If there is anything states could learn from the outages that affected Texas earlier this year, it’s that solar and batteries can be a lifesaver in extreme weather conditions. Texan homes with solar backup were able to sail through the outages by staying warm. These outages occurred due to extreme cold and last year, California witnessed rolling blackouts due to the terrible heatwave.
High demand for electricity during summers can stress the grid. Summer equates to continuous use of air-conditioners leading to higher demand than the supply. The high power demand can happen during extreme cold weather as well when the demand for power for heating peaks. With climate change and its effects becoming more evident and impactful by the day, it has become extremely important to make the power infrastructure more resilient. One of the most reliable ways to do so would be by depending on solar and batteries partly, to help restore balance when the demand-supply trends are disrupted.
Incidences of extreme weather occurrences are on the rise and Californians can expect energy to be affected as a result of some of these extremities. Can residents be prepared for such events and prepare themselves against blackouts? They may be able to do this by relying on solar and battery backup for power.
Benefits of Solar and Battery Backup
- Reliable: Solar and battery backup allows its users flexibility in terms of when they want to use it. It can be a life-saver when there are outages. The power generated from solar can be used even after the sun has set.
- Environment-friendly: Contribute towards a greener and cleaner environment with solar energy.
- Financial Benefits: Relying on solar to power homes translates to lower electricity bills from the conventional grid. It can help users save money during peak-rate hours.
- A catalyst to a resilient grid: Using solar power can bring down the pressure on the grid making it more resilient and can even reduce the risk of wildfires that may result due to sparks in overhead lines.
Adopt Solar and Stay Cool this Summer
While the state tests out if a strong battery backup can support a grid completely powered by renewable energy, there are some measures that residents can take at an individual or community level.
Residents and property owners can adopt solar at a small scale. Solar power can be accessed either from an on-site solar asset or from an off-site community solar system. There is a growing network of household battery storage systems that may be a relief if rolling blackouts are to happen. These solar+ battery setups are now easily available even for multi-family units. Thanks to Ivy Energies virtual grid software and solar, residents in multi-family properties can enjoy energy savings even without having to invest in solar panels. With virtual grid artificial intelligence and utility grade data accuracy, residents get access onsite solar energy with guaranteed savings on a simple structure and owners can predict revenues and streamline otherwise complex administration. To learn more about Ivy's unique solar billing software solution visit https://www.ivy-energy.com/
Setting up Batteries is Important for Accessing Solar during Blackouts
Having solar panels installed is not enough for ensuring that you continue to get power during outages. Residents whose solar panels are grid-tied will not be able to escape outages without a battery backup. Without batteries, the excess power produced cannot be stored and used at a later time.
Adopting greener sources of power is important not just for achieving the various energy goals set by the state or the country but also for ensuring that our lives carry on smoothly. Solar is a smart way to reduce one’s carbon footprint. And thanks to the various subsidies that help in installing/accessing cleaner sources of energy, going green is no more limited to elite and privileged residents of the state.
Pioneering the Future of Multi-Tenant Solar Energy Management
2024 was a trailblazing year for Ivy Energy, where we shattered barriers, redefined possibilities, and delivered innovative solutions to address the multi-tenant solar split incentive challenge. By driving product advancements, forging impactful partnerships, and scaling operational processes, we empowered multi-tenant properties to embrace clean energy with confidence.
A Year of Growth and Market Expansion
Ivy has grown its active project pipeline 450% compared to 2023, with a line of sight to clear +600% in active projects by the end of the year. Our tech-enabled solutions empower more communities than ever. With $18M in Series A funding (Read more) and the strategic acquisition of Glow Energy (Read more), we are poised for unprecedented growth and impact. This investment enables us to enhance our technology, streamline operations, and expand our reach into new markets nationwide.
Entering new markets with increased resources allows us to address diverse energy challenges and deliver tailored solutions to property owners and tenants. Additionally, the launch of our consulting arm provides expert guidance for our clients and partners to save money and enhance ROI while navigating intricate solar investments.
