What US Solar Development does

US Solar Development is a privately held, vertically integrated commercial solar EPC founded in 2017 and headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The company designs, finances, installs, and maintains commercial and industrial solar systems for business customers across the Mid-Atlantic region, with active licenses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland plus service coverage in Washington DC. It reports more than 700 completed commercial installations in Pennsylvania alone, and was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in 2025.

Its core technical offering spans rooftop and ground-mount solar systems, including engineered ballasted racking that requires no roof penetrations and accommodates standing seam metal, EPDM/TPO membrane, and asphalt shingle roofs. The company pairs these install capabilities with a proprietary remote monitoring product offered at no subscription cost, plus diagnostic repair, IR-camera-based performance evaluations, and annual maintenance programs. Founder Dylan Kautz holds NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification and brings a 15-year commercial solar track record dating to 2009, including prior experience running KC Green Energy. Equipment is sourced directly from tier-one manufacturers (Trina Solar, Qcells, SMA, SolarEdge, PanelClaw), and the company maintains mutual partnerships with commercial roofing manufacturers (GAF, Carlisle, Firestone) to preserve roof warranties on solar installations.

The revenue model mixes three streams: one-time project revenue from design and installation; long-duration, transaction-fee revenue from 20-25 year Power Purchase Agreements where third-party investors own the system and the customer pays per kWh; and recurring professional-services revenue from maintenance, repair, and monitoring on the installed base. Pricing is enabled through federal tax credits (30-50% of project cost), USDA REAP grants (25-50%), and federal accelerated depreciation, with an in-house grant-writing team applying at no cost to the customer. Go-to-market is exclusively direct enterprise field sales targeting warehouses, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, places of worship, and multi-dwelling housing, supported by SEO-driven content marketing and free-site-analysis lead capture.

Name

US Solar Development

Legal name

US Solar Development, Inc.

Website

https://ussolardevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

US Solar Development is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based commercial solar EPC founded in 2017 that designs, installs, and maintains rooftop and ground-mount solar systems for commercial and industrial businesses across the Mid-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington DC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial 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 Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)

Keywords

• Commercial solar installation
• Solar panel repair
• Rooftop solar systems
• Solar maintenance services
• Solar project development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Project Development and Installation: Full-service commercial solar project development, engineering, permitting, construction, and long-term maintenance. Revenue generated from design, equipment procurement, and installation services for commercial rooftop solar systems. The company operates as both developer and installation contractor with in-house capabilities.
2. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Third-party investor-owned solar installations where customers pay for electricity produced per kWh at rates below current utility rates. No upfront capital required from customer. 20-25 year term agreements.
3. Solar Repair and Maintenance Services: Ongoing maintenance, repairs, and emergency services for commercial solar systems including routine inspections, cleaning, electrical testing, IR camera imaging, and performance monitoring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

US Solar Development designs, finances, installs, and maintains commercial and industrial solar energy systems. The company acts as a vertically integrated developer and installation contractor providing turnkey services from free site analysis through engineering, permitting, utility interconnection, construction, and long-term operations and maintenance, with licensed operations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

Product overview

US Solar Development is a commercial solar development, installation, and maintenance company offering a unified turnkey service model. It acts simultaneously as developer, designer, engineer, and installation contractor, providing end-to-end services from free site analysis through financing, permitting, engineering, construction, interconnection, and long-term operations and maintenance. The core product is commercial solar installation and repair services, supported by add-on modules including performance evaluations, remote monitoring (no subscription fees), and rooftop/ground-mount system options. Financing is available through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure with no upfront cost. The company specializes in commercial and industrial rooftop projects and is licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Solar Installation Services Turnkey commercial solar installation covering site analysis, engineering, design, permitting, utility interconnection, construction, and post-installation inspections. Services are available throughout Pennsylvania and licensed states (PA, NJ, DE, MD), serving diverse industries including warehouses, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and places of worship.
• Commercial Solar Repair Services Diagnostic, repair, and emergency response services for commercial solar systems including solar panels, inverters, wiring, mounting systems, and monitoring equipment. Includes routine maintenance, panel cleaning, IR camera imaging, and preventive follow-up plans.
• Commercial Solar Performance Evaluations System diagnostics and production analysis services that evaluate actual versus expected energy output, identify underperforming panels, strings, or sections, diagnose monitoring gaps, and recommend repair or maintenance steps to restore system performance.
• Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Financing arrangement allowing businesses to go solar with zero upfront cost. A third-party investor owns the solar system, and the customer pays per kWh of electricity produced at a rate below the current utility rate, over a 20-25 year term.
• Rooftop Solar Systems Roof-mounted solar panel installations for flat or sloped commercial rooftops. Uses engineered ballasted racking systems requiring no roof penetrations for flat roofs. Compatible with standing seam metal, single-ply membrane (EPDM/TPO), and asphalt shingle roofs. Includes designated walkways for HVAC access and emergency personnel.
• Ground-Mount Solar Systems Ground-level solar panel installations for properties with ample open space. Offers flexibility in design, orientation, and scalability. Installation methods include pile-driven posts, helical piles, and ground screws to accommodate varying site and geotechnical conditions.
• Development and Engineering Services Full project-cycle services including planning and permitting, utility interconnection approval, electrical and structural engineering with PE-stamped plans, state renewable energy credit applications, warranty continuation with roofing manufacturers, financial solutions and tax equity partnerships, land and rooftop leases, and coordination with architects and general contractors.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Trina SolarcoreTechnology or IntegrationMaterial partner for solar panels. Company buys direct from top solar panel manufacturers to deliver best products at competitive prices.
• QcellscoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary solar panel supplier. Direct purchasing relationship to ensure competitive pricing and quality products.
• SMA Solar TechnologycoreTechnology or IntegrationInverter supplier for solar systems. Company partners with top manufacturers to ensure reliable, high-performance equipment.
• SolarEdgecoreTechnology or IntegrationInverter and power optimization technology partner. Provides power electronics for system performance and monitoring.
• PanelClawcoreTechnology or IntegrationRacking and mounting system partner for commercial rooftop solar installations.
• GAFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoofing manufacturer partner ensuring solar installation methods meet technical requirements and maintain roofing warranties.
• CarlislemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoofing manufacturer partner for commercial roofing applications. Ensures warranty preservation during solar installation.
• FirestonemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoofing manufacturer partner ensuring solar installation meets technical specifications and maintains roof warranties.
• Licensed Professional EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with licensed PE firms for electrical design, structural analysis, and stamped engineering plans required for commercial permits.
• Commercial Roofing Installation CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose partnership with commercial roofing installation company for new roof installations when necessary, with warranties up to 25 years.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• ReVision Energy: Employee-owned commercial and residential solar installer serving Northern New England. Comparable vertically integrated C&I solar EPC model and NABCEP-certified technical staff, though operating in a different geography.
• IPSUN Solar (formerly IGS Solar): Mid-Atlantic regional solar installer with operations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Competes with US Solar Development for the same Mid-Atlantic commercial and residential solar market, though with stronger Northern Virginia tilt.

Direct peers

• Pivot Energy: Commercial and community-scale solar developer and EPC providing turnkey project development, financing, and installation. Comparable business model with multi-state developer + installer capabilities targeting C&I customers.
• Trinity Solar: New Jersey-based solar installer offering residential and commercial solar with a regional field-sales model. Overlaps directly with US Solar Development in commercial and industrial solar across the Mid-Atlantic, with a similar mix of direct ownership and PPA-style financing.
• Ecogy Solar: Commercial and industrial solar developer offering distributed generation development, financing, and project services. Closely matches US Solar Development's full-lifecycle commercial solar value proposition and PPA offerings.
• Citadel Roofing and Solar: Commercial roofing-integrated solar installer that, like US Solar Development, leverages roofing expertise to install rooftop PV with warranty-preserving methods. Directly comparable on the commercial-rooftop-plus-solar value proposition and Mid-Atlantic footprint.
• Baker Electric / Baker Renewable Energy: Commercial solar EPC combining electrical contracting heritage with solar design-build, similar to US Solar Development's vertically integrated developer-installer model. Targets commercial and industrial customers across multiple states.

Broad incumbents

• Tesla Energy: National solar and storage provider including commercial-scale deployments. A broad incumbent with overlapping commercial solar and energy storage capabilities, but operating at far greater scale and capital depth than US Solar Development.
• SunPower (commercial division): Large national solar company offering residential and commercial PV systems, monitoring, and financing. Overlaps with US Solar Development on commercial rooftop installations and remote monitoring, but serves a national footprint and much broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 US Solar Development