Solar industry impacted by COVID-19, sees at least $6.7 million in revenue losses 

News Release from HSEA, May 13, 2020

HONOLULU, HI:  The Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Hawaii’s leading voice of the solar industry, released today the results of its COVID-19 Business Impact Survey. It indicates the solar industry felt at least a total revenue loss of $6.7 million over a month, between mid-March and mid-April, a greater than 50% loss in market value when compared with Oahu’s declared residential permit value from the same time period in 2019. Companies also saw a 12% decline in total full time employment in the same time period. Going forward, the industry anticipates an additional 19% loss by the end of May absent any significant changes. 

“The results of this survey seem to follow broader national trends regarding the solar industry’s decline due to COVID-19,” said William Giese, HSEA’s Executive Director. “This is just the beginning, and we need to brace ourselves for bigger losses later in the year if things remain the same.”

While total permit volume has remained steady in the first four months of 2020, this is likely reflective of projects booked in late 2019, rather than new projects booked this year. The step down of the federal investment tax credit (ITC) at the end of 2019 led to a larger-than-average sales volume in Q419, and companies subsequently scheduled development of those jobs as far as the end of Q220. During the survey period, companies indicated difficulty generating sales, and cited customer uncertainty as a primary driver of declining sales volume. 

“We believe that permit volume is a trailing metric and is not indicative of projected market activity even a few months from now,” said Mr. Giese. “The reality is that solar companies are having difficulty booking jobs out for the first week in June when they should be booked out to at least August by now.”   

Additionally, all companies surveyed indicated they experienced at least some project delays as a result of COVID-19, with over half of respondents experiencing delays on 50% or more of their projects. Top three reasons for project delays include interconnection and permitting delays, customer uncertainty, and decreased access to financing. The survey was conducted across 20 of the largest residential and commercial solar contractors in Hawaii and represents approximately 70% of the total solar market by permit volume. The HSEA intends to conduct future surveys in the months to come. 

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Founded in 1977, the Hawaii Solar Energy Association is a Non-Profit organization and is comprised of installers, distributors, manufacturers, auditors, and financiers of solar water heating and photovoltaic systems. The majority of our member companies are locally owned and operated, making HSEA the leading voice of Hawaii’s solar industry.

PBN: Study: Solar industry sees total revenue loss of $6.7 million amid Covid-19