Nunatak Energy

What Nunatak Energy does

Nunatak Energy (legal entity Nunatak Alternative Energy Solutions) is a privately held, full-service renewable energy design and installation firm founded in 2005 by Lena Wilensky and headquartered in Gunnison, Colorado. The company designs and installs grid-tied net-metered solar PV, off-grid battery-based systems, wind, microhydro, and integrated electrical contracting services for residential, commercial, government, ranch, and nonprofit clients across Colorado's Gunnison Valley and West Slope region, with primary offices in Gunnison and a mailing address in Almont. Its stated specialization is designing robust systems that withstand extreme high-altitude mountain environments (9,000+ ft.+) and remote locations up to 50 miles from the nearest utility grid, supported by NABCEP Board Certified PV Installation Professionals and (as of 2025) multiple licensed electricians including a Master Electrician.

The firm's core revenue mechanics are predominantly one-time installation fees for custom-engineered systems, augmented by project-based engineering and permitting services and a growing layer of recurring revenue from post-installation service agreements. Pricing is set per project following site evaluation; the firm offers promotional discounts tied to early service-agreement signups and provides customer financing partnerships through Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), RENU, and Climate First Bank. Go-to-market is direct-field, sales-led, layered with community and nonprofit partnerships (Habitat for Humanity, Equitable Solar Solutions, Adaptive Sports Center, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory) plus referral-driven word of mouth. The customer base spans local homeowners (primary), commercial businesses, federal agencies (US EPA, US Forest Service), local governments (Gunnison County, towns of Crested Butte and Mt Crested Butte), nonprofits, and ranchers. The firm is a member in good standing of COSSA and SEIA and a nationally certified NABCEP PV Installer.

In 2025, Nunatak Energy installed 304 kW of new solar PV and 277 kWh of new battery capacity across multiple systems including 6 unique off-grid battery-based projects. The portfolio was extended to include authorized Span Panel and Lumin Smart Panel integration for smart load management, EV charger installation leveraging GCEA rebates, and forward monitoring of bi-directional EV charging for the 2026 market window. The federal Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credit (~30%) remains available on commercial systems through 2027 and is a key demand catalyst. The company is privately held, founder-led, has no disclosed institutional investors, and operates with a small team of approximately 7–10 employees.

Name

Nunatak Energy

Legal name

Nunatak Alternative Energy Solutions

Website

https://nunatakenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nunatak Energy is a Gunnison, Colorado-based private solar PV and battery storage design-installation firm serving residential, commercial, government, ranch, and nonprofit clients in the Gunnison Valley and broader Colorado West Slope with custom-engineered renewable energy systems built for extreme high-altitude mountain environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Installation Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Distributed Storage (Behind-the-Meter Batteries) (EUAMAJAE), Resilience & Backup Power Solutions (Critical Facilities, Islanding) (EUAMAJAK), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF)

Keywords

• Solar PV installation
• Battery energy storage
• Off-grid power systems
• Electrical contracting
• Renewable energy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gunnison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Solar PV System Installation: Design and installation of grid-tied and off-grid solar photovoltaic systems for residential and commercial customers. Revenue generated through one-time installation fees for purchased systems.
2. Battery and Energy Storage Systems: Installation of battery-based PV systems, solar-plus-storage, and energy storage solutions. Can be standalone battery retrofits or integrated with new solar PV installations.
3. Electrical Contracting Services: Full-range electrical contracting including service upgrades, EV charging installation, smart load management, backup power, remodels, new construction wiring, heat pump circuits, and supplemental electric heating. Small to mid-sized projects handled year-round.
4. Wind and Microhydro Systems: Site evaluation and installation of small wind and microhydro power generation systems for suitable sites, providing alternative or supplementary power to solar.
5. Service Agreements and Maintenance: Service agreements for ongoing system maintenance and support. The 2026 blog mentions offering 10% off PV system pricing when service agreements are signed before April 1st, and 5% off before May 31st.
6. Project Management and Design Services: In-house engineering and permitting services for renewable energy system projects, including site evaluation and custom system design.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nunatak Energy designs and installs solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for both grid-tied net-metered and off-grid applications, complemented by battery-based energy storage, small wind and microhydro systems, EV chargers, smart load management, generator backup, and licensed electrical contracting. The company serves residential homeowners, local businesses, government agencies (US EPA, US Forest Service, Gunnison County, towns of Crested Butte and Mt Crested Butte), nonprofits (Habitat for Humanity, Adaptive Sports Center), ranchers, and contractors in Colorado's Gunnison Valley near Crested Butte.

Product overview

Nunatak Energy is a full-service renewable energy company offering a unified portfolio of clean energy solutions centered on solar PV systems as the core product. The company provides both grid-tied and battery-based solar systems, supplemented by wind and microhydro power options for suitable sites. Additional services include generator installation, electrical contracting, EV charger installation, and smart load management technologies including authorized Span Panel and Lumin Smart Panel integration. The company specializes in remote power projects for off-grid locations, serving clients from residential homeowners to commercial entities like the US EPA and US Forest Service. All work is performed by NABCEP-certified installers and licensed electricians using a whole-system approach to meet individual client energy goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solar PV Systems (Grid-Tied and Off-Grid) Design and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for generating electricity from sunlight, available in grid-tied (connected to utility grid with net metering) or off-grid configurations for remote locations without utility access. Customers range from off-grid cabins to net-metered city dwellings, local businesses, and government facilities.
• Battery-Based Energy Storage Systems Installation of battery energy storage systems combined with solar PV, including solar-plus-storage configurations and standalone battery retrofits, that provide backup power during grid outages and enable off-grid living for residential and commercial customers.
• Wind Power Systems Site evaluation and installation of small-scale wind turbine power generation systems for properties with consistent moderate-to-strong wind conditions, providing an alternative or supplement to solar power generation.
• Microhydro Systems Microhydroelectric power system design and installation that generates electricity from streams or rivers with rapid elevation drops, suitable for properties with appropriate water resources near the power destination.
• Electrical Contracting Services Full-range licensed electrical contracting including service upgrades, remodels, new construction whole-home wiring, heat pump circuits, supplemental electric heating installations, and remote cabin wiring, performed by in-house licensed electricians year-round.
• EV Charger Installation Electric vehicle charging station installation for residential and commercial customers, integrated with the company's solar and energy storage installations where applicable.
• Generator Backup Systems Generator installation, service, and troubleshooting to provide fail-safe backup power regardless of weather conditions, complementing solar and battery systems as a complete backup strategy.
• Smart Home Load Management (Span Panel and Lumin Smart Panel) Authorized installation of Span Panel and Lumin Smart Panel smart load management systems, integrated with solar and energy storage to optimize energy consumption, monitor real-time power usage, and improve grid independence.
• Remote Power Projects Custom-designed rugged and often portable power systems for remote locations, including data monitoring equipment, research study stations (e.g., Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory), reclamation areas, and remote camps, built to withstand harsh mountain environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 304 kilowatts of new solar PV installed in 2025, equivalent to powering approximately 250 average homes simultaneously
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Habitat for Humanity of the Gunnison ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNunatak Energy has completed multiple solar installations for Habitat for Humanity of the Gunnison Valley, with the goal of providing sustainable, affordable housing. Solar installations help Habitat homeowners keep electric bills low and send more sustainable power onto the local grid.
• Equitable Solar Solutions (ESS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESS, part of Coldharbour Institute, works to bring affordable renewable energy to low-income residents of the Gunnison Valley through a donation-based system of re-using orphaned solar panels. Nunatak supports this initiative by providing installation expertise, helping remove barriers for low-income neighbors to access clean energy and preventing usable solar panels from entering landfills.
• Western Solar Society (WSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern Solar Society is a Western Colorado University student group (student chapter of American Solar Energy Society). The group provides labor for Equitable Solar Solutions projects, giving students meaningful installation experience while working toward community resilience goals. Nunatak works alongside WSS on these community solar projects.
• Adaptive Sports CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNunatak collaborated with Adaptive Sports Center (a nonprofit serving people with disabilities in the Gunnison Valley) to help meet their renewable energy goals through solar installations.
• Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNunatak partnered with RMBL, a biological research station in the Gunnison Valley, providing renewable energy installations that support their research operations.
• Crested Butte Nordic CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNunatak collaborated with C.B. Nordic Center to provide renewable energy solutions for the Nordic center's operations, supporting their sustainability mission.
• Trades CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNunatak collaborated with Trades Culture, a local nonprofit, including hosting training sessions where Donny instructed students from Northern New Mexico College as part of Trades Culture programming.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunrun: Largest US residential solar, battery, and energy services company offering lease/PPA/loan structures nationally. Overlaps with Nunatak on residential solar and battery but competes on financing scale and brand recognition rather than off-grid/remote specialization.
• Tesla Energy: National residential and commercial solar and storage provider offering Tesla solar roof, panels, and Powerwall. Operates as a broad incumbent with national scale, standardized offerings, and in-house financing — competing with Nunatak on grid-tied residential solar.

Direct peers

• Independent Power Systems: Long-standing Colorado-based solar and battery installer focused on grid-tied and off-grid systems in mountain and rural settings. Closely matches Nunatak's whole-system approach, off-grid expertise, and high-altitude mountain customer base.
• Lighthouse Solar: Colorado residential and commercial solar installer offering PV, battery storage, and electric work. Comparable in service portfolio, NABCEP certification, and Colorado market focus, though with broader geographic reach across the Front Range.
• Photon Brothers: Colorado-based solar and roofing installer serving residential and commercial customers across the Front Range and mountain communities. Directly comparable for grid-tied rooftop solar, battery storage, and roofing-integrated PV in the same Colorado geography.
• Sandbox Solar: Northern Colorado solar installer providing residential and commercial solar PV and battery storage. Comparable in product mix and mid-sized regional installer profile, though less specialized in off-grid/remote mountain work.
• Namasté Solar: Boulder, Colorado-based employee-owned solar PV installer offering residential and commercial solar and battery storage across Colorado. Closely comparable to Nunatak in service mix, NABCEP-certified team, and Colorado-focused residential/light-commercial go-to-market, though at a much larger scale.

Others

• Lumin: Smart electrical panel manufacturer whose hardware Nunatak is authorized to install. Relevant as a technology partner and ecosystem peer — not a competitor — but indicative of the broader smart home energy management category Nunatak is positioning into.

Regional players

• Affordable Solar: New Mexico-based solar installer serving residential and commercial customers across the Southwest. Comparable in product offering and mid-market regional installer profile, but operates in a different geography with different utility and incentive frameworks.
• Mountain View Solar: Utah-based solar installer serving residential and small commercial customers in the Intermountain West. Comparable in product mix and mountain-region customer base, though operating in a different state with different net-metering rules.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nunatakenergy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nunatak-alternative-energy-solutions

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nunatak Energy