Empowering clean energy adoption

Could you provide an overview of Enact’s core mission in the clean energy industry?

Since our inception, Enact’s core mission has been to simplify the customer journey from solar power design to cost savings. Our primary and enduring goal is to improve the customer’s purchase and ownership experience for solar and storage projects, and accelerate the clean energy revolution.

What makes Enact’s digital platform unique, and how does it contribute to the adoption of clean energy solutions?

Enact is the only two-sided platform that enables both residential and commercial users to simplify their entire solar and energy storage purchase and ownership journey. The platform is two sided – we help solar installation professionals to design and sell remotely, and the end-customer,  as well on their lifetime of ownership. Our founding team holds decades of solar industry experience across North America, Asia and Europe, which has uniquely contributed to our understanding of current gaps in the industry.

As of early 2023, California already has over 1 million buildings installed with Solar, 50,000 new customers a month and batteries now get paired with 30% of new solar installations every month. This market provided the initial launchpad for the growth of the Enact platform, spreading to a dozen additional US states.

Enact’s success story in the U.S. was quickly replicated in several new markets, such as the UAE, South Africa, South Asia and Europe, and now caters to thousands of consumers and installers in over 25 countries worldwide, processing $1.5 billion in projects annually.

Can you explain the benefits of Enact’s platform for both residential and commercial users?

While it may seem like residential and commercial uses would be completely different, the benefits are fundamentally similar.

Our platform can help homeowners and businesses save on solar by providing the best price as we work with our customers to design a system that is optimal for their roof space, meaning that they are not over or undercharged during the installation process. We also take them through the all the equipment and pricing options, informing them of suitable external financing possibilities so that everyone gets the best deal. Using the Enact app, homeowners and business owners can track how their system is working, which shows them how the investment is worth it.

We take our homeowners’ previous energy bills into account when considering the size of their solar system.  Consumers can use their renewable energy credits (RECs) as an additional source of income, as their excess solar-generated energy is sold and they earn cash-back to reinvest in their solar systems, their household goods – or however they see fit. Enact helps users design their solar system to optimize their roof space, helping them save by preventing situations such as purchasing too many or not enough solar panels.

We also consider future plans, such as investing in an electric vehicle (EV) or an electric water heater, into their systems. We coordinate installations with local providers and make sure city / utility planning permissions are obtained by them. As commercial properties are often bigger, there are more options for placement. Enact helps businesses understand their options and helps them design the best possible system, whilst also coordinating the installation and permitting process to save our customers time.

Could you share some success stories or examples of projects that Enact’s platform has facilitated?

In 2019, we partnered with the Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. We helped them design the solar system at their recently acquired resort in Santa Cruz. The project is a 385kW ground mount, and it has saved the resort over $135k annually. Around the same time, we partnered with Holiday Inn, San Diego for their 190kW rooftop solar project as well, which has saved them $60k annually.

Enact partnered with Sharaf DG Energy, a subsidiary of the Sharaf group, in the UAE market. Since its inception in 2017, Sharaf DG Energy, has successfully completed over 85MW of commercial and industrial projects along with more than 1100 residential installations in the UAE, facilitated by the strategic partnership with Enact

What features and tools does Enact offer to help customers track the performance and savings of their solar and energy storage systems?

After installation, we provide our customers with an app called Enact Home that allows them to track their savings, return on investment (ROI), energy generation, and usage. By monitoring their energy usage and savings, it promotes sustainability and can help users reduce their carbon footprint. It also allows customers to control their system remotely, so they can turn it on or off wherever they might be.

We also use the app to notify customers if there are any maintenance problems with their system, so the problem can be addressed immediately, avoiding costly outages. Finally, with historical performance analysis, users can see how their systems have worked over time and can monitor trends and changes.

How does Enact contribute to reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainability efforts through its solutions?

Enact has always supported homes and businesses in their journey towards clean energy. We deploy data as a key tool in the pursuit of a sustainable future. The Enact solar platform employs advanced monitoring technology, which provides real-time renewable metrics to our customers, so they can keep an eagle eye on their carbon footprint.

In practical terms, for businesses this translates into two key advantages for their Environment, Sustainability and Corporate Governance (ESG) efforts. The first is tracking environmental impact. By quantifying the positive environmental impact of solar energy usage, businesses can monitor their reduced carbon emissions and resource conservation. This tangible evidence of sustainable practice strengthens their position as leaders in ESG efforts.

Secondly, our platform has an enhanced ESG tool for fleet-based management, which is armed with comprehensive renewable metrics. Through this, businesses can bolster their sustainability reporting across their organization – maybe all their facilities or all their employees – showcasing their dedication to the environment. Investors, stakeholders, and customers value transparent and quantifiable environmental efforts.

Can you tell us more about your partnership with Sharaf DG Energy in the UAE market?

We’ve long supported and applauded sustainability and solar implementation in the UAE. Enact has empowered installers and consumers in the UAE since 2017 as part of our efforts to help the UAE in their ambitious climate goals. Our partnership with Sharaf DG Energy is one indication of our commitment to work side by side with great energy companies as they work hard to leverage the abundance of sunshine in the region to boost the use of renewable energy for real-estate developers, home-owners and businesses.

Since Sharaf DG Energy launched their solar energy business in 2017, they have used Enact’s platform to help thousands of residential solar customers and businesses to transition to solar with both on-grid and off-grid solutions. Through our partnership, every Sharaf DG Energy solar customer has access to the Enact Consumer App that tracks solar savings, system performance and carbon dioxide (CO2) offset benefits.

One of the main reasons behind the partnership with Sharaf DG Energy in the region is to improve ongoing efforts to boost sustainability across the region. Solar projects deployed by Sharaf DG Energy in the UAE market are generating over approximately 140,000 MWh of clean energy every year which is the equivalent of offsetting approximately 100,000 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). We’re committed to building on this impressive achievement and to continue to play our part in clean energy acceleration in the UAE and beyond, through this partnership.