Nova Solar
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersFalls Church, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Nova Solar does
Nova Solar is a privately held residential and commercial solar installation company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, serving the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) corridor with a secondary office in Bumpass, Virginia. Founded around 2009 and claiming more than 15 years of solar experience, the company designs and installs grid-tied photovoltaic systems using tier-1 crystalline-silicon panels (Canadian Solar, REC, LA Solar, Aptos) paired primarily with Enphase microinverters and secondarily with SolarEdge string inverters and power optimizers, along with IronRidge, QuickBOLT, RoofTech, and S-5! mounting hardware. All installation work is performed in-house by NABCEP-certified professionals under a project-manager model in which each customer is assigned a single dedicated project manager who handles permitting, HOA approval, utility interconnection, tax-incentive filings, and SREC registration through partners such as SRECTrade. A 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty covers parts, labor, shipping, and service, distinguishing the offering from typical regional installers. Adjacent services include HOA Production Analysis (a $150 third-party certification), battery-storage consultation, and the Quasar 2 EV bidirectional charger.
The business model is sales-led and direct-to-consumer. Revenue is generated primarily from one-time system sales (structured 10% at contract signing, 60% on installation day, 30% at final inspection) and from financing intermediation through dealer fees on zero-down solar loans arranged with Dividend Finance, Sungage Financial, Sunlight Financial, and Atmos Financial, typically over 20-year terms. Customer acquisition runs through the novasolar.com website (free quote form, solar calculator, blog/SEO), phone and email sales (703-679-8607), and partner referrals via the EnergySage marketplace, where Nova Solar was named Virginia Installer of the Year in 2024. The company does not use subcontractors or third-party resellers. Customers are predominantly residential homeowners in the DMV area motivated by rising utility prices (DMV prices rose 65% between 2003–2018), federal solar tax credits (30% ITC), state-level SREC programs, and net-metering economics. The headcount is 11–50 employees, and no external funding, parent company, M&A activity, or institutional investors are disclosed.
Nova Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nova Solar
- Legal name
- Nova Solar, Inc.
- Website
- https://novasolar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nova Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential 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
- Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC)
Keywords
Where Nova Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Falls Church
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Nova Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Solar Panel System Sales & Installation: Nova Solar designs and installs custom residential solar systems. Customers pay 10% at contract signing, 60% on the first day of installation, and 30% at final inspection and permit approval. The company offers both cash purchase and financed options through multiple lenders.
- Financing Intermediation: Nova Solar facilitates solar loans through partner lenders (Dividend Finance, Sungage Financial, Sunlight Financial, Atmos Financial), offering zero-down financing options. The company earns dealer fees on financed systems, structured to maximize Federal Solar Tax Credit benefits for customers.
- HOA Analysis Service: A paid service ($150) providing third-party certification letters to evaluate HOA solar restrictions and help customers obtain HOA approval for solar installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Cash Purchase - upfront payment structure |
| Other | Monthly | Solar Loan - zero-down financing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HOA Analysis Service |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Nova Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nova Solar designs and installs custom residential solar photovoltaic systems for homeowners in the DMV area (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia). The company delivers a four-step end-to-end process including consultation and site assessment, custom system design, professional in-house installation, and utility coordination, backed by a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Each customer is assigned a dedicated project manager who handles permitting, HOA approvals, utility interconnection, tax incentive filings, and SREC registration. Equipment is sourced from tier-1 manufacturers including Canadian Solar, REC, LA Solar, and Aptos panels paired with Enphase microinverters or SolarEdge string inverters.
Product overview
Nova Solar is a residential and commercial solar installation company serving the DMV area (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia) with over 15 years of experience. Their product portfolio centers on solar panel systems using equipment from tier-1 manufacturers including Canadian Solar, REC, LA Solar, and Aptos panels, paired with Enphase microinverters or SolarEdge inverters. They offer comprehensive mounting solutions through IronRidge, QuickBOLT, RoofTech, and S-5! racking systems, along with balance-of-system components like SolaDeck junction boxes and Nova Guard critter protection. The core offering is a four-step installation process (consultation, design, installation, utility coordination) backed by a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Additional services include HOA production analysis and the upcoming Quasar 2 EV bidirectional charger for energy storage. Nova Solar does not offer batteries but recommends EV backup or generators for emergency power needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar Installation Services Four-step end-to-end residential solar installation process including consultation and on-site assessment, custom system design, professional in-house installation, and utility coordination. Backed by a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty covering parts, labor, shipping, and service. Each customer is assigned a dedicated project manager who handles permitting, HOA approvals, utility interconnection, tax incentive filings, and SREC registration. Targeted at homeowners in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.
