So Watt

What So Watt does

So Watt is a French Caribbean solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and operations company, headquartered in Le Lamentin, Martinique, with a regional office in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe, and active operations in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Guyane. Founded in 2018 as an internal project of Groupe Athéna — a building-materials distribution and real-estate group with 90+ years of Caribbean presence — the company designs, finances, installs, and operates rooftop and canopy PV power plants for professional clients (industrial, commercial, institutional, real estate). Its portfolio comprises three customer-engagement models: (1) 'Louer sa toiture' roof leasing, under which So Watt fully finances and installs the PV system on the client's roof and pays an annual rent (€4,000–€6,000 per 600 m²) for 20 years, often offsetting roof renovation costs; (2) 'Revendre son électricité', where the customer invests in the system and sells all production to EDF under a 20-year power purchase agreement; and (3) 'Autoconsommer' (self-consumption), in which the customer owns the system and consumes on-site, typically displacing 30–40% of EDF bills with ~90% self-consumption.

Underlying technology centers on commercial-scale rooftop PV using aluminum-framed modules, stainless-steel hardware, and cable-management upgrades, with systems designed in compliance with EN 61215 / NF 61646, UTE 15712, and Eurocodes. Installations specifically carry CSTB technical approval for Antilles-Guyane conditions, including overlapping roof structures to limit wind exposure in cyclonic conditions. The company holds AQPV certification from CERTISOLIS (up to 500 kWc on rooftops and canopies), ISO 9001, and ISO 14001. Complementary add-on services include roof renovation, solar canopies (ombrières) with EV charging stations, and preventive/corrective maintenance (including for third-party PV plants).

The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with personalized consultation, on-site feasibility studies, technical and financial engineering, and full administrative handling. Sales cycles run 15 days to 2 months for feasibility, 4–6 months for administrative procedures, and 4–5 months for construction, followed by a 20-year exploitation/maintenance phase. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven rather than publicly disclosed. Cumulative scale metrics since 2018 include ~80 central PV systems installed and approximately 3,500 kWc of annual installed capacity, powering the equivalent of ~1,200 households per year. So Watt operates as a SARL, is wholly owned by Groupe Athéna, and has no disclosed external funding or minority investors.

Name

So Watt

Legal name

SO WATT SARL

Website

https://sowatt-energy.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

So Watt designs, installs, and operates rooftop and canopy solar PV systems for professional clients across Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Guyane, offering roof-leasing, EDF electricity resale, and self-consumption models under 20-year contracts. Founded in 2018 as a subsidiary of Groupe Athéna.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

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), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Solar Balance-of-Plant EPC (Piles/Foundations, Trenching, Combiner Networks) (EUAEADAJ)

Keywords

• Rooftop solar installation
• Photovoltaic system design
• Solar roof leasing
• Renewable energy services
• Solar plant maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort-de-France

HQ country

Martinique

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Rooftop Leasing: So Watt leases client rooftops to install photovoltaic systems at its own expense. Clients receive annual rental income (typically 4000-6000 euros per year for 600m² of exploitable roof space) and/or financing for roof renovation. Contract duration is 20 years with potential 5-year renewal.
2. Electricity Resale: Free installation of a rooftop or canopy system where all electricity production is sold to EDF through a 20-year purchase contract. The company handles installation and maintenance while clients receive income from electricity sales.
3. Self-consumption Investment: Clients invest in their own rooftop or canopy photovoltaic system. Electricity produced is consumed directly on-site, reducing electricity bills and carbon footprint. Return on investment averages 8-10 years.
4. Maintenance Services: Preventive and corrective maintenance contracts for photovoltaic systems, including those not installed by So Watt. Services include annual maintenance visits and performance monitoring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

So Watt designs, installs, and operates rooftop solar photovoltaic power plants for professionals across Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, handling the full project lifecycle from feasibility studies and administrative procedures to installation and 20-year operation and maintenance. Clients engage through three models: roof rental (So Watt installs at its own cost and pays annual rent), electricity resale to EDF (20-year purchase contract), and self-consumption investment (on-site electricity use to reduce bills and carbon footprint). Complementary services include roof renovation, solar canopy and EV charging station installation, and preventive/corrective maintenance.

