Paddle Energy
Paddle Energy is a private, Asheville NC-headquartered developer of distributed solar and energy storage projects across the eastern US, leasing or purchasing land from property owners and partnering with utilities and community solar subscribers to deliver grid-resilient, smaller-scale generation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAsheville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Paddle Energy does
Paddle Energy is a private, Asheville, North Carolina-headquartered developer of distributed solar and energy storage projects in the eastern United States. The company originates projects by leasing or purchasing land from property owners and partnering with 27 utilities to integrate smaller, geographically dispersed generation assets into utility energy programs — a deliberate departure from utility-scale solar, marketed as delivering greater grid resiliency and energy security. Its core products are distributed solar development, integrated energy storage solutions, land leasing and land purchase services for landowners, and community solar programs that allow subscribers to access solar generation without rooftop installations. Revenue mechanics combine long-duration land leases (25–35 years with inflation-adjusted monthly payments), one-time land purchases, and recurring community solar subscriptions tied to utility bill savings.
The business is relationship-driven: a small team of seven (including leadership and three project developers) operates across Asheville NC, Charleston SC, Yarmouth ME, Bangor ME, and Summit NJ, with a strategic partnership with North Sky Capital — an impact investing firm founded in 2000 — providing capital since 2022. Leadership carries deep prior-firm solar credentials: CEO Dale Freudenberger co-founded FLS Energy (merged with Cypress Creek Renewables in 2017, 1.2+ GW track record); COO Jess Ingram was previously Sr. Director of Development at Cypress Creek (3.5+ GW); and CCO Matt Short joined from SolAmerica Energy (where he was part of the team that sold the company to AB Carval), bringing $700M+ in renewable energy transactions. The team cites 50+ years of combined development experience and 6.0+ GW of lifetime gigawatts generated, alongside an environmental consulting partnership with Flycatcher LLC for Maine project siting and permitting. Paddle's differentiation rests on distributed-generation specialization, dual-use agricultural solar (crop production, livestock grazing, pollinator habitats), and a community-engagement model rather than proprietary technology, with no AI/ML capabilities, patents, or app products disclosed.
Paddle Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Paddle Energy
- Legal name
- Paddle Energy
- Website
- https://paddleenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Paddle Energy is a private, Asheville NC-headquartered developer of distributed solar and energy storage projects across the eastern US, leasing or purchasing land from property owners and partnering with utilities and community solar subscribers to deliver grid-resilient, smaller-scale generation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Paddle Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Distributed Solar Development
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Microgrid Development, EPC & Integration (EUAMAJAB), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)
Keywords
Where Paddle Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Asheville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Paddle Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Land Leasing: Paddle Energy leases land from landowners for solar projects. Landowners receive monthly lease payments for the duration of contract terms (25-35 years), creating passive income streams. Payments account for future price increases and inflation.
- Land Purchase: Paddle Energy purchases land outright for solar project development, providing landowners with lump-sum payments for their property.
- Community Solar Subscriptions: Revenue generated from community solar programs where subscribers receive electricity bill savings. Subscribers pay for their share of electricity produced by the solar farm.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Paddle Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Paddle Energy develops distributed-scale solar generation and energy storage projects across the Eastern United States, leasing or purchasing land from landowners and integrating completed projects into utility community solar programs. The company works directly with property owners through a multi-phase development process (site selection, diligence, construction, and operation) over 25-35 year contracts, while partnering with utilities to deliver grid-resilient renewable energy to community subscribers.
Product overview
Paddle Energy offers a unified platform of distributed solar and energy storage development services. The core offering consists of developing distributed solar projects integrated with energy storage solutions, with separate service offerings for landowners including land leasing and land purchase options. Projects are structured through community solar programs where subscribers can access affordable solar energy. The company works through phases including site selection, diligence, construction, and long-term operation spanning 25-35 years.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Landowners can earn passive income for 25-35 years with contracts accounting for price increases and inflation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Paddle Energy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Paddle Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Paddle Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Flycatcher LLCcoreFlycatcher LLC is an environmental and land use consulting company led by Rich Jordan (also Paddle Energy's Senior Project Developer). The company assists Paddle with siting, design, and permitting of solar projects throughout Maine, working to minimize effects on natural and scenic resources.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Paddle Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sunrun: Largest US residential solar and storage installer. Broad incumbent because both operate distributed solar subscription models targeting subscribers across many states, though Sunrun is residential-focused while Paddle is community-solar-focused.
- ENGIE Distributed Solar: Large global utility's distributed solar arm. Broad incumbent operating distributed solar and storage across multiple US states at significantly greater scale; relevant for benchmarking against a strategic acquirer or partnership counterparty.
- Lightsource bp: Global solar developer backed by bp. While primarily utility-scale, Lightsource has expanded into community and distributed solar in the US — a comparable reference point on how global incumbents are approaching distributed solar markets where Paddle operates.
- Clearway Community Solar: Subsidiary of Clearway Energy, a large publicly traded renewable energy operator. Broad incumbent that operates community solar as part of a wider portfolio of utility-scale and distributed assets, providing capital scale beyond what Paddle can access independently.
Direct peers
- Pivot Energy: Distributed solar developer with strong community solar practice. Direct peer because both develop mid-size, distributed community solar projects with landowner lease models and utility partnerships.
- SunShare: Community solar subscription company operating community solar farms in multiple US states. Direct peer because both sell subscriptions to community solar farms and target similar subscriber demographics and utility markets.
- SolAmerica Energy: Distributed solar developer sold to AB Carval. Direct peer because Paddle's CCO Matt Short was previously SVP and member of the Investment Committee at SolAmerica, originating and executing $700M+ in renewable energy transactions — comparable community/distributed solar model.
- Nexamp: Major community solar developer and operator with focus on subscriber-based solar farms in the Eastern US. Direct peer because both develop distributed, community-solar projects sold to subscribers and utilities under long-term contracts.
- Cypress Creek Renewables: One of the largest US distributed solar developers. Direct peer because Paddle's CEO led the merger of FLS Energy into Cypress Creek in 2017 and COO previously served as Sr. Director of Development there — directly comparable distributed-generation business model and target customer base.
- Nautilus Solar Energy: Community solar developer and owner-operator active across multiple US states. Direct peer because both focus on subscriber-accessible community solar projects with utility partnerships in similar Eastern US markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Paddle Energy social profiles
Digital presencePaddle Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Paddle Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Paddle Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Paddle Energy 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 Paddle Energy
What does Paddle Energy do?
Paddle Energy develops distributed-scale solar generation and energy storage projects across the Eastern United States, leasing or purchasing land from landowners and integrating completed projects into utility community solar programs. The company works directly with property owners through a multi-phase development process (site selection, diligence, construction, and operation) over 25-35 year contracts, while partnering with utilities to deliver grid-resilient renewable energy to community subscribers.
Is Paddle Energy a public or private company?
Paddle Energy is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Paddle Energy founded?
Paddle Energy was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Paddle Energy based?
Paddle Energy is headquartered in Asheville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Paddle Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Land Leasing is the primary driver. The others are land Purchase and community Solar Subscriptions.
Who are Paddle Energy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sunrun, ENGIE Distributed Solar, Lightsource bp and Clearway Community Solar. Direct peers are Pivot Energy, SunShare, SolAmerica Energy, Nexamp, Cypress Creek Renewables and Nautilus Solar Energy.
Does Paddle Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Paddle Energy.
What industry is Paddle Energy in?
Paddle Energy's product category is Distributed Solar Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management, with a secondary code of EUACALAJ, Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.