- HOA Production Analysis Standalone paid service providing a third-party certification letter ($150 fixed fee) that evaluates the reasonableness of HOA restrictions on solar panel installations. Helps customers navigate the legal landscape of solar restrictions and secure HOA approval. Can be purchased independently of a full solar installation project.
- Quasar 2 EV Bi-Directional Charger 11.5kW bidirectional DC charger for electric vehicles with Blackout Mode, capable of powering home critical energy consumption for more than 3 days. Named 'Best Invention of 2022' by Time magazine. Offered to homeowners seeking EV charging and home backup power solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Homeowners save an average of $57,402 on electricity over 20 years with solar installation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Nova Solar
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nova Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Nova Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- PayKeeperminorNova Solar partnered with PayKeeper, a modern payment and escrow platform for contractors, to protect homeowners and streamline payments in the solar installation process.
- SRECTradecoreNova Solar handles SREC application and brokerage account setup through SRECTrade, after which customers can manage their SRECs through the SRECTrade platform on automatic sales settings.
- EnphasecoreEnphase is the primary microinverter technology provider for Nova Solar's residential installations. Enphase microinverters come with a 25-year warranty and provide panel-level production monitoring via app and website. Nova Solar is a certified Enphase installer.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Nova Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sunrun: Largest U.S. residential solar installer with national footprint and significant Mid-Atlantic presence. Competes with Nova Solar for the same residential solar + battery customer, with much larger sales and financing infrastructure.
- Freedom Forever: National residential solar installer with strong Mid-Atlantic/regional operations. Offers comparable residential PV installation with similar in-house operations philosophy and competes for Nova Solar's customer base.
- Trinity Solar: One of the largest privately-held residential solar installers in the U.S., serving the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. A larger-scaled incumbent with similar residential PV + storage service offering that overlaps Nova Solar's geographic and product space.
- Tesla Energy (Solar Roof & Solar Panels): National residential solar and energy storage provider serving the DMV region. Comparable residential PV + Powerwall offering and represents a well-capitalized competitive threat in Nova Solar's core market.
Direct peers
- Solar Energy World: Maryland-headquartered residential and commercial solar installer serving the Mid-Atlantic region. Closely comparable to Nova Solar in DMV-area geography, in-house install model, and tier-1 equipment portfolio (Enphase, SolarEdge).
- Lumina Solar: Mid-Atlantic regional residential solar installer serving Maryland and Virginia. Comparable to Nova Solar in product mix (Tier-1 panels, Enphase/SolarEdge inverters), target customer, and in-house operations approach.
- Paradise Energy Solutions: Pennsylvania-headquartered residential solar installer with a comparable regional Mid-Atlantic footprint, in-house installation model, and emphasis on premium equipment and customer education.
- Mountain View Solar: West Virginia/Maryland-based residential solar installer with similar regional Mid-Atlantic footprint and NABCEP-certified in-house installation model. Comparable scale and service offering to Nova Solar.
- Ipsun Solar: Fairfax, Virginia-based residential and commercial solar installer serving Northern Virginia and DC. Directly overlaps Nova Solar in core Loudoun/Fairfax/Arlington territory with comparable turnkey service model.
Regional players
- Solar Holler: West Virginia-based residential and commercial solar installer. Operates in an adjacent region to Nova Solar's core DMV market with similar in-house design/install service and quality-equipment focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nova Solar social profiles
Digital presenceNova Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nova Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Nova Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nova 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 Nova Solar
What does Nova Solar do?
Nova Solar designs and installs custom residential solar photovoltaic systems for homeowners in the DMV area (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia). The company delivers a four-step end-to-end process including consultation and site assessment, custom system design, professional in-house installation, and utility coordination, backed by a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Each customer is assigned a dedicated project manager who handles permitting, HOA approvals, utility interconnection, tax incentive filings, and SREC registration. Equipment is sourced from tier-1 manufacturers including Canadian Solar, REC, LA Solar, and Aptos panels paired with Enphase microinverters or SolarEdge string inverters.
Is Nova Solar a public or private company?
Nova Solar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Nova Solar founded?
Nova Solar was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nova Solar based?
Nova Solar is headquartered in Falls Church, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nova Solar make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Solar Panel System Sales & Installation is the primary driver. The others are financing Intermediation and HOA Analysis Service.
Who are Nova Solar's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sunrun, Freedom Forever, Trinity Solar and Tesla Energy (Solar Roof & Solar Panels). Direct peers are Solar Energy World, Lumina Solar, Paradise Energy Solutions, Mountain View Solar and Ipsun Solar. Solar Holler is listed as a regional player.
Does Nova Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nova Solar.
What industry is Nova Solar in?
Nova Solar'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), with a secondary code of IMADAFAO, Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems. Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 1731.