Google and Solstice launch EnergyScore for solar energy access

Google and Solstice join forces to introduce EnergyScore, an innovative tool to facilitate access to solar energy for moderate-income households.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Solstice and Google are collaborating to launch EnergyScore, an artificial intelligence-based tool aimed at making solar power accessible to moderate-income households.
Currently, around four out of five American households are excluded from solar installations due to eligibility restrictions, home ownership and limited access to financing.
EnergyScore uses utility payment histories and advanced algorithms to provide a more accurate and inclusive measure than traditional credit scores, such as FICO.
This collaboration marks a significant step forward in energy inclusion.
EnergyScore enables solar developers to qualify a greater number of moderate-income households, reducing inequalities in access to clean energy.
Steph Speirs, co-founder of Solstice, says the aim is to make solar energy accessible to everyone, regardless of socio-economic status.
In addition, Google’s data centers are already powered by a solar plant, as in Virginia, where Google is collaborating with AES.

Promising results and future developments

Initial analysis shows that using EnergyScore reduces the default rate by 1.9 percentage points compared to the FICO score, and increases the number of qualified moderate-income households by 14%.
Sandhya Murali, CEO of Solstice, explains that this support from Google.org is essential for the development and large-scale launch of EnergyScore.
The project also includes the launch of a pilot with a financier or residential solar developer to evaluate the effectiveness of EnergyScore.
The aim is to demonstrate concrete impacts for communities traditionally excluded from green financing.
Solstice will begin recruiting pilot partners later this year.

A Commitment to Sustainability

Google is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2030, and to powering its operations with 100% renewable energy.
This collaboration with Solstice reflects this commitment to sustainability and equitable access to clean energy.
Solstice’s project enables American households unable to install solar panels to participate in community solar projects.
These projects offer a solution to support local clean energy at no upfront cost, and reduce electricity bills.
This collaboration between Solstice and Google.org represents a significant step towards a more inclusive and sustainable future, reinforcing their shared commitment to environmental stewardship and equitable access to clean energy.

Statkraft France won a 15.5 MWc solar project in Mourmelon-le-Grand during the latest national tender round, bringing its total awarded capacity to nearly 70 MWc in less than a year.
Solar growth in Central Europe has doubled that of the European Union since 2019, reshaping the energy mix and boosting battery manufacturing in the region.
Canadian energy producer Cordelio Power has completed commissioning of its Winfield solar project, a 150 MW facility backed by a 15-year contract with Microsoft and a $313mn structured financing deal.
Platform Anza surpassed its 2024 volume in just eight months, responding to developers’ urgency to secure projects ahead of regulatory and fiscal changes expected in 2026.
US-based AGCO has signed a ten-year virtual power purchase agreement with BRUC, covering a 100 MW solar project in Spain, to secure part of its European energy consumption.
Canadian developer Innergex has won all six projects of the Grenier des Essences portfolio for a total of 85 MW, strengthening its position in France’s ground-mounted solar sector.
Canadian Solar unveils its new low-carbon solar modules integrating heterojunction cells and thinner wafers, achieving up to 24.4% efficiency and a peak power output of 660 Wp.
Elmya Energy and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure have created a joint venture targeting 4 GW of renewable energy projects in the United States, focused on the ERCOT and WECC markets.
Louth Callan has completed the Mousam River solar project in Sanford, marking a key milestone in the deployment of utility-scale energy infrastructure across the United States.
The state regulator has approved five new solar power purchase agreements to support growing demand under the CARES programme, targeting industrial and commercial clients.
With the commissioning of the El Carrizo plant, Ecoener surpasses 500 MW in installed capacity and becomes the most active Spanish investor in Guatemala’s energy sector.
Aspen Power has finalised the acquisition of two community solar projects totalling over 1 MWdc in New Jersey, developed by Ecogy Energy, with construction expected to begin shortly.
French developer Tenergie has started work on a ground-mounted solar plant at a former quarry, with expected annual output of 7.6 GWh from 2026.
Octopus Energy strengthens its presence in Spain with three new energy projects totalling 600 MW, powering 2.3 million households and accelerating the expansion of its European renewables portfolio.
VSB Italy has obtained authorisation to build a 6.2 MW agrivoltaic plant in Città della Pieve, combining solar power generation and agricultural cultivation on 10.6 hectares.
Ameren Missouri announces a 250 MW solar project to power 44,000 homes, reducing delays and costs through strategic development on company-owned land.
Verso Energy has inaugurated an experimental solar power plant in Outarville, testing the integration of photovoltaic panels across three hectares of large-scale crops with a 90% self-consumption rate.
Independent power producer R.Power is selling a 440MW ready-to-build photovoltaic portfolio in Poland, as political uncertainties drive a wave of divestments in the national renewable energy market.
Grenergy has finalised the sale of the fourth phase of its hybrid solar-storage project in Chile to CVC DIF, valued at up to $475mn, while retaining operation and maintenance for five years.
Q ENERGY secures financing for 252 MW of solar projects in Spain, marking its first independent power producer operation on the Iberian Peninsula.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.