September 10, 2024
Taking place from Monday, September 9th through Thursday, September 12th, this year’s RE+ conference will be hosted at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. With thousands of attendees and exhibitors, it’s the largest gathering in North America for solar energy and related industries.
RE+ 2024 has greatly expanded beyond previous years, hosting many more sessions, workshops, and other events than ever before.
Key Sessions and Workshops
Even if you’re unable to attend, it’s crucial for solar installation contractors to stay informed about the conference’s key takeaways. This year’s schedule is packed with presentations offering actionable insights, emerging technologies, and best practices that can majorly impact installer business strategy.
Here’s an overview of some of the most relevant sessions and workshops for those who serve as the solar market’s boots on the ground.
Solar 101: An Overview of the Solar Landscape
Date: Monday, September 9th, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Perfect for both newcomers and seasoned contractors, this session provides an in-depth look at the state of the solar industry, key policies, and market trends. It is essential for contractors who are new to RE+ and looking to understand how policy shifts and new technologies can shape their business strategies.
What Installers Can Do to Support SolarAPP+
Date: Tuesday, September 10th, 10:30 AM – 10:50 AM
Leaders from SolarAPP+ explain how solar installers small and large can influence their local jurisdictions to adopt the software. By working to influence policy on a local level, contractors can gain earlier access to a tool that streamlines the permitting process and gets rid of what has long been a big bottleneck for residential installations.
IRA updates for Residential Installers
Date: Tuesday, September 10th, 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
This session focuses on the specific benefits available to residential contractors through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with strategies offered for successfully accessing Solar for All and REAP grants.
Market Outlook: Residential Solar + Storage
Date: Tuesday, September 10th, 1:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Representatives from analytics company Enverus explore the total US market for behind-the-meter solar and storage systems, up to 2050. They assess the link between potential power bill savings and historical installations in each state, providing the data to predict regional demand shifts. They’ll also investigate how policy changes and electricity prices impact adoption rates, giving contractors a better idea of what their volume of solar appointments could be in the years ahead.
Identifying and Implementing Permitting, Inspection, and Interconnection Best Practices for Residential Solar & Storage
Date: Tuesday, September 10th, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
As many jurisdictions and utilities work to refine their permitting, inspection, and interconnection processes, installers are running into issues with increasing delays and costs. Bypassing these problems requires disciplined use of best practices and alternative pathways. This panel aims to better understand the current challenges at play, installer perspectives on adoption timelines, and collaborative approaches that can resolve common roadblocks.
Solar Consumer Protection: Policy, Education, & Practices
Date: Wednesday, September 11th, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
After seeing recent contractor bankruptcies, the solar industry is devoting more thought to the quality of the residential customer experience. There’s been a push for policies that protect customers, including SEIA’s creation of new accreditation standards. This panel reviews these policies at play and how they can help contractors provide better service to households seeking solar installations.
Top Exhibitors
The expo floor at RE+ 2024 features hundreds of companies, many of whom are offering products and services that can make a big difference for solar installation businesses.
- ACS Apprenticeship (Hall E 10000-18099 — E17038)
Adaptive Construction Solutions (ACS) helps employers in implementing prevailing wage and apprenticeship programs. - Sinclair Designs & Engineering (Marriott Ballrooms — MG1515 — Marriott – Grand)
This up-and coming manufacturer of Solar Ground Mount & Carport Systems offers installers alternatives to traditional rooftop mounting solutions. - Sunbelt Rentals (Hall E 10000-18099 — E14060)
Sunbelt’s nationwide network offers contractors all of the equipment they may need but don’t have the capital to own in their inventory.
- Solar Insure (Exhibit Halls A-D — A57040 — Digital Solutions)
Through certified partnership, this insurance provider helps contractors deliver homeowners valuable warranty solutions, and also offers fleet monitoring services.
Helping Contractors Grow is Our Top Priority
While RE+ 2024 offers valuable insights into the future of the solar industry, Grid Freedom helps you act on that knowledge by delivering guaranteed solar appointments with high-quality leads.
Each lead we deliver is pre-screened for their likelihood to convert, so you can focus on growing your business rather than chasing cold leads and hoping they develop into something more. Our service specializes in exclusive solar appointments, meaning you can also count on being clear of any competitors.
Getting started is easy and requires no commitment. You can get access to as many (or as few) leads as you need at any time, leaving no risk of exceeding your budget or getting tied up in contracts.