New solar component-sourcing company aims to assist smaller installers

A group of seasoned wind and solar industry executives launched a new solar component-sourcing service, Strategic Solar Sourcing.

The company claims to be the first to offer small and medium-sized solar businesses supply chain management outsourcing services and products previously available only to large organizations, including low-cost equipment pricing on modules, inverters and racking with resulting significant bottom-line improvements, according to Strategic Solar Sourcing.

“After more than 30 years of collective experience in both wind and solar energy, ranging from residential solar installations to massive utility-scale wind and solar projects, our team recognized that small and medium-sized solar businesses are at a real disadvantage to effectively compete in this area,” said John Billingsley, chairman and CEO of Strategic Solar Sourcing. “Our focus will be to give our customers access to a level of buying power and expertise that have been out of reach until now — driving down costs and making them more competitive and successful.”

The newly formed Strategic Solar Sourcing will provide enterprise-quality supply chain services and products for residential and C&I solar installers, developers, EPCs and other solar professionals with direct-to-manufacturer pricing without the need for large purchases.

The company claims to offer financeable products and warranties, standardized data specs, forward-thinking technology roadmap acquisition and personalized full supply chain services.

“To be competitive in today’s solar market, solar professionals need to have quality, financeable, product available when they need it, where they need it, and at the best price,” said Joseph Kiwak, president of Strategic Solar Sourcing. “The only way to make that happen is with an experienced supply chain team on staff. Since most small and medium-sized solar businesses are unable to acquire or afford the talent needed to deliver this level of service within their own company, they consequently struggle to compete with the larger solar firms. Our mission is to fill this void and provide our clients with the services, products and buying power necessary to compete in the expanding solar industry with reduced costs and increased profits.”

Strategic Solar Sourcing’s outsourcing services cover the entire solar supply chain lifecycle including equipment requirements and specification management, strategic sourcing, supplier management, sourcing support, operational purchasing, procurement administration and account payable administration. Additionally, it has partnered with top brands to guarantee Tier 1 modules, inverters both string and micro and all types of solar racking.

The company is headed by the management team that built wind project developers Tri Global Energy and Sunfinity Renewable Energy, a solar EPC serving multiple states in residential, C&I and utility-scale solar.

“Having the same level of supply chain visibility, meeting customer demand, and securing inventory supply at the lowest price has always been tough for the smaller company,” said Keith Bluford, VP of business development, Strategic Solar Sourcing. “We solve that problem by handling all of the many nuances of effective, supply chain management including strategic sourcing, technology research, negotiation and contractual management with the manufacturers, warehousing and logistics. And most importantly, our services and direct-to-manufacturer pricing have a significant impact on our clients’ bottom line.”