Businessweek

Clear Skies Solar, Inc. designs, markets, integrates, and installs solar power systems for commercial, industrial, and residential customers. Products and Services The company offers photovoltaic (PV) solar products and services. Commercial Solar Installations: The company installs commercial solar systems, with a focus on systems that produce one megawatt or less. It focuses on installation projects where it would act as general contractor for commercial and industrial projects. Residential Solar Installations: The company operates as a general contractor. Other Markets: In addition to commercial and residential PV installations that include corporate buildings and multi-dwelling residential developments, subject to receipt of adequate financing, the company intends to pursue three specific additional markets, such as agricultural systems; commercial systems; and non-profit and institutional clients. Agricultural Systems: The company completed the installation of a PV solar energy system on a dairy farm in California. Commercial Systems: This area includes long term lessees or owners of larger properties who either pay cash for a system or utilize a power purchase agreement that it provides to finance the installation of the system. Non-Profit and Institutional Clients: The company has identified third parties that are able to arrange power purchase agreements and financing that captures the value of accelerated depreciation and tax credits through third-party investment financing to facilitate installation of PV systems to this category of customer. Remote Monitoring Products The company developed XTRAX, a patented remote monitoring solution for measuring the production of renewable energy systems and for transmission of the data through the cellular telephone or microwave network and satellite. The XTRAX hardware monitor uses a minimalist approach by integrating a microcontroller, an energy measurement device, a cellular card and miscellaneous interface components to provide a small and low cost hardware platform. This platform is capable of being utilized for various measurements, including electrical energy production and with modifications temperature, volume, and flow. It can also provide alerts if the system under measurement malfunctions. The XTRAX hardware monitor utilizes a database application for the retrieval and reporting of data to owners, customers, and aggregators. The XTRAX system as a whole also provides users the ability to retrieve reports through a Website or potentially a text message. Customers The company sells its solar power systems directly to commercial, industrial and residential users. It serves customers in New Jersey, California and New York and performs installations through Clear Skies Group, Inc.’s licenses and those of its vendors. Suppliers The company purchased solar panels used in its solar power systems from Kyocera Solar, Suntech America and Sharp. Other vendors it would consider purchasing from include Solar-Fabrik AG, General Electric, SMA American, and XANTRAX. The company purchased inverters principally from SatCon Power Systems and PV Power. Competition The company’s PV installation competitors in the United States include GoSolar, Inc.; Power Light Corporation; SolarCity; Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc.; Central Solar Systems; and Sun Edison, LLC. History Clear Skies Solar, Inc. was founded in 2003.