Earnings Labs

Ameresco, Inc. (AMRC)

Q3 2020 Earnings Call· Mon, Nov 2, 2020

$27.81

-0.36%

Key Takeaways · AI generated
AI summary not yet generated for this transcript. Generation in progress for older transcripts; check back soon, or browse the full transcript below.

Same-Day

+12.63%

1 Week

+11.78%

1 Month

+14.19%

vs S&P

+3.13%

Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Ameresco, Inc. Third Quarter Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later, we will conduct a question-and-answer session and instructions will follow at the time. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to your host, Ms. Leila Dillon, Vice President, Marketing and Communications. Ms. Dillon, you may begin.

Leila Dillon

Management

Thank you, Nika, and good afternoon, everyone. We appreciate you joining us for today’s call. Joining me here are George Sakellaris, Ameresco’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Doran Hole, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Mark Chiplock, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Before I turn the call over to George, I would like to make a brief statement regarding forward-looking remarks. This call contains forward-looking information regarding future events and the future financial performance of the company. We caution you that such statements are predictions based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Actual results may differ materially as a result of risks and uncertainties that pertain to our business. We refer you to the company’s press release issued this afternoon and to our SEC filings. These documents discuss important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the company’s projections or forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements made on today’s call. In addition, we will be referring to non-GAAP financial measures during this call. These non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation as well as an explanation behind the use of non-GAAP financial measures is available in our press release and in the appendix of the slides, which can be downloaded from our website. I will now turn the call over to George. George?

George Sakellaris

Management

Thank you, Leila, and good afternoon. I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. First, I would like to thank our employees, costumers and partners, who continue to effectively manage through the ongoing challenges facing all of us in this difficult COVID-19 environment. Our performance would not have been possible without them. And our performance this quarter was indeed excellent. A robust 33% revenue growth with tight expense controls, helped us drive outstanding earnings and record levels of EBITDA. We see a demand for our services accelerating, given our customers increasing need for solutions that combine cost-savings with advanced technologies. This remote energy resiliency, infrastructure upgrades, the transition to low carbon energy sources and healthy and safe environments, especially in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Our core businesses continue to execute well during the third quarter, led by exceptional results from our federal solutions group, which benefited from strong contract execution and improved access to work sites. They work hard to pull in and execute our contracted backlog, given uncertainties around COVID-19 and future job sites access. Our renewable assets and operational maintenance businesses continued to provide Ameresco with highly predictable long-term recovery revenue, which is especially important during this economically uncertain times. These two businesses support our visibility with a combined $2 billion backlog of contracted revenue and incentives, which will be generated over the next 15 years on average. Our industry reputation and a strong financial profile, put us in an excellent position to identify and pursue additional high return renewable asset opportunities. During the quarter, we added 15 megawatts of assets, including a new RNG plant and a standalone various storage system. Our renewable assets in development currently stand at a healthy 322 megawatts. While we remained focused on project execution in the third quarter, we were…

Doran Hole

Management

Thank you George, and good afternoon everyone. I’m pleased to review the company’s third quarter financial performance. Please refer to our press release and supplemental slides posted on our website for additional financial information. In the third quarter, we achieved strong double-digit revenue growth and increased operating leverage leading to record EBITDA levels and accelerating earnings growth. Revenue grew 33% year-on-year with growth across our core businesses led by the exceptional performance of our Federal Solutions Group. As we executed on a number of new projects and pulled forward some existing contracts, thanks to improved site access in many locations. Gross margin of 18.2% remained consistent with our year-to-date performance as revenue and mix of projects remained similar. We anticipate our gross margins to remain at these levels for the rest of the year. Ameresco continue to benefit from our past investments in the highly scalable nature of our business model. Revenue growth, higher utilization and reduced spending levels, including travel related expenses were key drivers of our strong net income and EBITDA performance. And while our SG&A expenses will increase in a post-pandemic environment, we believe a portion of the savings are permanent and will benefit our operating leverage in the future. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $20 million. Non-GAAP net income was $18.5 million, an increase of 117%. Adjusted EBITDA, also a non-GAAP financial measure was the highest we have achieved in the company’s history and earnings per share more than doubled year-on-year. Even with our strong project revenue, we continue to replenish and grow our contracted backlog. We ended the quarter at over $1 billion in contracted backlog representing 1% sequential and 31% year-over-year growth. Our total project backlog now stands at $2.25 billion at quarter end, despite the pandemic related slowdown in new business…

George Sakellaris

Management

Thank you, Doran. Our unique business model and value proposition to our customers will allow Ameresco to continue to thrive for years to come. Our project backlog and recurring revenue stream, give us excellent visibility into what should be another record year of growth and profitability for Ameresco in 2021. The entire Ameresco team hopes you and your family stays safe. Operator, I will now like to open the call to questions. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Noah Kaye from Oppenheimer. Your line is now open.

