About the SUN Impact SREC program

What is the Impact SREC program?

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a national nonprofit with deep experience running programs that lower barriers to solar adoption. Cost is often a significant barrier. 

Our Impact SREC Program provides upfront funding for income-qualified solar projects by buying the value of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) that the systems will generate over a 10-year period. SRECs represent the “green value” of the solar energy the systems produce. Utilities and other entities buy them to comply with state or corporate clean energy goals.These credits are in addition to the value that solar owners can earn from the excess electricity they generate in markets where this is available.

Market focus

This program is most effective in areas where SRECs have minimal market value and can be readily transferred to SUN. It is less suitable in regions with robust Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) policies and active SREC markets, except when local SREC prices are below the program’s rate and upfront payments are not available.

How it works

1. Enrollment – Homeowners sign a standardized agreement with SUN to transfer SREC ownership.
2. Upfront payment – SUN pays the installer (or program administrator) an upfront amount based on expected SREC generation.
3. Tracking – Systems are enrolled in SUN’s monitoring portal to track SREC production over 10 years.
4. SREC sale – SUN sells SRECs to trusted partners so companies can meet their carbon goals and invest in local communities.

My experience with Solar United Neighbors was very good. The staff was and still is helpful, polite, and professional.

Zebelyn Christian, Miami-Dade solar co-op grant recipient

Impact SREC program roles and responsibilities

Solar United Neighbors

• Coordinates with program administrators and partners.
• Provides standard agreements for installers, participants and partners (if partners directly own the deployed solar array).
• Gathers system documentation and manage monitoring/reporting.
• Delivers upfront payment and monitor SREC production.

Partner

• Coordinates with SUN on program integration
• Integrates the Impact SREC offering into outreach.
• Promotes the program to participants and installers.
• Collaborates with SUN to support program growth.

Installer

• Explains the program to participants (if not done by program staff).
• Provides contracts and system documentation and provide access to remote monitoring.

Participant/System Owner

• Assists with annual production reporting (if automated monitoring is unavailable).

By solar home owners selling their SRECs with the help of Solar United Neighbors, WSR was able to extend grant funds to install a solar/battery compatible mini split system and improve insulation at one of our hub homes. This makes the solar and battery at the home much more impactful, as now it will help protect our community from overheating or freezing in the case of a power outage.

Becky Selle, West Street Recovery, a partner that worked with SUN’s Impact SREC program

Impact SREC program benefits

Our Impact SREC program provides a new source of capital for solar access in markets where SRECs have little or no open-market value. Selling SRECs through our program generates $1,000 – $1,500 to go toward the cost of an installation.

It is a proven model. More than 100 families have benefited from our pilot across four states.The program connects corporate climate commitments with solar equity. It is a sustainable model for deploying solar to income-qualified households nationwide.