In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Aviv Shalgi, CEO and co-founder of Solar Simplified, to discuss the growing and important niche of community solar. Aviv shares his journey into entrepreneurship, starting in the advertising industry before finding his passion in the energy transition. He explains how Solar Simplified was founded in 2020 with the goal of helping people save money during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and how the team identified community solar as an opportunity to do that while also accelerating the clean energy transition.
Aviv discusses the challenges that developers and asset owners face in the community solar industry, particularly around customer acquisition costs and misaligned incentives with third-party subscriber management companies. He describes how Solar Simplified has sought to address these issues by taking on more risk and responsibility themselves, shielding their partners from mistakes and losses. The conversation also covers the consumer experience, with Aviv highlighting Solar Simplified's focus on building trust and simplifying the signup and onboarding process.
A key part of the discussion centers around the critical role of utilities in the community solar ecosystem. Aviv shares insights on the wide variance in utility performance, from those that make the process seamless for customers to ones that create significant challenges with late or missing bill credits. He also touches on the importance of state regulations and the growing trend towards carve-outs for low-to-moderate income customers.
Overall, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the community solar landscape, the opportunities and challenges, and how innovative companies like Solar Simplified are working to drive the industry forward and accelerate the clean energy transition.
Key Takeaways
1. The growing trend towards carve-outs and mandates for low-to-moderate income participation in community solar programs, which adds complexity but also broadens access to clean energy benefits.
2. The value of data analytics and machine learning in optimizing customer acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency in the community solar space, as exemplified by Solar Simplified's approach.
3. The significant variance in utility performance when it comes to community solar bill credits and payments. This highlights the need for robust state regulations and utility cooperation to create a seamless customer experience.
4. The growth potential for the community solar market in the coming years, with projections of 2-5x expansion in the next 5-10 years, presenting opportunities for developers, asset owners, and service providers.
Social Media Handles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/avivshalgi/
http://www.solarsimplified.com/
Please take our Listener Survey: https://bit.ly/cphsurvey23
It helps us and you speed the energy transition (and who doesn't want that?!)
Please support the show - make a donation or become a sponsor. Learn more at https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/
The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. CPS America has offices in California, New Jersey, and Texas. Learn more at https://www.chintpowersystems.com/
00:00 - Introduction
02:03 - Aviv Shalgi's Entrepreneurial Journey
05:25 - The Origins of Solar Simplified
10:25 - Simplifying the Customer Experience
18:34 - Challenges that Solar Simplified Faces in the Community Solar Space
24:57 - How Solar Simplified Acquires its Customers
30:28 - Working with Consumers
33:30 - Working with Utilities
38:05 - Working with Asset Owners
39:16 - Utilities Attempting to Offer Community Solar
46:18 - Aviv's View of the Solar Industry in the US
51:31 - Conclusion How to Connect with Aviv Shalgi
