July 28, 2025
Earlier this year, RP Construction Services renamed Ampacity Renewable energy sources. A member of the Quanta Services Family of Companies, Ampacity specializes in end-to-end structural and electrical solutions with a progressive approach for clean energy projects and the possibility of orchestrating the entire process from engineering to kiting to installation.
Eben Russell founded RPCs in 2014, but the company really grew up during Covid. They opened a warehouse operation in Mississippi and started concentrating on engaging Tracker projects as a distributor with added value instead of always doing it as a ‘Turnkey’ installation program.
“Since then our sale has doubled,” says Russell. “We have opened two extra warehouses over the past three years and just celebrated the five-year anniversary of the MS facility in April. We have a team of more than 300 spread over the US”
The team built up a reputation in the industry as a trusted partner with A one-stop-shop approachAnd the evolution of the company required a new brand identity. The team selected a well-known industrial term ‘ampacity’, defined as the maximum amount of electricity that a conductor can safely transport to the concept of electrification and acceleration, and to represent the company’s upper and cheap approach to serve its customers.
I recently spoke with founder and President Ebenl from Ampacity about the name change, the extensive capacities of the company and trends in the general industry. Read on for the rest of my interview with Eben.
Why change the company name of RP -build services?
Russell: When we first started the company, we were on a mission to sell trackers at a time when very few contractors had experience with putting them together. We have trained our own crews and filled an important gap on the market. Many of our customers in the early days were only comfortable to buy a tracking system if they knew we would build it for them, so we did.
It is clear that the market has changed a lot in the last ten years, and so do we. We still do a decent volume of installations every year, but today the majority of our company is with added value. We sell essential solar construction supplies to other contractors and developers. We know how we can make our customers successful because we have been in their shoes. The way we do things is all about helping around the stumbling blocks that every project encounters at some point. We have seen it all.
We have changed our name to make it easier for the market to understand what we are about and where we are going. Our company is wearing a constant metal river in our warehouses and to small sun places – truck after truck after truck. And we’re going further. At the end of last year we started distributing electric goods next to tracker and Pile. There is so much value that we can offer because of the level of fame that we make with every site, and because everything we do with the field is done in mind.
Ultimately, the name ‘Ampacity’ is given the core of whom we are a distributor with added value that works for our customers at maximum capacity.
What can you tell me about the extensive possibilities of the company?
Russell: In the past 6 months we have focused on building two new areas of the company. First electric distribution. We now support customers with wire harness, wire management products, MV cable, termination kits and sectionalizing cabinets. To support this new line of products, we have invested in inventory, warehouse space and services with added value such as adapted roles and MV kittingen.
The second area that we have expanded is our service company to support the installed basis. When the ampacity began, there was less than 20 GW operational solar capacity in the US. Now there are more than ten times that amount, and plants that are five, six, seven years old, needs goods and services to solve and walk performance problems safely. We can help.
Can you explain Ampacity’s distribution approach? What does that mean for your customers?
Russell: We talk about four things that really make us take. The first is expert sales. Our sellers are not cold callers – they are product experts and problem solutions. They come deep on drawing sets and geotechnical reports. At Ampacity, the sale is about helping customers to get the correct answer, not just accepting their order.
The second that our approach defines are premium goods. We work together with leading manufacturers, so that we can offer our customers the highest quality products. The entire company is aimed at “No Apology Technology”.
Number three is value from design. Our design team supplies important design contributions to most projects that we deliver. In some cases we have an active technical dialogue with the project owner, even if we are finally finished with their contractor at NTP. Applications Engineering is the core of who we are and how we think about distribution. One of our first things we did when launching our electric distribution efforts was hiring our first electric designer.
Finally, our dedication to the field distinguishes us. The head of our warehouse activities used to be one of our best field superintendents. The head of our electrical storage effort spent most of his career on project sites. Everything we do in the warehouse-of pre-intended tracker-rows to overnight stay a mission criticism about helping crews to succeed in the field.
What size project are your “bread and butter”?
Russell: Our Sweet Spot is 1-100 MW, but we usually do a few projects per year that are larger than that. Because there are usually legal limits for the project size in community zonstates, we see a large number of projects under 10 MW. We provided trackers last year for more than 300 projects.
Where do you see the best chance in the solar industry? Is it all about data centers and AI? Are there other areas that save on the market?
Russell: Datacenters and AI are currently absolutely large growth grips for every company in our sector. It comes down to a basic problem for the offer and offer. There is not enough generation for all the load that is coming -the energy requirements of AI infrastructure are amazing and grow exponentially. From a climate perspective it feels like a bit of a setback and we are on a mission to help the industry react. Speed of the deployment is a huge theme and solar energy is the best option from that point of view.
The increase in the electricity demand has no influence on large solar projects. Many supervisors are looking for ways to reduce the impact of all this extra demand on individuals and small companies. Keeping rates under control will not be easy.
An option that gets a grip throughout the country is community sages. The community frameworks for the community in states such as New York and Illinois have been really effective in reducing energy costs for solar subscribers. I think we will see different extra markets opening in the coming years. It would also not surprise me to see more interest in larger projects behind the meter and Microgrids as customers try to reduce their exposure to utility rates.
It is a big moment for the entire industry of the Power & Utilities. The needs are great, but that also applies to the opportunities. As a Supply Chain partner, we make ourselves to move more goods faster and faster, so that things run smoothly when all financing and permit are done and it is time to build.
Which other trends do you see coming up in the solar industry?
Russell: The solar industry moves with Breakneck speed. The pressure is to deliver projects quickly, accurately, efficiently and safely. We see a lot of momentum in the DG room as the demand grows and scheduling restrictions become tighter. Supply Chain challenges still play in the game.
Customers need reliable partners who bring expertise and value for their growing portfolios and project pipelines. We constantly work together with our customers and limit risks due to our design capacity, manufacturer partnerships, kous and logistics strategies and implementation activities. Customers want expertise, not only materials, so we help them risk projects through better planning, a better design and better implementation to stay ahead of the curve.
What is the next step for ampacity?
Russell: We have already spoken about some large growth areas for us. Electric distribution and services to the installed basis will remain the focus areas for the near future. There is also a constant evolution in our basic company with new tracker products, changing trends and new players in space. Our customers rely on us to stay directly at the intersection of the tracker market, and we do the work that is needed to stay there.
Finally, there is always more that we can do to improve our customers’ experience with us. I am enthusiastic about some of the software projects that we have to stimulate the success of customers in the field. At the end of the day all our success comes down to passion for creating a better way.
Tags: Distributed Generation, EPC, Scal utility