Product overview

So Watt is a solar photovoltaic installation company offering an integrated portfolio of products and services for professionals in the French Caribbean territories (Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana). The core offering consists of rooftop solar power plant installation, design, and 20-year operation/maintenance. Three main customer engagement models are available: (1) Louer sa toiture — roof rental where So Watt installs at no cost and pays annual rent, (2) Revendre son électricité — customer investment with electricity sold to EDF under 20-year contract, and (3) Autoconsommer — customer investment with on-site electricity consumption. Complementary services include roof renovation, solar canopy and EV charging station installation, and ongoing power plant maintenance. All installations follow EN 61215/NF 61646, UTE 15712, and Eurocodes standards, with CSTB technical approval specific to Caribbean territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Installation de centrales solaires photovoltaïques en toiture (Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Plant Installation) Core service involving the design, installation, and 20-year operation and maintenance of rooftop solar photovoltaic power plants for professionals in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, covering the full lifecycle from feasibility studies and administrative procedures to construction and exploitation.
• Louer sa toiture (Roof Rental) Roof rental service where So Watt installs a photovoltaic system on the property owner's roof at no cost in exchange for a 20-year lease, paying annual rental income (typically 4,000-6,000 euros per year for 600 m²) and/or financing roof renovation work.
• Revendre son électricité (Electricity Resale) Investment-based solution where customers purchase a rooftop or canopy solar system and all electricity production is sold to EDF through a 20-year power purchase agreement, providing stable recurring income. Mixed solutions with surplus resale are also offered.
• Autoconsommer (Self-Consumption) Investment solution where customers purchase a rooftop or canopy solar system and consume the electricity directly on-site, typically covering 30-40% of EDF bills with around 90% self-consumption rate, reducing both bills and carbon footprint with an 8-10 year return on investment.
• Réfection de toiture (Roof Renovation) Roof renovation services integrated with solar installation projects. When renting a roof to So Watt, renovation costs are offset against rental payments, providing clients with a renewed roof for the 20-year lease term.
• Installation d'ombrière et borne de recharge (Canopy and EV Charging Station Installation) Design and installation of solar canopies over parking areas, providing shade for vehicles and infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations without increasing energy consumption.
• Maintenance des centrales (Power Plant Maintenance) Preventive and corrective maintenance services for photovoltaic power plants, available both for So Watt-installed systems and third-party installations. Includes annual maintenance visits, performance monitoring, and semi-annual billing to EDF.

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• EDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF is the primary electricity buyer for all photovoltaic production through 20-year purchase contracts. This partnership is essential to So Watt's business model, enabling revenue generation for both the company and its clients.
• CERTISOLIScoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent certification body that delivers the AQPV (Alliance Qualité Photovoltaïque) certification to So Watt, validating quality standards in photovoltaic system design, installation, and maintenance.
• CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical certification body that provides technical approval specifically for Antilles-Guyane territories, validating that So Watt's installations meet local building and safety standards.
• Technical Control BureausmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organizations that conduct technical inspections of rooftops during the feasibility study phase to validate installation suitability and structural requirements.
• Groupe AthénacoreOthersParent company of Groupe Athéna, a major construction materials distributor established since 1924. So Watt benefits from synergies across distribution, real estate expertise, and local Caribbean presence spanning over 90 years.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• CVE (Centrales Villageoises d'Énergie / CVE Group): Independent French renewable energy producer developing distributed solar assets across multiple geographies. Similar distributed solar business model and comparable enterprise customer profile to So Watt.
• Akuo Energy: Independent French renewable energy developer with a portfolio spanning solar, wind, and storage across France and overseas territories. Overlap with So Watt in the project development and operation of distributed solar assets for commercial customers.
• Voltalia: French independent renewable energy developer and operator with active solar project pipelines in French overseas territories including the Caribbean. Comparable EPC-plus-operating model and serves the same enterprise customer segments as So Watt.
• GreenYellow: French energy services company specializing in on-site solar and energy efficiency for commercial and industrial customers. Comparable end-customer segment and rooftop/self-consumption focus, though with broader geographic reach beyond the Caribbean.

Direct peers

• Sunzil: Sunzil is a leading French overseas territories solar EPC operator, established by EDF and TotalEnergies, with a comparable focus on rooftop and ground-mounted PV in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean. Most directly comparable competitor to So Watt in the same geography and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• EDF Solutions Solaires (EDF ENR Solaires): The solar rooftop and self-consumption arm of EDF, offering installation, financing, and maintenance of PV systems across France including overseas territories. A direct counterparty and competitor to So Watt with materially larger scale and balance sheet.
• Engie Green: Subsidiary of Engie developing and operating renewable energy projects across France including overseas territories. Competes with So Watt on larger commercial and industrial solar projects in the Antilles-Guyane.
• TotalEnergies Renewables (Total Solar): Global energy major with growing solar operations in French overseas territories, including via the Sunzil joint venture. A larger incumbent competing for the same enterprise PV projects as So Watt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sowatt-energy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 So Watt