SOLAR

Sunrun Powers 1 Million Homes with Clean Energy, Leading Energy Independence

September 4, 2024

Sunrun has over 1 million residential solar customers, making it the largest U.S. residential clean energy developer.
Sunrun’s storage-first strategy in 2023 provided 2.8 million hours of backup power during 659,000 outages.
Sunrun’s solar installations have prevented 18 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to removing 4.3 million cars from the roads.

With energy costs soaring and power outages becoming all too common, achieving energy independence has never been more crucial. As families nationwide face these challenges, Sunrun, a leader in clean energy, has quietly reached an incredible milestone—over 1 million residential solar customers. This statistic signifies 1 million families who have taken charge of their energy future, protecting themselves from the risks of an aging power grid.

Sunrun started in 2007 with a straightforward idea: to make home solar affordable and accessible to you through a subscription service. By removing the upfront costs, this model has made it easier for families like yours to embrace solar energy, ensuring that solar isn’t just for the wealthy but an option for everyone.

Sunrun CEO Mary Powell said it best: “The customer-led revolution to greater energy independence for so many Americans is well under way.” Powell’s words resonate deeply, especially when you consider the tangible benefits these customers experience—predictable energy costs, peace of mind, and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to keep the lights on when the grid fails.

Sunrun’s journey from being just a solar provider to becoming a multi-product clean energy leader is truly impressive. In 2016, they added battery storage to their services, a decision that turned out to be ahead of its time as extreme weather events driven by climate change became more common. Now, in 2023, and Sunrun’s pivot to a storage-first strategy has provided over 2.8 million hours of backup power during 659,000 grid outages.

For families like Ana Otazo’s in Texas, this technology has been a lifeline. “After going through those extended outages with our young children, we knew we never wanted to be without power again during a storm,” Otazo shared, reflecting a growing trend among Sunrun’s customers.

But Sunrun’s impact goes beyond just your household. The company is also at the forefront of creating a more resilient and sustainable power grid. Sunrun’s collaboration with Tesla in Texas is a prime example of this effort, combining solar and battery storage solutions to enhance energy reliability in a state known for its unpredictable weather. This partnership integrates renewable energy into your daily life, enabling you to generate your own power, store it, and even share it with your community.

Sunrun’s President and Chief Revenue Officer, Paul Dickson, highlighted “We’re creating the power grid of the future—one that is centered around the customer.” This vision of a customer-centric grid is already taking shape, with Sunrun operating the largest network of virtual power plants in the country, allowing tens of thousands of customers to participate in the shared clean energy economy.

The benefits of home solar and battery backup go far beyond just saving you money—although that’s a big part of it, with Sunrun customers collectively saving around $1.3 billion in energy costs. These systems also play a vital role in shrinking your carbon footprint. Sunrun’s installations have helped avoid 18 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of taking 4.3 million gasoline-powered vehicles off the roads or shutting down 48 gas-fired power plants for a year.

In areas where wildfires, storms, or an unstable grid can cause power outages, having the ability to keep your home powered and comfortable during these times is priceless. As Tori Sandmark, a Sunrun customer from California, pointed out, “With our battery, we can avoid peak utility rates and stay powered and comfortable during rolling blackouts. It’s incredible to have this technology at our home.”

With advancements in solar battery storage, the introduction of bidirectional power flow systems, and the continued expansion of virtual power plants, Sunrun is not only helping families achieve energy independence but making it easier for a more resilient, sustainable energy future.