Noah Kaye

Analyst

Good afternoon, everyone. And you mentioned the 4Q year-over-year comps to be aware of, but certainly I think it’s good to be going into 4Q with the strong results that you’ve had already in hand and not dependent so much on contract revenue timing. So with that, the first question is on capital structure. I think here on an adjusted basis, you produced really strong free cash flow year-to-date. You’ve been able to finance most of the energy project CapEx with operating cash flow. Whereas you look at the energy projects in development, and what that will mean for your recurring EBITDA and cash flow profile over time, how should we be thinking about your – you have an optimal capital structure, target leverage, and how you want to be financing the growth going forward?

George Sakellaris

Management

Good question. I will ask Doran to follow-up on that.

Doran Hole

Management

Yes, thanks. So I think while we’re not making any particular statements about our leverage levels or any specific plans, the truth is as a public company and with the track record we have, we have a lot of tools at our disposal. We continue to pursue creative project financing. As you mentioned, strong cash flow has allowed us to continue to fund that expansion. And we’ll continue to monitor the project finance markets, the tax equity markets, M&A capital markets for ideas and opportunities.

Noah Kaye

Analyst

Okay. That’s very helpful. Thinking about the development particularly on the RNG side, certainly, Lynn’s coming back here nicely over the course of 2020, I’m sure it helps with your view of future project economics. Just how are you taking advantage of the current increase in rent prices? In general, can you talk about the bankability of RNG projects at this time?

George Sakellaris

Management

Yes. As you probably are aware, the RNG prices, they’ve been relatively constant around the $150 to $165. And if you might recall, we have hedged 70% of our output for the year, and for the balance of the year, we are about 60% hedged. The other thing that we have done for the new plan that the McCarty Road is going to be in operation early next year, the first quarter of next year. We have long-term contracts for about 50% of the output of that plan. And I will say 50% of the output of our Woodland plan and a little bit more of the San Antonio plan. So we are hedged for 2020, I will say, close to 50% of our output. And as far as going beyond that, we look – we are working with various good credit worthy off-takers to actually get long-term contracts. So for the two plants that will probably come into service and we have indicated. So next year we are looking to execute some kind of a long-term contract, and hopefully longer than the ones that we have right now with the two plants as a contract. And then for 2022 and beyond, where we plan to bring three plants into operation, again, where the market is evolving into long-term contracts I think, we might have to sacrifice a little bit on the return in order to actually get those rents from long-term contracts. But the bottom line is that these projects, even under the worst conditions, they are very profitable, much better return on equity, and a lot of return than anybody else.

Noah Kaye

Analyst

Sorry, go ahead, George. Go ahead.

George Sakellaris

Management

And so far, we were able to finance on a project finance basis, all the plants that we have developed and executed. The leverage, of course, it’s probably not as good as we would like it, unless we get 7- to 10-year contracts, because the ones we have right now, they are three-year contracts.

Noah Kaye

Analyst

Right? You think that some of those future contracts, whether it’s for the projects next year or the ones in 2022, you think you’ll be able to bundle the incentive streams along with the other revenue streams, is that how you’re thinking about these contracts, where they still be dis-aggregated?

George Sakellaris

Management

No, we’re looking that we will bunch them up and we will be able to get some pretty good terms in financial as long as, and I feel very comfortable with that. We will be able to execute longer term contracts because so far even colleges and universities that are approaching us, because many of them is they have combined heat and power plants, right? And they want to be 100% carbon neutral. The only way they can do it is by replacing the natural gas with this green gas. And we are talking to some of them, but quite a few of them, they have not stepped up to the prices that we would like them to do. And some of the gas utilities, it’s coming down the pike that the next evolution, where originally we started with the electric utilities, and now it’s going to be with the gas utilities to reduce their carbon footprint. And again, we are talking to some of them, but we are not in a position that we can announce any specific contracts yet.

Noah Kaye

Analyst

All right. Well, thanks very much for taking the questions. Nice quarter.

Doran Hole

Management

Thank you.

George Sakellaris

Management

Thank you very much, Noah.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Eric Stine from Craig-Hallum. Your line is now open.

Eric Stine

Analyst

Hi, everyone. Thanks for taking the question.

George Sakellaris

Management

Yes. Hey, Eric.

Eric Stine

Analyst

Maybe I’ll just stick with RNG. I’m just curious when you think about your pipeline longer term, and I guess some of the projects that may be in California. I mean any thoughts on the breakdown there between dairy versus landfill? And obviously, I’m getting at to the much better CI score and the LCFS revenues, which were quite a bit higher and would be a pretty nice component, depending on what that looks like in your pipeline.

