SiteCapture and Palmetto LightReach integrate to speed TPO projects
Third-party ownership projects are expected to surge — and streamlined financing documentation can help keep installations moving through 2026.
With the federal 30% residential solar tax credit set to expire at the end of 2025, many solar contractors are already planning for what comes next. The expectation? A sharp rise in third-party ownership (TPO) models — leases and PPAs that will still qualify for tax benefits under Section 48E. Here is Josh Tinaglia, finance program manager at BayWa r.e., explaining during a live edition of Power Forward at RE+:
That shift will put new pressure on how fast solar installers and EPCs can document, verify, and fund each project milestone. Today, that’s often a bottleneck. A single missing photo or incomplete field report can delay payment for days or even weeks, slowing cash flow and adding costly repeat site visits.
To remove that friction, SiteCapture has integrated its mobile field documentation platform directly with Palmetto’s LightReach financing system, allowing installers to automatically sync photos, videos, and project data for lender review.
“In a landscape where TPO financing has become essential, our partnership with Palmetto LightReach simplifies and accelerates the funding process for solar installers,” said Kamal Shah, Founder & CEO of SiteCapture. “Our integrated solution empowers installers to optimize field operations, improve quality, and get paid faster so they can be well-positioned for a post-tax credit market in 2026 and beyond.”
Palmetto began quietly offering Palmetto LightReach energy plans towards the end of 2023 after listening to consumers regarding the limitations of existing financing options. In January, LightReach, raised over $1.2 billion in capital to support 2024 and 2025 residential clean energy plans, in partnership with prominent financial institutions and corporate partners.
Palmetto LightReach energy plans are now on track for an average adoption of 300 households per day in 30 states and counting. Well over 20,000 households have adopted solar energy through a Palmetto LightReach solar lease or PPA energy plan.
For a refresher on SiteCapture, watch this episode of The Pitch:
According to SiteCapture, the integration with Palmetto LightReach delivers three key improvements for solar EPCs:
- Seamless data transfer: Photos, videos, and documentation captured via the SiteCapture mobile app sync automatically to Palmetto LightReach.
- Standardized mobile forms: Prebuilt templates guide field crews through each milestone’s documentation requirements, reducing human error.
- Faster approvals: Complete, accurate milestone reports increase first-pass approval rates and cut the time from project completion to payment.
Case study: EMPWR Solar accelerates cash flow
South Carolina–based EMPWR Solar has already adopted the SiteCapture–LightReach integration and reported significant operational gains:
- QA/QC review time cut by 66%
- First-time milestone approval rates doubled
- Average funding time reduced from 22 days to 9
“At Palmetto, our mission is to make clean energy more accessible by removing friction from the financing process,” said Paul Platt, VP of Quality Programs, Operations at Palmetto. “This partnership with SiteCapture helps ensure that documentation for TPO projects is complete, accurate, and ready for rapid approval. Together, we’re giving installers a powerful advantage in today’s evolving solar market.”
Read more about EMPWR Solar’s experience here.
