Case Study

Solar Developer, Investor, and Asset Owner (Confidential Client)

An east coast-based solar energy developer, financier, and asset owner contacted DG+ to provide market research to inform its business development strategy in a highly competitive environment. After conducting market and competitive analyses, DG+ delivered a comprehensive report and executive presentation with customized sales and marketing recommendations.

About

The client is a Fortune 1000 company that invests in, owns, and operates solar projects and provides residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions. Today, they are one of the largest owners and operators in the eastern U.S. with a total capacity of more than 400 megawatts.

Challenge

As the solar market becomes increasingly diffuse, it becomes more challenging for developers to communicate their value and reach potential customers. The client works primarily with residential and small commercial operations, and its team needed to know where to focus its short- and long-term efforts. 

However, the client’s team lacked the insight into demographics, trends, and market forces to inform its sales and marketing strategy. It also needed to better understand its competitors, their offerings, and market share in order to establish a strong position in its target markets. 

The client chose to work with DG+ due to the teams technical and policy-based industry expertise, experience with imperfect datasets, and statistical analysis expertise.

Solution

DG+ conducted an analysis of the client’s focal residential and commercial solar market, including key players, market demographics, trends, and policies. As the solar industry lacks cohesive and uniform data sources, DG+ employed a creative, multi-pronged approach to gather and assess information, including using surveys and other qualitative methods, as well as spatial analysis and GIS visualization. DG+ also aggregated and analyzed large sets of data from government bodies and heavy-hitting industry resources such as the National Renewable Energy Lab and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  

DG+ refined the analysis to a granular, zip code-level scope, and developed a weighted scoring system using factors such as market size, existing client presence, and utility rates. The top 10 zip code areas were discussed in a 30-page final report and presented in an executive summary slide deck. 

Also included in the report was a competitive analysis of the client’s competitors that contained market share, pricing, and product offerings, providing the client with crucial insight into its competitors’ strengths and weaknesses as well as recommendations for next steps.

Results

Delivered a ranked list of the most optimal zip code areas to target based on market conditions and client objectives, and provided marketing and sales recommendations for next steps.

Provided a competitive analysis of 10 competitors, including market share, pricing, and product offerings.

Created multiple market-driven choropleths (i.e. heat maps) visualizing overlays of solar suitability and market penetration, down to a zip code granularity.

Solar Developer, Investor, and Asset Owner (Confidential Client)Solar Developer, Investor, and Asset Owner (Confidential Client)
Related

Read other case studies

CONTACT

Let's discuss your next project.

Are you looking for marketing, communications, creative, or research help? Simply fill out this form, and we'll be in touch!

Solar Developer, Investor, and Asset Owner (Confidential Client)

An east coast-based solar energy developer, financier, and asset owner contacted DG+ to provide market research to inform its business development strategy in a highly competitive environment. After conducting market and competitive analyses, DG+ delivered a comprehensive report and executive presentation with customized sales and marketing recommendations.

quote symbol

|
About

The client is a Fortune 1000 company that invests in, owns, and operates solar projects and provides residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions. Today, they are one of the largest owners and operators in the eastern U.S. with a total capacity of more than 400 megawatts.

Links
Project team
external link iconlinkedin iconfacebook iconinstagram iconyoutube icontwitter icon
Challenge

As the solar market becomes increasingly diffuse, it becomes more challenging for developers to communicate their value and reach potential customers. The client works primarily with residential and small commercial operations, and its team needed to know where to focus its short- and long-term efforts. 

However, the client’s team lacked the insight into demographics, trends, and market forces to inform its sales and marketing strategy. It also needed to better understand its competitors, their offerings, and market share in order to establish a strong position in its target markets. 

The client chose to work with DG+ due to the teams technical and policy-based industry expertise, experience with imperfect datasets, and statistical analysis expertise.

Solution

DG+ conducted an analysis of the client’s focal residential and commercial solar market, including key players, market demographics, trends, and policies. As the solar industry lacks cohesive and uniform data sources, DG+ employed a creative, multi-pronged approach to gather and assess information, including using surveys and other qualitative methods, as well as spatial analysis and GIS visualization. DG+ also aggregated and analyzed large sets of data from government bodies and heavy-hitting industry resources such as the National Renewable Energy Lab and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  

DG+ refined the analysis to a granular, zip code-level scope, and developed a weighted scoring system using factors such as market size, existing client presence, and utility rates. The top 10 zip code areas were discussed in a 30-page final report and presented in an executive summary slide deck. 

Also included in the report was a competitive analysis of the client’s competitors that contained market share, pricing, and product offerings, providing the client with crucial insight into its competitors’ strengths and weaknesses as well as recommendations for next steps.

Results
quote symbol

|
No items found.
CONTACT

Let's discuss your next project.

Are you looking for marketing, communications, creative, or research help? Simply fill out this form, and we'll be in touch!