George Sakellaris

Management

No, that’s a very good question. And right now I think, if you total all the plants that we have in development, RNG plants, is that 12 of them. And they represent a very good chunk of our developing pipeline in megawatts. But you hit the nail on the head. We are looking at, besides landfill, other sites, but at least a couple of them, but I do not talk about – we don’t have the agreements in place yet in order to be able to discuss them, but I agree with you, we have higher value. And the other thing, don’t be surprised that down the road some of these plants, even the landfill plants that we have been developing right now, we might go into hydrogen and have a higher value.

Eric Stine

Analyst

Got it. Okay. I guess we’ll stay tuned on that. Maybe just thinking about fourth quarter, and I know you took up the guide, I mean, it was a very good third quarter. But now with COVID and concerns about another wave and conditions worsening in some areas, I mean, are you seeing any change to working conditions now? I know your guidance is predicated on that it roughly stays the same, but just curious what you’re seeing early in the quarter.

George Sakellaris

Management

Yes. I will add some – provide some colors, and Doran might want to add something to it. Look, we’re in a very good position as to where we are, as far as the total backlog, and we are executing the teams very, very well. And unless they shut us down on a good number of sites for prolonged periods of time, then I will say there will be some disruption, but I do not anticipate it. Based on what we have seen in the past, even going back in March, if you remember, when they did shutdown and we did have some shutdowns on some of our sites, but it was a week or maybe a few more days than that. We clean up the site and we started up again. So I don’t envision any problems. And Doran, might want to add something to that because that’s a great question and we think a lot about it and try to be prepared as much as possible. And that’s why we say the sites would’ve been available for this last third quarter. So we pushed, accelerate as much revenue as we possibly had. That’s why we pulled some revenue from the fourth quarter to this quarter because we have the access to the various sites, especially in the military basis and I believe some schools as well. So we took advantage of the opportunity. We will continue to do that. And now I might well say, we are one-month into the fourth quarter and I haven’t seen any interruptions. Doran, you want to take?

Doran Hole

Management

Yes. I think it’s all about monitoring the infection rates and how things are going in the various states where we’re operating and where our projects are located, which as you can imagine are all over the country. And being able to react to that I think our experience from earlier in the year will allow us to react to any situations that arise. But as George said, we haven’t seen anything thus far.

Eric Stine

Analyst

Yes. Okay. Thanks for that. And then last one for me, just, George, you mentioned the military opportunity and clearly a number of awards here announced over the last couple of months, and that was a big driver of third quarter. I mean, how do you think about that opportunity? I mean, is there any way to size that opportunity? I mean, it would seem like what you’re seeing right now is a very sustainable trend for you.

George Sakellaris

Management

No question about it. And this – that’s why I made the remark. Our market is expanding. The opportunities are expanding because each and every base that we go into now, we are more concerned about not only infrastructure upgrade, but resiliency, and then not only about resiliency, about some kind of renewables, reduction of their carbon footprint. So that’s why we think it’s very sustainable. And that’s why you see, we did a talk on a couple of projects as we have announced, and they combine solar, microgrids, distributed generation and so on. And the other thing that’s happening soon, regardless of what administration we have in place, the economics are driving more and more of this business because the distributed generation, solar and so on and microgrids, they pencil out. Otherwise they make good economic sense for the client. And to me, that’s the best driver that you can have in this business. And I’ve been in it for 40 years or so. And my biggest amazement is the cost reduction and the technological improvements that we have seen.

Eric Stine

Analyst

Yes. Okay. Thanks a lot.

George Sakellaris

Management

You’re welcome.

Doran Hole

Management

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Jon Dorsheimer from Canaccord Genuity. Your line is open.

Jon Dorsheimer

Analyst

Hi, thanks. Congratulations on the quarter and the strength.

George Sakellaris

Management

Thank you.

Jon Dorsheimer

Analyst

A couple of questions. You’re welcome. But first, I guess, first question on the – it seems that you’ve continued to execute really well in the municipality in military and universities. I didn’t see anything noted on the commercial side, which I know is under pressure rate now from an end market dynamic and also a relatively small portion of your revenues. But I’m just curious in terms of any activity that you’d call out in that business, yes, start there.

