Clean Energy Experts is a major solar lead marketplace that allows installers to bid on shared and exclusive homeowner inquiries. While buying leads from a marketplace provides immediate volume, many solar companies look for alternatives to avoid racing competitors for shared prospects and to gain more control over their acquisition costs.
This guide compares alternatives to Clean Energy Experts. We break down the differences between relying on a lead vendor versus building an in-house outbound machine, and how sourcing your own homeowner lists can lower your cost per acquisition.
Disclosure: Scout Data is our product. We sell the property data and homeowner contact information that solar teams use to build their own outbound lists instead of buying shared leads. Read the advice here with that in mind.
The marketplace model: buying shared solar leads
Platforms like Clean Energy Experts operate by generating homeowner inquiries online and selling that contact information to solar installers. Clean Energy Experts operates on a pay-per-lead bidding model, and their prices are not publicly published as of October 2026.
The main advantage of a marketplace is convenience. Your team logs in, sets a budget, and leads flow into your CRM. However, if you are buying shared leads, those same inquiries are sold to multiple other installers. Your reps must have a flawless speed-to-lead workflow. If they do not dial the lead within seconds, the homeowner is likely already speaking with another company. For a deeper look at this dynamic, read our breakdown of exclusive vs shared leads.
The alternative: generating in-house leads
The primary alternative to buying from a marketplace is generating your own pipeline. Rather than paying a premium for a homeowner who filled out a form and is now being called by three competitors, you build a list of properties that fit your ideal solar profile and contact them proactively.
This strategy involves pulling records for single-family homes, filtering out properties that already have solar panels, and appending the homeowners’ phone numbers. Your outbound team then cold calls or canvasses these lists. Because these homeowners have not yet requested quotes online, your team is the only one talking to them, effectively creating an exclusive lead.
Choosing the right path for your solar team
If you run a small operation without dedicated appointment setters, paying a marketplace for immediate inbound interest might be necessary, despite the lower conversion rates of shared leads.
However, if you have an outbound floor or a strong canvassing team, relying on vendors for leads caps your margins. Sourcing your own homeowner lists allows you to scale your outreach without paying per inquiry. To maximize the effectiveness of this outbound strategy, ensure you are calling the right people by learning how to build your own lists effectively.
Frequently asked questions
How does Clean Energy Experts price its solar leads?
Clean Energy Experts operates on a pay-per-lead bidding model where installers set their own bids for shared or exclusive leads. Prices are not publicly published as they vary based on geographic competition and applied filters.
What is the downside of buying shared solar leads?
Shared solar leads are sold to multiple installers at the same time. The primary downside is the intense competition: if your sales team does not contact the homeowner immediately, the prospect will likely be closed by a competitor who called first.
How can solar companies generate their own exclusive leads?
Solar companies can generate their own exclusive leads by pulling property records for single-family homes with high utility rates, appending phone numbers, and running an in-house outbound calling or canvassing team to contact homeowners before they submit an online form.