Meaningful Operational Updates
At Ivy, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating digital tools that empower our clients and their tenants:
- PropTech Integrations: Partnered with RealPage, Entrata, and Yardi to automate rent roll syncing, move-in/move-out updates, and direct charge posting to resident ledgers. These integrations reduce monthly processing time by up to 2 hours per property while enhancing data accuracy and operational efficiency.
- NEM Credit Delay Optimization: The Utility Coordination team adopted the CPUC informal complaint process to reduce delays in NEM activation after PV solar system commissioning. This improvement cut the average resolution time for delayed NEM credits from 123 days in 2023 to 49 days in 2024, allowing property owners to see Net Operating Income over two months sooner on average.
Platform Advancements that Lead the Industry
Our engineering team broke new ground, ensuring our platform stays ahead of the curve:
- Migrated to a new infrastructure processing system for faster processing and further automation improvements across operational features.
- Introduced IvyDual in response to regulatory requirements in California, which allows us to enter new markets where consolidated billing is not viable.
- Achieved SOC 2 Compliance, reaffirming our commitment to data security. (Read more)
- Built initial public API for Conservice integration and new utility data access pathways, strengthening our platform’s versatility and reliability.
Empowering Positive Experiences with CX
At Ivy Energy, our customers rely on us as true partners in their clean energy journey, helping them achieve long-term NOI growth while providing exceptional support for property owners and tenants. We consistently deliver this experience by simplifying complex utility processes and offering our white-glove service that ensures our clients feel supported, informed, and empowered to succeed. This year, Ivy’s Customer Experience Team launched two significant platforms:
- Ivy Implementation Portal: A step-by-step, transparent portal that simplifies solar implementation for our clients and partners across multiple organizations. (Watch a walkthrough of the new portal here.)
- Resident Help Center: Educate tenants about the solar program with helpful resources and offer direct support online or by phone. (Explore the Help Center)
Shaping the Future Through Thought Leadership
In 2024, Ivy Energy reinforced its position as an industry leader; our Virtual Grid 3.0 impressed the judges and earned first place in Solar Power World’s “Best in Show” award for large-scale solar innovation. (Read more)
Leadership team members Alex Dogan, Tanya Kuhn, and Sean Nam were celebrated in San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence in Technology 2024 for their contributions to advancing sustainable energy. (Read more) Ivy was also featured in Alt Energy Magazine (Read more), San Diego Business Journal (Read more), and on Solar Academy. (Read more)
Logan Carter showcased Ivy’s groundbreaking innovations in a main stage speech at Cretech NY (Watch here), an engaging appearance on the IMN Podcast (Listen here), and a deep-dive interview with Chris Moreno, also known as “Mr. PropTech.” (Watch here) Ivy’s policy team further expanded its influence by authoring a Model VNEM Whitepaper, a critical guide to enabling multi-tenant solar models nationwide. (Read the Whitepaper).
Measurable Environmental Impact
This year, Ivy Energy amplified its environmental contributions, with contracted units in implementation set to offset an astounding 109 million pounds of CO2. Meanwhile, active units have already offset 9 million pounds of CO2, demonstrating our ongoing dedication to reducing carbon emissions.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we celebrate 2024’s successes, we are always looking to the future. In 2025, we’ll continue to push boundaries, deliver innovations that empower our clients, improve tenant experiences, and lead the multi-tenant housing sector toward a sustainable future.
A Message from Dover Janis, CEO of Ivy Energy
“2024 was a year of progress and adaptation. While utility-caused delays challenged our growing pipeline, our focus on agile problem-solving reduced their impact and kept the market moving forward. This is a testament not only to the dedication and focus of our team but also to the strong macro-level foundation that the onsite energy business model provides for real estate owners, even in the face of monopoly-driven resistance. With a large and expanding customer base and hundreds of projects, we have continued to validate the transformative potential of clean energy solutions for shared communities. I’m incredibly proud of our team—now among the most mature, knowledgeable, and experienced in the industry—as we trail blaze the path forward. The market is primed to grow and drive transformative change in local communities. I’m deeply grateful to our partners and customers, whom we have the privilege of serving every day as we continue to lead the way.”
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