Energy Connector Summary
Energy Connector Software Platform Copyright Licensing Opportunity (SWR-26-014)
Background:
The National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory/NREL) opened the application process for the Energy Connector cloud-based software tool for third-party management by a long-term host through publication of the technology summary. This document summarizes information relevant to potential long-term hosts regarding the long-term host selection and software transition processes.
About the Energy Connector (Connector) https://connector.nrel.gov/: The Connector makes community solar subscriptions with long-term cost savings available to income-verified households. Participating states use the Connector to support community solar programs with income-qualified subscriber requirements. These states agree to consumer protections to safeguard consumer data and provide household subscribers with comprehensive and clear communication and disclosures about community solar. The Connector offers community solar developers reduced customer acquisition and management costs for income-verified subscribers by connecting them to pre-qualified applicants.
Summary of Information from Informal Informational Sessions with Potential Long-Term Hosts
TOPICS:
Sharing names of organizations interested in the Connector licensing opportunity:
1. NLR is asking any organization that is willing to share their name and contact information with other organizations interested in the Connector to notify us via email.
2. Organizations NLR has received permission from so far:
a. Blue House Group
b. Inclime Solutions
c. Solar Energy Industries Association
d. US Solar
a. Clean Power Research
a. Groundswell
Licensee/long-term host selection process:
1. The Connector selection process is not an RFP or similar process.
a. This is not a request for proposals or similar lengthy procurement process requiring extensive documentation. NLR is seeking to license the Energy Connector software to a suitable entity (or entities in partnership). The selection process is described on slide 17 Interview Procedure of the slide deck LTH informal info mgt provided to all parties that scheduled an informal informational meeting with NLR.
2. Interview schedule
a. NLR plans to begin conducting interviews starting January 5, 2026, and all interviews are expected to be completed in January 2026.
b. Applicants can schedule their interview using Calendly at the link here
3. Interview committee
a. Representatives from several stakeholder organizations which are stakeholders of the Energy Connector comprise the interview committee. Representation on the committee requires that representative organizations are allowed to pursue licensure of the Energy Connector software.
a. Interviews will be 90-minutes. The first 15 minutes will be for presentations from applicant organizations (instructions for presentations forthcoming); ~30 minutes for substantive Q&A about the applicant and presentation ~30 minutes for software-specific Q&A; and
15 minutes for Q&A from the applicant.
License related:
1. NLR is looking for one organization to license the Energy Connector software, including code and data. We anticipate a 5-year license agreement. This period allows both the licensee and NLR to ensure the licensing terms are as effective as possible. Ultimately, the intent is to find a long-term host for the tool.
2. If the license is granted to a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that collects revenue through use of the Energy Connector, is it likely the license will come with royalty fees to the nonprofit organization licensee?
a. If the licensing organization is a for profit organization that will collect revenue through use of the Energy Connector, it is likely the license will require royalty payments. If the licensing organization is a nonprofit organization and the nonprofit will collect revenue to support ongoing operation of the Energy Connector, it is not likely the license will require royalty payments.
Software related:
3. Stakeholders have requested that the household data on the Connector never goes offshore. What if the licensee utilizes software development and maintenance services offshore?
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- If software services are located in a country on the Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List, it may extend the time required for licensing negotiations and approval. Countries of Risk and State Sponsors of Terrorism would not likely receive approval. Most importantly, NLR would need to know before we sign the license where any of the software providers are located.
4. Given the Energy Connector exists within the AWS cloud infrastructure, is it possible to simply change the license name on the AWS side to the selected licensee vs. moving code and data?
a. No, we anticipate the need to replicate our industry standard AWS pipelines in the new hosts cloud environment or to adapt the NLR pipeline to the long-term hosts setup. The more standard AWS features the host uses the easier this transition should be.