing performance monitoring, and optional power purchase agreement (PPA) financing structures.
Is Big Sun Solar a public or private company?
Big Sun Solar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Big Sun Solar founded?
Big Sun Solar was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Big Sun Solar based?
Big Sun Solar is headquartered in San Antonio, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Sun Solar make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Solar Installation Services are the primary driver. The others are power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance.
Who are Big Sun Solar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Borrego Solar, Baker Renewable Energy, Longhorn Solar, Renu Energy Solutions, NATIVE Solar and TriSMART Solar. ReVision Energy is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Tesla Energy, Freedom Forever and SunPower (Commercial).
Does Big Sun Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Sun Solar.
What industry is Big Sun Solar in?
Big Sun Solar's product category is Commercial 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 IMADAFAO, Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems. Its NAICS code is 2371 and its SIC code is 1731.