Sunnova aiming to develop ‘first-of-its-kind’ solar and storage ‘micro-utility’ in California

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Sunnova’s micro-utility communities would be able to produce, share and deliver power generated from local renewable resources, the company said. Image: Sunnova

US residential solar installer Sunnova has applied to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to develop a “first-of-its-kind” solar and storage focused “micro-utility” in the state.

The Texas-based company has formed a wholly owned subsidiary called Sunnova Community Microgrids California (SCMC) to own and operate Energy as a Service (EaaS) offerings, such as energy generation, storage and distribution infrastructure, throughout communities in California. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

SCMC will develop “self-sustaining micro-utilities” by equipping communities with solar and storage that will provide customers with modern energy services and infrastructure, enabling them to access the benefits of clean energy while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and the region’s grid system.

The subsidiary will focus on newly constructed homes, allowing it to work with developers to design and implement distributed solar-powered microgrids. The new community clusters will be called “Sunnova Adaptive Communities”.

These ‘adaptive communities’ will provide consumers with the ability to produce, share and deliver power generated from local renewable resources at the same time as easing pressure on the state’s transmission and distribution system.

“Community microgrids are the future as they offer the unique ability to share excess electricity, putting the power in the hands of homeowners and significantly enhancing the resiliency of communities,” said William Berger, founder and CEO of Sunnova, which recently recorded its best ever quarter in terms of sales.

“Sunnova is breaking new ground by expanding its distributed energy service platform from homes to whole communities.”

Sunnova referenced the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on 17 August by US President Joe Biden, as further support for its microgrid aims. The Act “brings incentives for renewables and the clean technology required to monitor and control microgrids where communities share power and can island from the grid,” Sunnova said.

17 June 2025
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 17-18 June 2025, will be our fourth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2026 and beyond.
7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.

Read Next

June 9, 2025
Solar manufacturer Qcells has launched a recycling arm, called EcoRecycle, and a recycling plant in the US state of Georgia.
June 9, 2025
Growing political headwinds threaten to dent US solar manufacturing and project deployment, despite a strong start to 2025.
June 9, 2025
US residential solar installer Sunnova has laid off more than half of its workforce, while a subsidiary from Delaware filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
June 6, 2025
rPlus Energies has secured more than US$500 million for an 800MW solar-plus-storage project in Emery County, Utah, US.  
June 5, 2025
Policy uncertainty in the US is likely to disrupt investment in clean energy, according to a recent report from Crux.
June 5, 2025
Investment in clean energy and grids will reach US$2.2 trillion in 2025, double the expected investment into fossil fuels this year, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece