- CEO Dr. Richard Lu discussed SolarBank’s vertically integrated business model on a recent GotStocks podcast.
- SolarBank is an expanding developer, builder, operator, and owner of clean energy projects across North America, maintaining a $184 million portfolio of assets generating recurring revenue.
- The company’s flexible supply chain strategy helps mitigate any tariff risks while reducing costs.
- Going forward, a recently announced up to $100 million transaction with CIM Group is set to fund up to 97 MW of U.S. community solar projects.
Disseminated on behalf of SolarBank Corporation
Dr. Richard Lu, CEO of SolarBank (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: GY2), a premier developer and owner of renewable and clean energy projects, specializing in distributed and community solar initiatives throughout Canada and the U.S., offered insights into the company’s operations, strategy, and unique competitive position during a recent interview on IBN’s GotStocks podcast (https://ibn.fm/UCIdQ). The conversation centered on SolarBank’s dual role as both a developer and long-term owner of solar energy assets, an approach that differentiates the firm in a competitive market.
“SolarBank is both a developer and an independent power producer,” Lu said. The company identifies suitable sites, secures permits, engages utilities, and finances projects. “As a developer, we secure sites for clean and renewable energy project development. We bring the projects to the attention of local utilities, making sure that we have great interconnection, and we work with local authorities and communities to get these projects permitted. Then, we work to put financing together. That’s the developer’s job.”
Unlike many developers who sell assets post-permitting, SolarBank continues through construction and operations, maintaining a long-term relationship with the asset.
Lu cited key clients such as Honeywell, Qcells, and True Green Capital as examples of SolarBank’s operations and maintenance partnerships. The company has built a $184 million asset base since going public in 2023, generating recurring revenue streams from its portfolio.
What sets SolarBank apart, Lu emphasized, is its vertically integrated model. Most clean energy developers in North America offload assets after development, leaving construction and maintenance to third parties. SolarBank, by contrast, manages every stage from concept to ownership. “When I started SolarBank more than 10 years ago, I decided to create a true ‘A-Z’ one-stop team to develop, build, operate and own those assets. That gives us quite a few advantages,” Lu said. “We do not decide electricity price, regulators do. So, if we want to be profitable, there are only two things to do: increase productivity or reduce cost. Vertical integration allows us to control the focus, the speed, and the simplicity of every step to deliver value to our investors.”
The CEO also pointed to SolarBank’s supply chain flexibility as a way to maintain margins amid rising solar equipment tariffs. While many companies depend on Chinese suppliers, SolarBank has sourced primarily from Southeast Asia since its founding. Recently, it has favored equipment from Indonesia, and Lu indicated that U.S. suppliers may become part of the mix. “Now we’re actually looking at maybe buying U.S. products,” he explained, adding that this supply chain flexibility is how the company has managed to make sure to get the best value for its investors.
Lu also highlighted the experience of his leadership team, which collectively brings over a century of clean energy expertise. That, coupled with a vertically integrated model and diversified sourcing, offers what can be described as an unusually stable foundation for future growth.
SolarBank’s evolving strategy includes a transition from pure project development toward long-term asset ownership. This allows the company to benefit from stable, predictable returns over decades. Its long-term revenue model was further underscored by a recently announced up to $100 million financing with CIM Group to fund the construction of up to 97 megawatts of community solar projects in the United States (https://ibn.fm/JqMv7).
The transaction supports SolarBank’s continued development of distributed solar power projects, systems typically located close to end users and connected to local utilities. These projects play an important role in expanding renewable energy access and support policy goals at the state and federal levels in both Canada and the U.S.
During the interview, Lu expressed confidence in the company’s long-term financial sustainability. “When you’re working with visionary companies like CIM, and when you have a company like SolarBank, I would say that in the foreseeable future, you will have a quite sizable recurring revenue for 25–35 years,” he said.
For more information, visit the company’s website at SolarBankCorp.com.
This report contains forward looking information. Please refer to the press release entitled “US$100 Million Transformative, Project Financing Announced by SolarBank and CIM Group to Fund 97 MW of Renewable Energy Assets in the United States” for additional details on the statements, risks and assumptions. There are several risks associated with the transaction and development of the projects. The development of any project is subject to receipt of interconnection approval, receipt of a community solar contract, required permits, the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements for the Company and the risks associated with the construction of a solar power project. In addition, governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives. The transaction is subject to the execution of definitive documentation. SolarBank will also need to secure the financing required to develop the projects to mechanical completion and substantial completion, as prior to such milestone none of the funding from the transaction will be available.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SUUN are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SUUN
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