Total Corporate Funding in Solar Sector Increased 24% with $14.5 Billion in 2020, Reports Mercom Capital Group

39.5 GW of large-scale solar projects were acquired in 2020

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mercom Capital Group, llc, a global clean energy communications and consulting firm, released its annual report on funding and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity for the solar sector in 2020.

Total corporate funding into the solar sector globally, including venture capital and private equity (VC), debt financing, and public market financing, came to $14.5 billion, a 24% increase compared to the $11.7 billion in 2019.

To learn more about Mercom’s 2020 Solar Funding and M&A Report, visit: https://mercomcapital.com/product/2020-q4-annual-solar-funding-ma-report/

CHART: Solar Corporate Funding 2010-2020

“Following a tough first half when corporate funding was down 25% year-over-year, recovery has been swift and broad, with corporate funding up 24% for the year. Publicly-traded solar companies had an unprecedented year. The solar ETF was up 225%, with 15 solar stocks up over 100% in 2020. Public market funding was also up with the help of several IPOs, and debt financing was up on the back of securitization deals. Solar asset acquisitions were at an all-time high in a pandemic year and have become even more sought-after as an investment haven, especially in the uncertain COVID economy,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group.

Global VC funding in the solar sector in 2020 came to $1.2 billion in 41 deals, compared to $1.4 billion in 53 deals in 2019.

CHART: Solar VC Funding 2010-2020

Of the $1.2 billion in VC funding raised in 41 deals in 2020, $1.1 billion went to 27 Solar Downstream companies, $61 million for Solar Service Providers, $17 million for PV companies, $15 million for Balance of System (BOS) companies, $15 million for Thin Film Technology companies, and $5.5 million for Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) companies.

CHART: Top VC/PE Funded Solar Companies 2020

The top VC funded companies in 2020 were Ayana Renewable Power with $390 million, Silicon Ranch Corporation with $225 million, Brighte with $76 million, Sunseap Group with $72 million, and Aurora Solar and Zero Mass Water with $50 million each.

There were 102 VC and PE investors that participated in funding deals in 2020.

Public market financing was up 101% with $5.1 billion in 2020.

In 2020, announced debt financing came to $8.3 billion. Eight securitization deals totaling $2.2 billion were recorded in 2020, the largest amount in a year.

62 Merger and Acquisition (M&A) deals were transacted in the solar sector in 2020 compared to 65 in 2019. Most of the transactions involved Solar Downstream companies.

CHART: Solar Top 5 M&A Transactions in 2020

There were 231 large-scale solar project acquisitions in 2020 compared to 192 transactions in 2019.

A record 39.5 GW of large-scale solar projects changed hands in 2020 compared to 26.1 GW in 2019. This was the largest amount of projects acquired in a single year to date.

CHART: Solar Large-Scale Project Acquisitions 2010-2020

375 companies and investors are covered in this 127-page report, which contains 102 charts, graphs, and tables.

To learn more about Mercom’s 2020 Solar Funding and M&A Report, visit: https://mercomcapital.com/product/2020-q4-annual-solar-funding-ma-report/

About Mercom Capital Group

Mercom Capital Group is a global communications and consulting firm focused on clean energy. Mercom produces funding and market intelligence reports covering Solar and Battery Storage/Smart Grid/Efficiency. Mercom advises cleantech companies on new market entry, custom market intelligence and overall strategic decision-making. https://www.mercomcapital.com

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