What to Do After Sunnova Solar Declares Bankruptcy

Sunnova Energy International Inc is a big solar installer that helps homeowners get solar panels and batteries. On June 9, 2025, Sunnova filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Houston, Texas. That means they’re asking a special court to help sort out their money problems so they can keep running.

Why Did This Happen?

1.    Lots and lots of debt

Sunnova owed a massive $8.9 billion in long-term debt and only had about $13.5 million in cash. That’s like owning ten big candy stores and having only a few bucks to your name.  

2.    High interest rates

When interest rates climb, it gets more expensive for homeowners to borrow money for solar, so fewer people buy it.

3.    Fewer help and tax breaks

State subsidies (help from the government) were cut, and some federal tax credits might be removed. Also, there were tariffs (extra taxes on solar imports). That all made solar energy more expensive.  

4.    A cancelled loan guarantee

The U.S. government (under the Trump administration) canceled a $3 billion loan guarantee meant for solar in places like Puerto Rico. That program, run by a subsidiary of Sunnova, had to end.

5.    Sales dropped and trust slipped

Fewer homes were getting solar panels. Also, some customers said that sales tactics were shady or that panels didn’t work as expected. That hurt Sunnova’s reputation.  

What Was Happening Before Bankruptcy?

• In March 2025, Sunnova warned investors they might not have enough money to keep going. That’s a big red flag on the stock market.
• They also fired more than 700 employees, which was over 55% of their workforce. That’s like losing more than half the players on a big sports team.
• The CEO (the boss) at the time left the company. Leadership was changing right before filing for bankruptcy.

What Does Chapter 11 Mean?

Chapter 11 is a special part of U.S. bankruptcy law. It lets a company keep working while it tries to fix its money problems. Sunnova can keep running solar systems and batteries for current customers.
They’re also planning to sell “substantially all” of their items, like systems or certain parts of the business to get cash. The sale process should take about 45 days.

Who’s Buying?

Sunnova has already lined up some deals:

• Atlas SP Partners is going to buy solar systems for $15 million.
• The homebuilder Lennar Homes will buy Sunnova’s "New Home" solar business for $16 million.

These deals will help Sunnova pay wages, keep servicing customer systems, and continue running while they do the big sale.

What This Means for the Solar Industry

• Lots of solar companies are struggling. Other big names like Solar Mosaic, SunPower, and Lumio have also filed for bankruptcy recently. This shows a bigger problem with rooftop solar panels.
• Higher interest rates and less government help (like tax credits) are making it hard for solar businesses to survive. That’s because rooftop solar often needs expensive financing and relies on incentives to be affordable.
• If the government makes more cuts to tax credits, it could spell trouble for the whole solar industry not just Sunnova.

What Could Happen Next?

1. Sunnova might get a new owner 
   
   1. Someone could buy the whole company or parts of it and then run it under a new name or structure.
      
      
2. Customers should see no change right now
   1. Unless their systems are newly installed and part of the asset sale, everything should keep working smoothly.
      
      
3. More solar companies could file for bankruptcy
   1. The same pressure Sunnova faced could push more companies into trouble, especially if rates stay high and subsidies get cut.

Why This Matters to You

• If your home has solar panels or batteries from Sunnova, don’t panic. They’ve promised to keep things working and servicing your system.
• If you are thinking about buying solar, take some time to watch the market conditions: What are the loan interest rates like? What help is the government still offering?
• Sunnova's troubles show that solar isn’t always cheap or easy. Even big companies can run into big problems.

Need Help with a Solar Claim?

If you got solar panels through Sunnova or any other company that’s now out of business - you might still have options.

• Did your system stop working?
• Are you still paying for something that doesn’t work?
• Not sure what your contract says?

Let our team take a look.

At Vargas Gonzalez Delombard, LLP, we help homeowners understand their rights and fight back when something goes wrong. We’ve handled solar fraud and insurance issues across Florida, Texas, New York, and Colorado, and we’re ready to help you too.

Call us or visit vargasgonzalez.com for a free consultation.

Don’t wait. There may be deadlines to act.