Artificial intelligence is showing up in every corner of the solar industry—from proposal software to microinverters—and it’s reshaping how installers work. In this Solar Builder interview, Editor-in-Chief Chris Crowell talks with Jason Higginson, Head of Marketing for North America at APsystems, about how AI tools are improving design, sales, customer service, and long-term system performance.

We cover:

- Why AI is no longer optional for solar businesses

- The top AI tools installers should start using right now

- How APsystems is building AI into its microinverters, storage, and APdesigner software

- Real-world impacts on efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability

If you’re a solar installer looking to stay competitive in 2025 and beyond, this conversation breaks down what you need to know.

0:19 Why AI matters for solar installers now

1:35 Where AI is embedded in today’s solar tools

2:35 Boosting customer satisfaction and reducing errors

3:22 No-brainer AI tools for solar companies

4:49 Example of AI-driven design with APdesigner

8:15 Is AI good enough to help avoid change orders?

9:31 Operational AI in the field: commissioning & troubleshooting

11:25 APsystems and AI optimization

13:02 AI-powered battery management and time-of-use savings

13:46 Manufacturing & background AI applications

15:15 Looking ahead: proactive AI tools for solar businesses

17:18 AI for O&M, customer follow-ups, and repowering

Solar energy compensation programs continue to change across the country, as states move away from retail net metering. A great resource for following these trends is the NC Clean Energy Technology Center.

The Center is home to the Database of States Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), a public good that provides information on policies and programs related to clean energy at the federal, state, local, and utility level across the United States.

Its quarterly 50 States of Solar. series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on distributed solar policy, with a focus on net metering, distributed solar valuation, interconnection rules, community solar, residential fixed charges, residential demand and solar charges, and third-party ownership.

Joining The Buzz to sum up the latest actions, and chat about the future of net metering is Rebekah de la Mora, a Senior Policy Analyst at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University.

• 1:08 - Top line trends in changes being made to net metering
• 4:49 - Are there more actions happening now than previously?
• 7:37 - So, is it fair to say "net metering is dead" ?
• 9:09 - Impact of interval data & time of use rates on distributed generation compensation
• 13:35 - Will moving to TOU billing hurt nascent solar markets?
• 17:46 - What states have "friendlier" solar compensation rates?
• 19:15 - Boosting incentives for commercial solar customers
• 23:02 - Emerging markets for commercial solar + storage

Solar panels make a great pair with metal rooftops – as long as you have the right attachment system and support team that understands the nuances of the application. Today on the Pitch we’re talking all about solar mounting on metal roofs with Jesse Winternitz, application engineer with S-5!

• 0:34 - Background of S-5! and metal roof attachment
• 2:31 - Role of the S-5! Support Team
• 4:12 - Misconceptions of solar projects on metal roofs
• 4:53 - Overview of PVKIT system & installation
• 6:29 - How PVKIT helps overcome common project challenges
• 8:13 - How the Support Team helps overcome challenges
• 9:17 - Advice for installers considering metal roof jobs
• 10:11 - How else S-5! is innovating in solar