By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

It’s easy to talk consumer protection, but it’s another thing to actually do something about it. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has taken it upon itself to be the most vocal advocate for consumer protection in the solar industry – and now they’ve got a residential consumer guide to match the rhetoric.

The national solar organization has updated its SEIA Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power to reflect a focus on creating a positive buying experience for residential solar consumers with a one-stop guide to the ins and outs of purchasing residential solar, including what red flags should send residential consumers running for the hills.

Any solar consumer can download the guide from SEIA’s website and includes the basics of solar energy and ownership options available to them – but goes one step further to include key questions consumers should ask solar installers before signing a contract. The guide is a result of a joint effort of the leading companies across the solar industry and goes hand in hand with SEIA’s existing Solar Business Code by which all SEIA members abide.

“The residential solar market is expanding into new states at a rapid pace, and because of that it’s critical that potential solar customers have the tools they need to fully understand solar transactions,” said Tom Kimbis, SEIA’s executive vice president. “By demystifying the buying decision solar can find its way onto millions of new American homes.”

But the guide doesn’t just stop with questions to ask about the system as it will serve the homeowner – it also includes questions about what consumers need to know before they sell the home with solar modules on it. It also addresses solar + storage, which is a new consideration for most solar consumers. SEIA’s decision to lead on the solar + storage issue shows how closely they are monitoring the market and trying to protect consumers throughout the solar-purchasing process.

“My company has been involved with solar installations since 1980,” said Ed Murray, president of Aztec Solar, based in Rancho Cordova, Calif. “The new SEIA consumer protection guide shows the strong commitment of our industry as solar has become a mainstream energy choice for Americans.”

Other industries I’ve worked in talk about consumer protection – the solar industry is the first I’ve seen try to do something to marginalize the bad actors before they have a chance to give the industry a black eye – an effort for which they should be applauded.

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Commercial solar is the most challenging segment of the solar industry in which to find low-cost financing. Open Energy, a commercial financing provider, is trying to fix that problem by creating the first lending exchange for commercial scale solar developers and installers.

Called The Open Energy Finance Exchange, it allows more than 60 lenders to compete to fund a project, driving down costs and improving terms for project developers. The exchange reportedly will provide access to $5 billion in capital.

The key to the exchange is the loan quote tool, which helps project developers get financing estimates, which provides them a better idea of how much money might be available to them with a PPA-based project or a direct-owned system and can plan accordingly. The quote is the first step for developers to access the Open Energy Finance Exchange and applies to power purchase agreement-based and direct owned projects from 50 kW to 50 MW.

According to the company, there are already more than $75 million worth of deals active on the exchange, with $35 million already matched successfully. By the end of the year, Open Energy targets $250 million of solar financing matched between lenders and developers.

Open Energy CEO Graham Smith said:

We want to take the search for finance off the developer’s plate and bring the market to them. The commercial solar market continues to have an immense potential but numerous obstacles, such as the time taken to source financing and a lack of financing choices, has hindered its growth. Over the last few years, we have worked hard to expand commercial solar financing and now we are taking the next step in growing the market with the Finance Exchange. With direct access to significantly more financing, we believe we can help the market truly take off.

Thanks to more difficult risk profiles and market fragmentation, the commercial market is still struggling to find its financing footing. The innovation of the Open Energy Finance Exchange is a welcome addition to the segment.