Solar Unlimited North America LLC
11 Kentucky Avenue , Lewes, Delaware, United States

Solar Unlimited is a successful small business led by president George Chambers. Like many small businesses, Solar Unlimited was struggling in a downturned economy, when Chambers received a call from Global Delaware to pitch a trade mission to Mexico. Chambers was intrigued and decided he had nothing to lose and much to gain by exploring the option.  Through Global Delaware, Chambers learned about DEMEP and the ExporTech training program. He decided to enroll to get the help he needed to expand his business in a foreign market. Chambers said he likes to set goals, and his goal was to sell 12 new hospitals in Mexico in 2016. A language barrier, specifically in translating technical terms into Spanish, was a road block for him. Finding an interrupter with a business orientation was also a big help. Establishing a local installation partner, along with import support were two other significant hurdles to a successful business.

Solution:

  Chambers said that the ExporTech classes taught him a lot. He discovered resources and knowledge that helped him succeed in expanding his business to Mexico. Chambers began to focus on offering solar hot water to hospitals in Mexico. He is currently doing two pilot projects with the largest hospital system in Mexico. If all goes well with his two pilot projects, he will have the opportunity to sell the other 22 hospitals in the group. Chambers noted that he was the first in the marketplace, and this gives him an advantage, but he also has to face the challenge of convincing business owners to trust in his product and process. He said one of the biggest objections, both in the US and Mexico is his solar hot water being "too good to be true” because of the amount of energy it can save organizations – as high as 80%.  Chambers noted that the Export-Import Bank was a great resource that ExporTech introduced to him. It offered loans that were guaranteed at 85% of the project, which removed the money objection for the customer and lowers the cost of borrowing for the hospital.

Solar Thermal Water Heating (also called domestic hot water) is a simple, reliable, and cost-effective technology that harnesses the suns energy to provide for the hot water needs of business and industry. A Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit @ 30%, in Delaware a Grant of up to 50% and depreciation of the system cost make this investment a "slam dunk"!

We design and install solar domestic hot water, and solar space heating in the United States and Mexico. As a full service shop, we offer turn-key solutions that make it easy for you to go solar. Our staff handles all aspects of commercial, non-profit, military and industrial solar system design, engineering, permits, grant applications, installation and training. Our systems are affordable, reliable, low maintenance and made in the USA.

Business Owners

• Business Owner Benefits From Solar Hot Water for Domestic Hot Water and Space Hea

• Solar Thermal Water Heating (also called domestic hot water) is a simple, reliable, and cost-effective technology that harnesses the suns energy to provide for the hot water needs of business and industry.

• A Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit @ 30%, in Delaware a Grant of up to 50% and depreciation of the system cost make this investment a "slam dunk"!

• Loan money is available for credit worthy businesses at 2% interest for up to 20 years. These incentives and benefits added together can add up to ZERO

  capital cost!

Mexico Trade Mission 

Solar Unlimited sells and engineers commercial solar hot water systems. This is a very small part of the renewable energy market and therefore ignored. Solar hot water can be used for domestic hot water and/or space heating.  Solar Unlimited was one of 5 businesses to participate in the first trade mission to Mexico on September 29, 2015.  Global Delaware, through their representative in Mexico City, set 9 appointments over 3 days. Five were with prospect hospitals and 4 with installers. All 9 appointments were successful.  In November, Bob Kingston, nationally recognized solar energy expert, and I went to Mexico to conduct the site surveys at the hospitals. The installer, Ecotermic selected to partner with us, accompanied us on the site surveys.  As of January 2016, we have 3 of the 5 hospitals ready for the next step. Our installer partners are ready to begin the prep work on our first hospital the first week of February.  Based upon the results to date, we are projecting 12 sales in 2016 representing $850,000 to $950,000 in export business.  The trip organizer, Beth Pomper, and her staff were knowledgeable and very helpful. Beths selection of Miguel de Regil who set my appointments was outstanding and very professional as were the Spanish interpreters.

What We Do

• We sell solar hot water systems to hospitals who want to reduce energy costs of up to 85% with an investment payback in 2 to 3 years. And the environment wins with an average CO2 reduction of approximately 75,000 kilograms per year.
• Unlike other solar companies, we sell custom solutions.
• We sell direct to the end user.
• We joint venture with our installer, Ecotermic.
• The installer will provide annual system maintenance.
• The installer will provide technical support backed up by our engineers.