Alder Energy lights up businesses and the solar industry with powerful, turnkey solutions.
Operating out of a net-zero energy building in Charleston, SC, fueled by 107 solar panels, Alder provides comprehensive renewable energy solutions, including community solar farm development and design-build solar and battery services for commercial applications.
They have been repeatedly honored by Solar Power World magazine as one of the top solar companies in America and by Inc. magazine as one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies.
Early History
Since 2008, Alder Energy has offered services ranging from designing small commercial power systems to building large-scale utility projects. By leveraging its growing pipeline of projects and years of relationships in the solar industry, Alder Energy provides customers with cost-effective procurement and construction pricing in all the markets it serves. The company accesses competitive pricing options for all major components without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
In the Southeast’s early days of solar, facing an inhospitable regulatory environment, Alder’s customers were early adopters committed to the solar industry, regardless of the barriers. Founded by Donald Zimmerman and originally called Blue Marble Solar, the company merged with another in 2011 to become Alder Energy, LLC. In 2014, the South Carolina legislature codified support for solar, establishing solar credits and the net metering system that boosts the financial value of producing solar energy.
Before then, state and utility rules regarding solar energy systems weren’t well-established. With a limited client base, it took the Alder team a lot of patience and hope that policies would change.
Thankfully, the Distributed Energy Resources Program (Act 236) became law in 2014, establishing the rules and regulations for solar. This was followed in 2019 by the South Carolina Energy Freedom Act (Act 62) that further promoted renewable energy and refined utility interconnection procedures. Today, there are valuable compensation structures for solar and federal tax credits that incentivize companies looking to make their businesses more sustainable.
Expanding Focus and Markets
Since its founding, Alder has handled every aspect of the solar design and installation. Because of its focus on quality and customer relationships, its business has grown through referrals and word of mouth, spreading from those early adopters to the large commercial and industrial clients it serves today.
If your business is seeking a more environmentally and economically sustainable power solution, whether to save money or meet customer-driven ESG benchmarks, Alder Energy can help you determine the plausibility of solar power at your location(s). From there, it can serve as your partner in establishing a plan for optimal economic and environmental benefit and then designing, installing, and maintaining your system.
Alder Energy’s founder was always passionate about having big goals and completing big projects. The company now focuses entirely on developing community solar and large commercial projects rather than residential products. Regardless, their team stays true to their founding beliefs of quality and customer service.
An early opportunity to expand geographically occurred in 2016 when Alder Energy was invited to develop a site in Maryland that would participate in the newly created Community Solar Pilot Program. This project became the second community solar farm operating in Maryland and launched Alder Energy’s development business.
Now, Alder Energy operates in many states, always striving towards a bright future filled with new opportunities for business owners and energy ratepayers to save money through solar investments and subscriptions.
Hand in Hand with the Solar Industry
Alder Energy’s journey mirrors the evolution of the solar industry in South Carolina, playing a vital role in shaping the state’s solar landscape. Alder Energy is the longest-tenured commercial solar company in the state. Among its notable projects is a 3-megawatt solar farm for Santee Cooper and Edisto Electric Cooperative in Colleton County, enough to power hundreds of homes.
Alder Energy drives fairness in the solar market and fosters energy independence by developing community solar arrays. Instead of importing dirty fuel into a region, community solar helps create good jobs and clean energy locally. Properly managed community solar farms also protect natural resources, preserving clean air and water while benefiting local agriculture and wildlife. Alder Energy has completed eight community solar farms since 2017 and has dozens more in its pipeline.
Successful solar construction projects demand a relentless focus on meeting deadlines. Relying on in-depth planning and the experience from more than 400 completed projects, Alder Energy anticipates issues that might arise and works efficiently to resolve them in an accelerated manner. Alder Energy works with structural and electrical engineers to design safe and reliable code-compliant packages that ensure projects stay on schedule. The team has substantial experience designing both roof and ground-mounted solar projects. It operates each project with precision, attention to detail, and a strict on-site safety protocol.
Maintaining and repairing system components is critical to ensuring the reliability of a renewable energy-generating facility. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology and a staff with deep understanding and expertise, Alder Energy can guarantee its clients’ optimal operation of solar-powered facilities. Among its staff are technicians and designers certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Clients have the peace of mind that they are qualified with the experience to manage solar power plants skillfully.
Ready to take the next move towards clean energy for your business? Contact an Alder Energy expert today for more information. Also, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
