COMMUNITY SOLAR RISING: PART 4
CUSTOMER ACQUISITION PORTALS – BUILD OR BUY

Community Solar RIsing: part 4

CUSTOMER ACQUISITION PORTALS – BUILD OR BUY

Community Solar is ramping up quickly as new businesses take the initiative to be first or early entrants into markets across North America. Hansen is fortunate to partner with some of these new businesses that work in the “solar farm fields” as they build their businesses and acquire new customers.

If you missed the previous Community Solar Rising POV Papers, here is a brief summary:

• In Community Solar Rising Part 1, we explored the market opportunity in North America and advice for providers interested in entering the market.
• In Community Solar Rising Part 2, we covered the five key steps in the customer acquisition process and the operational challenges associated with them.
• In Community Solar Rising Part 3, Hansen provided perspective on the critical ingredients for success in the development of operations to support Community Solar businesses.

In fourth part of Hansen’s Community Solar POV series, Hansen’s Specialist Community Solar Project Leader Shiva Gowrinathan gives his perspective on the pros and cons of building vs. buying a customer acquisition portal and takes you through the practical experiences of implementing both. Based on his work with newly-emerging Community Solar services providers, Shiva describes two decision cases – a Build example and a Buy example – that focus on why each option was chosen.