Public solar investment AI: Gigawatt revives Real Goods and builds an AI energy hub.
- Midyivia Torres
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
How public solar investment AI is reshaping the Post-ITC market
By Elena Rivera | Green Squad Solar Reporter
Published: February 3, 2026 · Time: 6:30 p.m.
St. Cloud, Florida — Special Report
In a market where residential solar is rapidly shifting due to rising utility rates and the gradual phase-down of federal incentives, a major new development is emerging: Gigawatt, Inc. has opened a public investment round to accelerate its expansion and bring back the historic “Real Goods” brand, while also building an AI-driven software platform designed to simplify energy management for homeowners. Public solar investment AI is reshaping the U.S. residential energy market as Gigawatt opens a public round to revive Real Goods and build an AI-driven energy hub.
Gigawatt, the parent company of DIY solar brands including GoGreenSolar, Unbound Solar, and the AltE Store, announced the launch of this investment round through the crowdfunding platform StartEngine, aiming to raise capital to fund the development of both proprietary hardware and a modern, user-first software hub.
This move represents a strategic pivot in the solar industry—one that recognizes a powerful shift happening right now: solar customers are becoming more informed, more independent, and more demanding of transparent pricing and systems they can understand.
What Is Gigawatt Raising Money For?
Gigawatt’s offering is conducted under Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), with the company presenting:
Pre-money valuation: $40 million
Shares offered: Non-voting Class B Common Stock
Share price: $2 per share
Minimum investment: $500 (250 shares)
Maximum raise (cap): $1.235 million
The company stated that the funds will be used to develop and expand its solar products and software offering—especially as the industry enters a more competitive Post-ITC environment.
The Post-ITC Market: Why This Matters Now
Gigawatt CEO Deep Patel described the current solar landscape as a major inflection point.
As tax credits decline and traditional “turnkey” solar installation models face growing pressure from soft costs and shrinking margins, Patel believes a leaner, direct-to-consumer model will become increasingly attractive.
In simple terms:
customers want solar
but many no longer want expensive markup layers
and they want systems they can understand and control
This is where Gigawatt’s strategy becomes highly relevant for the industry.
Reviving a Historic Name: Real Goods Returns
One of the biggest headlines in this announcement is the re-launch of Real Goods, a brand with deep roots in U.S. solar history.
Real Goods was the company that sold the first retail solar panel in the U.S. in 1978, becoming a symbol of energy independence and the “power to the people” movement.
Gigawatt acquired the brand when it purchased the AltE Store’s former owner in 2024, and now plans to bring it back as a private-label line including:
hybrid inverters
batteries
solar modules
solar + storage integrated kits
support for permitting and interconnection
Patel described the strategy as creating a “Kirkland brand” for solar—high-quality equipment sourced from global OEMs and modified to Gigawatt’s specifications based on 19 years of customer feedback.
The Real Goods Hub: AI for Energy Management
Beyond hardware, one of the most important long-term developments is Gigawatt’s plan to create a software platform called the:
Real Goods Hub
A tool designed to help users manage their energy systems without confusion. Patel explained a major pain point in solar adoption:
overly technical interfaces confuse homeowners.
Gigawatt wants to build a “plain language” experience—and eventually integrate AI so users can interact with their system naturally.
In other words:
✅ customers should be able to talk to their system, not fight with it.
This aligns with where the entire energy sector is heading—AI-driven automation, simpler interfaces, and smarter home control.
What This Means for Consumers
This story is not just about one company raising money.
It’s part of a broader trend:
solar is becoming more “retail”
systems are becoming more modular
consumers want control, clarity, and transparency
AI is becoming a central layer in energy management
At Green Squad Solar, we see this as a key moment: the industry is moving away from short-term sales booms and toward long-term infrastructure solutions.
That includes:
solar
storage
efficiency
smart home technology
and advanced energy systems designed for resilience
Final Message
Solar is not just a product—it’s infrastructure.
The companies that will win the next era are the ones that innovate responsibly, educate consumers, and simplify the technology so the homeowner can actually benefit from it.
Because the future of energy must be built with transparency—not shortcuts.
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