859: Patrick Crane’s Plan to Cut Solar Costs in Half
SunCast
Intro
Host Nico introduces SunCast, the episode topic ($2/Watt solar), and guest Patrick Crane, with opening sponsor mentions.
The $2/Watt Challenge: Can We Get There?
Is $2/watt solar a pipe dream—or a real target we can hit in the next few years?
Patrick Crane, Global Head of Growth at OpenSolar (and solar pioneer since Sungevity), says not only is it possible, but we already know how to get there. In this conversation, Patrick breaks down the most bloated parts of the cost stack—from customer acquisition to permitting delays to clunky tech stacks—and lays out a clear path to radically cheaper solar installs.
Drawing on two decades in solar and his time as CMO for LinkedIn, Patrick shares how smarter software, better referral systems, and AI-driven tools could change the economics of solar forever. If you’re serious about scaling solar and building a profitable, future-ready business, this one’s required listening.
Expect to learn:
🔹Why CAC is still solar’s biggest cost lever (and how to fix it)
🔹How AI-powered design tools are slashing sales timelines
🔹What SolarApp is doing to eliminate permitting bottlenecks
🔹Why simplifying your tech stack could unlock 40+ cents/watt in savings
🎧 Hit play to hear how Patrick and the OpenSolar team are helping the industry move from “solar sold” to “solar bought.”
Not convinced we can get to $2/W for US Resi solar? Sound off - what are we missing?
Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.
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