Post-installation service contracts adding thousands of new sales prospects, says Solarbuzz Press release, Jackie Chang, DIGITIMES [Wednesday 12 September 2012] Previously over-looked opportunities are now emerging for solar PV systems providers within the US by addressing the growing requirement for post-installation service contracts across multiple installation sites, such as municipalities and school districts, according to Solarbuzz.
This incremental opportunity represents more than 2,000 immediate new targets for solar PV systems providers within the US, as a complement to the 37GW of solar pipeline above the 50kW level dating back to January 2010.
According to Christine Beadle, analyst at NPD Solarbuzz, "Traditionally, the focus of solar PV systems providers in the US has been on current or planned installations, but competition has become increasingly fierce across the 3,700 projects above the 50kW level that are at various stages of development. Recently, systems providers in the US have started to target completed solar installations as a means to expand their addressable market and revenue opportunities."
Completed solar projects in the US now exceed those being installed or planned. More than half of the solar projects are completed, with less than a tenth in the installation phase and slightly more than a third in planning stages.
A variety of opportunities now exist for solar PV systems providers targeting the multi-GW solar installed base within the US. This includes post-installation service contracts across many individual and multiple sites, options to expand the size of existing solar installations, and the potential to up-grade original site installs with advances in solar technology.
"Over the lifetime of the solar installation, equipment has to be maintained, cleaned, and repaired," added Beadle. "Securing service contract business has therefore become a highly lucrative source of on-going revenues."
Accessing comprehensive details of the back-catalog of completed solar installations above 50kW in the US is critical to succeed within this new revenue segment. Establishing relationships with commercial solar PV systems owners also provides the scope for system expansion or new project development in the future, said Solarbuzz.