George Sakellaris

Management

No, no, a very good question. Actually, we didn’t call it out. I wanted to get approval from some couple, it’s actually one, two, three, large CNI customers I wanted to talk about it, but they did not get the approval in a timely fashion, but that’s what makes me feel very, very good about this business. That market finally is beginning to move, and it’s beginning to move because I think it’s economic driven. In addition to that, the carbon is sustainability reduction. And many of them, as you probably know, they have e-GSLV programs. And finally they’re beginning to talk to us and we’re seeing some very good projects, good implementation. I’ve been in this a long time and I said the next major capitalist that can happen to this business is get CNIs to move. On the other hand though that many of them, they want us to develop the project, design the project and then we built them for them. So they squeeze the margins a little bit, but they have quick turnaround and they move much faster than the federal or the state on the much market as we’ve been so successful. And it’s encouraging. That’s all I can say right now. And the other thing, that’s why you see us develop the energy as a service agreement because many of them, they will have some financial constraints. And as they have approached us for some kind of a different type of financing at the performance contract and we said, sure, and that’s why you see us talk in the near future, we’ll be able to announce some of those deals.

Jon Dorsheimer

Analyst

Got it. Well, you hit the second question that I was going to ask you, in terms of the energy as a service. So should we be thinking of that as a separate line item breakout? I recognize it’s relatively small at this stage, but I’m just thinking of that is kind of a separate business and it seems like that may start and kind of focus on the CNI side of your business. Is that the right way to think about that?

Doran Hole

Management

I’ll jump in here. So I’m not sure that it’s exclusive to the CNI for sure. Certainly, the desire for energy as a service financial structure is coming from all of our customer bases. I would also probably think about it a little bit more like another category of the energy assets in development. We’re going to be exploring those situations with our customers. Those will become assets that are on our balance sheet that’ll generate the long-term recurring revenue streams.

Jon Dorsheimer

Analyst

Got it. That’s helpful.

Doran Hole

Management

So I think that’s probably the best way to think about those.

Jon Dorsheimer

Analyst

Okay. And then I guess, George, if you – do you feel as if there are any constraints in the business? And what I mean by that is it seems as if there’s the work from home dynamic as well as the pressure on tax revenues has kind of created this perfect storm for your business as well as a focus on reducing carbon footprint. And I’m just wondering, is it relates to headcount in your ability to expand the business? Do you feel like there’s any limitations that that you now have with respect? Or do you feel like that you’re well-balanced?

George Sakellaris

Management

Well, right now, I would say that we are well balanced. But as the business accelerates, especially on the distributed generation side and the green gas plants, where there is hydrogen down the road and things like that, we are looking for additional help there. But the rest of the business was from the administrative side, legal side, accounting, financing and so on, and then general engineering on the energy services side, I think we are very good. And actually we have a little bit extra room, I would say, actually just a little bit more business than we’d been doing in the past, and that’s why we get into a little bit of leverage from the operations. I said this before, we’ve been lucky and the fact that we are technology independent and non-affiliated with a large utility or a large manufacturer, and we approached the solution from the agnostic technology, agnostic what makes a good sense for the customer. We have people that have the passion for this business and we’ve been able to attract the talent. And the fact that we’re independent, it has helped us a lot.

Jon Dorsheimer

Analyst

Great. I’ll jump back in queue. Thank you.

George Sakellaris

Management

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Craig Irwin from ROTH Capital. Your line is now open.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

Good evening congratulations on the really strong performance in this quarter, really knocking it out of the park.

George Sakellaris

Management

We’re trying.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

And succeeding.

Doran Hole

Management

Thank you. George, can you remind us the timing of your next couple cellulosic plants, when you expect those to come on online, how firm are those approximate start dates? Do we maybe have some ribbon cuttings coming up?

George Sakellaris

Management

Yes, that’s a good question. Macquarie, the one down in Texas we have that is getting basically commissioning the plan this quarter and because of the various storms down there, and little bit of COVID-19 but not as much on some delivery of equipment, but primarily from the storms that was delayed by a couple of months. So that plan will start in the first quarter of next year. Then in addition to that, we have two plants that are supposed to start by the end of next year. One of them definitely will start by the end of next year. The other one might flip to the first quarter of 2022. And then in that particular year we have three more, but Craig, so you understand, the primary bottleneck in developing these plants especially in California, they are more valuable there of course, but, permitting them. And especially with what’s going on, getting the right ways for the gas pipelines and gaining the utilities attention because of what’s going on with the fires and everything else. And then COVID-19 it has borrowed the permitting process.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

Understood.

George Sakellaris

Management

But we’re doing as much as we can and we have our local people, where we hired more local talent in order to help us in California to expedite those plants. Because we want to build this, to be able to do at least three plants a year. And I was waiting and we’re waiting until we see the light at the end of the tunnel to be able to actually get long-term contracts. And it’s going to happen, it’s really a matter of time that will happen and therefore we are building up.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

So, then as we look at the project EBITDA in the third quarter, it was up almost 80% sequentially increased by 5.6 million on an EBITDA basis. That’s well above any peak prior performance for your project business. