Solar RFPs 2025

Finding and winning solar RFPs (Requests for Proposals) in 2025 is more competitive than ever. Utilities, cooperatives, and large corporate offtakers are issuing procurement opportunities at record pace, but tracking them down can be difficult. Once located, RFPs can be intimidating to read and often resemble lengthy regulatory filings or even graduate-level theses, full of detailed technical requirements, timelines, and compliance obligations.

For renewable developers, EPC companies, or consultants, missing an RFP because you didn’t hear about it in time means missing a business opportunity that could shape your pipeline for years. In this article, we’ll cover:

1. Where to find solar RFPs (and which sources are most reliable).
2. Examples of major solar RFPs announced in 2025.
3. The broader industry trends shaping solar procurement into 2026 and beyond.

Where to find Solar RFPs

There is no single, centralized source for solar RFPs. Instead, developers need to monitor multiple channels. The right strategy also depends on the types of RFPs. For example, whether you’re targeting utility-scale projects or commercial/community solar.

1. Utility websites
2. Energy Adepto Active Solar RFP List
3. Google Search
4. RFP Alerts

Let’s dive deeper into each one.

Utility Websites: Most major utilities post procurement opportunities directly on their websites. Look for “Procurement,” “Suppliers,” or “RFP Portal” pages. For example, Duke Energy, Xcel Energy, and Pacific Gas & Electric all maintain open RFP sections. The challenge: every utility uses a different format and posting schedule, so it requires regular monitoring.

Energy Adepto Active Solar RFP List: Energy Adepto tracks RFP postings across utilities, cooperatives, and agencies, then organizes the results into a searchable format. Key project details—such as due dates, eligibility, and project type—are extracted and categorized so developers can quickly determine fit without wading through 30+ page documents. Get started

Google search: Google can be a good source for some of the larger RFPs. The challenge with searching through google is that you have to keep the search very specific to geography and timeline. For example, search for “Solar RFP 2025” or “Solar RFP Texas 2025” to get more relevant links. It can be challenging to sift through all of the links to get the right information.

RFP Alerts: Subscription services such as BidPrime or BidNet Direct aggregate RFPs across industries. These platforms aren’t solar-specific, so filters are essential to avoid drowning in irrelevant opportunities. Energy Adepto also provides targeted alerts that eliminate noise and save time.

RFP Examples for 2025

Here are some example of Solar RFPs in 2025.

DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS 2025 Request for Proposals for New Solar Resources

• Proposals Due: September 29, 2025
• Type: Solar + Storage
• Category: Utility-Scale
• Area: North and South Carolina
• Summary: Duke Energy (through DEC and DEP) is issuing a 2025 RFP seeking new solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities—both solar-only and solar paired with battery storage (SPWS)—to meet projected energy and capacity needs across its Carolinas service territories. The procurement target is roughly 1,700 MW (at POI AC), composed of about 900 MW of solar-only resources and 800 MW of SPWS (with ~300 MW of battery storage). The RFP is structured into two tracks: a Utility Ownership Track (approx. 55%) and a Controllable PPA Track (approx. 45%), to strike a balance between Duke-owned and third-party developed projects. Key eligibility includes that facilities be new, located in NC or SC, connect to DEC or DEP transmission, meet size minimums (30 MWAC in DEC, 50 MWAC in DEP), demonstrate ability to achieve commercial operation (with permitting and interconnection) within set timeframes, and qualify for current federal clean energy tax credits (or have safe harbor plans) under the post-“OBBB” regime.

NorthWestern Energy All Source RFP 2025

• Proposals Due: November 12, 2025
• Type: All-Source (Capacity)
• Category: Utility-Scale
• Area: South Dakota
• Summary: NorthWestern Energy is seeking supply-side capacity resources via an “all-source” request for proposals (RFP) for its South Dakota system to help fill capacity shortfalls identified in its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan. The utility is looking for resources that can deliver accredited capacity by end of 2029, or at the latest by June 2030. The need is modest in the near term (50-100 MW) but could grow to about 250 MW depending on planning scenario. Eligible technologies include renewables, thermal generation, energy storage (including long-duration), hydroelectric or combinations thereof. Demand-side resources are excluded.

SOUTHEAST RURAL POWER – SOLAR FOR ALL

• Proposals Due: August 8, 2025
• Type: Solar
• Category: Community Solar
• Area: Southeast US
• Summary: Groundswell’s Southeast Rural Power (SERP) “Solar for All” RFP seeks qualified solar project developers to design, build, and/or operate small community solar PV systems (and in some cases paired with battery storage) across rural portions of the Southeastern U.S., specifically within service territories of partner utilities/cooperatives in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The program, funded via an EPA grant, aims to support residential-serving community solar, targeting around 107 MW of capacity made available over multiple projects (each ranging from 200 kW to 5 MW AC) with fixed 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs). Individual projects may optionally include battery storage and resilience hub capabilities.

Solar Market Trends Affecting RFPs

Several industry shifts are shaping the RFP landscape:

Policy & Tax Credit Deadlines

Recent changes to the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) are driving a “race to qualify” before phasedowns or new compliance hurdles take effect. This creates bottlenecks in permitting, interconnection, and supply chains.

AI-Driven Load Growth

Data centers and AI computing loads are significantly increasing regional electricity demand. Utilities are accelerating renewable procurements to balance capacity needs, particularly in fast-growing southern and midwestern markets.

Resource Mix Adjustments

While solar remains central to utility IRPs, there is a parallel push for natural gas or hybrid resources to address reliability concerns. This could lead to more all-source RFPs rather than strictly solar solicitations.

For more, check out more broader energy trends in the article: 3 Key Trends in Energy

Alerts for new Solar RFPs

For developers, the difference between winning and missing an opportunity often comes down to timing. Subscribing to targeted solar RFP alerts helps ensure you never miss a posting. Whether through Energy Adepto’s curated service or another monitoring tool, real-time notifications let you focus less on searching and more on building competitive proposals.

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Going forward: challenges and considerations for Solar RFPs

The RFP process is not getting easier. Developers face:

1. Political and regulatory uncertainty at both federal and state levels.
2. Longer interconnection queues that can delay project timelines.
3. Greater scrutiny of project viability. Utilities increasingly require proof of financing, land control, and interconnection readiness at the RFP stage.
4. Competition from non-solar resources as utilities diversify portfolios and try to meet base-load demand from data centers.

Successful developers in 2026 and beyond will need to be resourceful, proactive, and selective. Winning RFPs isn’t about chasing every opportunity. It’s about identifying the right ones early, aligning your proposal with the utility’s stated needs, and executing on time.