In 2023 alone, the U.S. experienced weather or climate disasters totaling $92.9 billion in damages. Go back just seven short years to 2017 and these disasters have led to 5,500 deaths and over $1 trillion dollars in damage. These staggering numbers should motivate the elected leaders to enact reasonable policies to keep the solar industry on the path of exponential growth it saw in the last decade. Instead, people are faced with climate change denial, political indifference, and policies that make solar less attractive to the average homeowner.
Case in point: The California Public Utilities Commission voted to revise the state’s net metering policy, which determines how homeowners receive credits for contributing electricity back to the grid. The result? Solar energy credits were devalued by 75%, leading to an 80% decrease in rooftop solar installation volume. The California Solar & Storage Association reported over 17,000 layoffs, thousands of stalled solar projects, and a wave of bankruptcies, decimating a fragile but growing industry.
This decrease in demand has far-reaching effects, well beyond the environmental impacts. Manufacturers invested heavily to meet the forecasted demands of the industry. Now that shortsighted changes are stifling growth and stalling projects, underutilized capacity could lead to even more solar bankruptcies and layoffs.
The Shape of Solar to Come
The solar industry desperately needed a catalyst for positive change, and it’s found just that in The Megawatt Group. The company directly addresses the problems faced by the industry from both sides – they strengthen the bottom line for solar manufacturers while simultaneously lowering component pricing for installers. Which, in turn, makes solar more affordable for homeowners and business owners. Under the leadership of Todd Ahern, CEO, and Tu Tran, president, The Megawatt Group has firmly established itself in the solar industry as the go-to resource for modules and solar components.
The secret to their success is their unique business model. For manufacturers, The Megawatt Group acts as an outsourced sales team, supplementing their existing salesforce. By outsourcing a portion of their sales, marketing, logistics, and legal resources, suppliers become leaner with far less operating expenses. This gives them better adaptability to poor market conditions and helps them manage exponential growth smartly and cost-effectively in strong market conditions.
Making Solar Accessible to All
For solar installers, The Megawatt Group opens doors for small and midsize clients by leveraging their volume discounts. Plus, they offer a real-time database showing product availability from multiple Tier-1 suppliers, including product on the secondary market, at substantially discounted prices. “Picture Amazon Marketplace, where customers have access to product available from multiple sellers, all competing to earn your business,” Tran explains. “Our module marketplace operates on the same principle - a vast selection of solar modules and components, all in one database, sold under one contract.”
The Megawatt Group’s business model, backed by strong execution and powerful industry relationships, continues to protect suppliers and customers from the bankruptcies and closures threatening the solar industry. “Renewable energy is more important than ever to combat climate change,” Ahern notes. “By lowering costs throughout the supply chain and offering immense value to our partners, we can help both sides survive and even thrive in this unpredictable ‘solar coaster’ industry.”
Media Contact
Company Name: The Megawatt Group
Contact Person: Todd Ahern
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: http://megawattgroup.com
