Solar Power World Releases Its Top 100 Solar Contractors List

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power World, the solar industry’s leading media resource with its print publication, web site and social media outlets, today released the industry’s most definitive ranking of solar installers. The Top 100 Solar Contractors list offers the industry a look at how they stack up against their peers across all solar markets —residential, commercial and utility systems.

“We hope that these companies will serve as an inspiration not only to their peers and solar industry colleagues, but to the general public as well. We believe this inaugural Top 100 will become a benchmark for the industry and further help solidify solar as a leading power source.”

The ranking includes companies small and large, privately owned and publicly traded. Coming in No. 11, San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based REC Solar (which boast 675 employees) has installed more than 30.5 megawatts (MW) in six states in 2011. Meanwhile, New York-based altPOWER (with six employees) installed 500,000 kW in 2011 and comes in at No. 93.

“We would like to congratulate the 100 companies who made our list through their hard work and dedication to the solar industry,” says Frank Andorka, editorial director at Solar Power World. “We hope that these companies will serve as an inspiration not only to their peers and solar industry colleagues, but to the general public as well. We believe this inaugural Top 100 will become a benchmark for the industry and further help solidify solar as a leading power source.”

Other key findings in the survey:

• California had the most companies on the list with 24. New Jersey came in second with 11, and Pennsylvania ranked No. 3 with 7.

• The Top 100 companies installed a combined 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of solar power in 2011. The average number of MW installed was 13.2.

• The Top 100 companies employ 25,868 workers, or approximately 22% of the 119,000 solar workers projected to be in the industry by the end of the year.

• The average number of employees in the Top 100 is 259. The median is 35.

Solar Power World launched the Top 100 Solar Contractors program on Aug. 1, 2012. By its closing in mid-October, 195 companies had completed the application process. Solar Power World analyzed the numbers and created lists based on the number of megawatts companies installed in 2011 and their market segment — residential, commercial or utility.

An interactive list of Top 100 will be on Solar Power World’s website: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2012-top-100-solar-contractors/

About The Magazine

Solar Power World is a media resource focusing on technology, development and projects covering the solar industry. Solar Power World and its online resources reaches executives, managers, engineers, installers and technical professionals involved in the design, manufacturing, development, and installation of solar power projects. Readership consists of a cross section of personnel from power purchasers, utilities, inverter manufacturers, panel manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, installation teams, policy makers and finance professionals. More information at www.solarpowerworldonline.com