Watt's the deal with the RE+ conference that happened in Las Vegas this past week? The conference was bustling, as always, with over 40,000 people in attendance. Here are my key takeaways:
Market Momentum & Execution Focus
The industry vibe was overwhelmingly positive, with participants focused on near-term execution rather than long-term speculation. Buyers want to buy, sellers want to sell, and builders are building.
Safe Harbor Frenzy
A massive wave of safe-harboring took place this summer, with volumes larger than expected. Developers who secured early positions are seen as more credible and attractive to M&A buyers.
M&A and Portfolio Sales Heating Up
There’s an active market for project sales across PA, IL, NY, and CA. Operating portfolios and NTP-stage assets are in high demand, with significant opportunities for near-term transactions.
Strong Markets Are Emerging
Illinois and Maryland were highlighted as the hottest community solar markets, while PJM, ERCOT, and surprisingly MISO are the wholesale growth centers—driven largely by data center demand. California was notably absent from most conversations.
Storage is Booming
The outlook for battery energy storage (BESS) is incredibly bullish, from distributed VPPs to massive standalone projects. Capacity market pricing remains strong, fueling growth.
Policy & Compliance Shaping Strategy
Companies are rapidly adapting to FEOC compliance challenges, restructuring entities, white-labeling products, and diversifying supply chains (e.g., to Africa and the Middle East). Uncertainty remains around future guidance.
Differentiation Through Scale & Credibility
RP’s Prospect14 acquisition and 500MW safe-harbor were widely recognized and positioned the firm as a serious buyer with execution capability, differentiating from peers who are struggling or restructuring.
Capital is Flowing
Banks and capital providers are “open for business” and more aggressive than in the past, supporting solar and storage development despite broader economic uncertainty.
Technology & Innovation
AI and digital optimization tools were frequent topics, though still early-stage. EV charging and data center solutions had strong visibility, signaling where complementary opportunities are growing.
Relationships and Reputation Matter
This remains a people-driven business. RP’s reputation, repeatability, and emphasis on land ownership stood out as key competitive advantages that others in the market value.
Again, all in all, it was a great conference and the solar industry has a lot to be proud of despite the headwinds we’ve encountered. Now, onto executing.
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