Sunstone Credit reaffirms bankability of Aurora’s HelioScope
Commercial solar lender Sunstone Credit says it “basically accepts” HelioScope production estimates in underwriting, underscoring the platform’s role as a trusted tool for accurate system modeling and project financing
Sunstone Credit, one of the most active commercial solar financiers in the U.S., has reaffirmed that it treats Aurora Solar’s HelioScope as a bankable design platform—accepting its production estimates outright in loan underwriting. The recognition highlights HelioScope’s continued role in helping developers and installers move projects through financing faster, with fewer data challenges and fewer back-and-forths over performance models.
“We love when solar installers use HelioScope to estimate the production of a system,” said Duncan Hinkle, Chief Commercial Officer at Sunstone Credit. “If we know HelioScope generated the production estimate and optimized the system size, we’ll basically accept the output in our analysis of the system’s performance — no questions asked.”
The lender’s stance is significant as the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market keeps growing despite rate pressures and policy uncertainty. Commercial installations grew 27% year-over-year in Q2 2025, even as residential slowed, according to recent market data. That growth is being fueled by businesses seeking stability amid volatile rates — but it also demands tighter coordination between design software, developers, and lenders.
Bankable software models are increasingly seen as critical infrastructure for securing capital and maintaining investor confidence.
“Bankable production estimates are the key that unlock access to capital for developers and customers alike,” said Chris Collins, CEO of Ohm Analytics. “With financing playing such a critical role in scaling commercial and industrial solar, lenders need confidence that production estimates are accurate and defensible.”
HelioScope stats and shoutouts
HelioScope’s long track record of defensible production estimates gives it staying power among both lenders and EPCs. For installers, that credibility means fewer hurdles during project review and less time lost in financing cycles. Aurora Solar says installers using HelioScope can cut preliminary design time from two hours to about 20 minutes, enabling teams to produce 20% more proposals per year with the same staffing.
Solar Gain, a C&I installer, says HelioScope bridges the gap between quick design work and lender-grade modeling.
“HelioScope gives us confidence in our design accuracy without the hours of engineering work other solutions require,” said Robert Neifert, Director of Business Development at Solar Gain. “Working with lenders like Sunstone that trust HelioScope’s production estimates makes the financing approval process smoother and faster.”
That confidence carries through to project owners, too. Chucho Produce, a business that recently went solar through Solar Gain and Sunstone Credit, credits the trio’s alignment for a seamless project.
“Everyone was transparent, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping us make the switch to solar,” said Hector M. Burruel, owner of Chucho Produce. “It feels great to be making a smart financial decision that’s also good for the planet.”
