Sungevity

Sungevity is a solar electricity company based in Oakland, California. Founded in 2007, the company designs home solar systems; provides financing options; and manages system installation, maintenance, and performance. The firm uses a proprietary Remote Solar Design (RSD) tool to offer a quote and system design options without visiting the home.[1]

Sungevity
Key people
Danny Kennedy — Co-Founder;

Andrew Birch — CEO;

Alec Guettel — Co-Founder
Number of employees
400+ (2013)
WebsiteSungevity.com
Sungevity electric car in Southern California

Sungevity operates in the United States and Europe. Within the United States, it installs solar solutions in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, and Washington D.C.[2] In 2012, the company reported having more than 250 employees,[3] but in 2017 it laid off almost all its staff and was sold to Northern Pacific Group.[4]

History

Sungevity was founded in 2007 by Danny Kennedy, Andrew Birch[5] (CEO), and Alec Guettel. On September 22, 2009, thefirm announced that it had raised $6 million to expand its services to Southern California and California's Central Valley. On May 1, 2010, Sungevity partnered with US Bank and launched its Solar Lease program.[6]

In December 2010, the firm raised an additional $15 million toward its Series C funding round. In 2011, it worked with U.S. Bancorp, Rabobank, and Citigroup to fund residential solar installations. Also in 2011, Lowe's, the home-improvement retailer, purchased a stake in Sungevity.[7] In April 2014, the firm raised $70 million in equity from investors including General Electric, Lowe's, Jetstream Ventures, and E.ON, Europe's largest investor-owned utility.[8] On December 15, 2015, it announced its $600 million private equity funding by investors including GE Ventures as well as Apollo Investment Corporation.[9]

In November 2011, the firm announced it was taking an equity stake in Dutch solar company Zonline.[10] Sungevity was to provide Zonline with its proprietary software tools, including the company's Remote Solar Design services and brand-identity assets. In June 2014, Sungevity acquired Zonline and launched Sungevity Netherlands.[11]

In April 2012, Sungevity and Australian solar company Nickel Energy announced a joint venture, called Sungevity Australia, that would provide Australian homeowners with their first pay-as-you-go solar option, which the company dubbed RoofJuice.[12]

In January 2017 the company laid off senior and mid-level managers, and in March it laid off around 2/3 of its staff without notice, with sources at the company suggesting bankruptcy was imminent.[4] The ex-employees filed a lawsuit seeking back pay for 60 days, a requirement under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.[13] In April, after laying off another 2/3 of its staff without severance pay, the remainder of the company was sold to private equity firm Northern Pacific Group for $50 million, who created a new company, Solar Spectrum, which acquired Sungevity's infrastructure, technology, installer network, supplier warranties, and certain agreements. Northern Pacific Group also acquired Sungevity's European businesses which were subsequently sold to French utility Engie. The now Engie owned European business operates under the name Sungevity International.[14][15][16]

Sungevity laid off 400 people in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Sungevity's companies - Horizon Solar Power and Solar Spectrum, along with Sungevity, ceased operations in November 2020.

Globama (Solar on the White House)

In April 2010, Sungevity introduced the "Solar on the White House" campaign.[17] The stated purpose of the campaign was to have the President highlight the environmental and fiscal benefits of solar energy.[18] The campaign highlighted the fact that President Jimmy Carter had installed solar panels on the White House in 1979, at the same time he introduced several solar incentives. The panels were removed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986[19] when Carter's incentives ran out.

In August 2013, solar panels were installed on the White House.[20] The system became operational in May 2014.[21] During the campaign for solar on the White House, Sungevity was approached by President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives for help installing solar panels on the Maldivian Presidential Palace, the Muliaage.[22] This campaign later led to the launch of an independent nonprofit called Solar Head of State.[23]

Awards and recognition

See also

References
  1. "Startup sells solar panels online". Sfgate.com. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-03-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Jeff Himmelmann, 'The Secret to Solar Power', New York Times, August 9, 2012
  4. "Sungevity Cuts Staff by Two-Thirds as Downward Spiral Continues". Greentechmedia.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  5. Watt It Takes: Sungevity CEO Andrew Birch, retrieved 2017-11-29
  6. ""Solar Leasing: Solar's Next Big Thing," Daily Finance, May 2012". Dailyfinance.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  7. "Lowe's Buys Sungevity Stake to Offer In-Store Solar Lease". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  8. Wang, Ucilia. "What E.ON And Other Energy Firms Want: Solar Investments". Forbes.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  9. "Sungevity Raises Giant $600M Fund From Apollo to Finance Residential Solar". Greentechmedia.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-05-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Sungevity & E.ON Team Up To Expand Solar Energy Business In Europe". Cleantechnica.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  12. "Real Estate and Property Market News". Domain. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  13. Avalos, George (2017-03-15). "Sungevity workers demand back pay for abrupt terminations". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  14. "Sungevity renames itself Solar Spectrum, will reach out to current customers for new warranty solution". Solarpowerworldonline.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  15. "Sungevity Is Sold: More Layoffs Without Notice, Name Changed to Solar Spectrum". Greentechmedia.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  16. "Sungevity files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy". Solarpowerworldonline.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  17. "Research And Term Paper Writing House". Solaronthewhitehouse.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  18. "sungevity_letter.pdf" (PDF). Docs.google.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  19. ""Where Did the Carter White House's Solar Panels Go?" Scientific American, August 2010". Scientificamerican.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  20. Leader, Jessica (15 August 2013). "White House's Solar Panel Installation Has Begun, Source Confirms". Retrieved 18 July 2018 – via Huff Post.
  21. Sheppard, Kate (9 May 2014). "White House Solar Panels Are Finally Up". Retrieved 18 July 2018 – via Huff Post.
  22. "President Nasheed got to work, literally". 350.org. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. "SF Biz Times honors greenest and cleanest (tech that is)". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  25. 2011 Winners | Green Jobs Award Archived 2013-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
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