Unlike traditional community solar projects, which are often built on open land in rural or semi-rural areas, rooftop community solar utilizes existing commercial, industrial, or institutional rooftops to host solar arrays. The Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN) Round 3 brought together eight multistakeholder teams from various locations across the United States to develop new approaches to solar deployment, focusing on residential and commercial buildings in underserved communities. Round 3 of the Solar Energy. The U. Department of Energy defines community solar as any solar project or purchasing program, within a geographic area, in which the benefits flow to multiple customers such as individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and other groups. In most cases, customers benefit from energy generated by solar. Community solar programs have emerged as a powerful solution for expanding access to renewable energy, particularly for those who cannot install solar panels on their own properties. The programs have primarily focused on ground-mount solar, but an increasing number of states are now including. SOLAR ENERGY IS ABUNDANT, affordable and a big part of America's transition to renewable energy. If you install solar at your home or business, you'll likely install a rooftop solar panel system. While both options advance clean energy adoption, they serve distinctly different needs and situations.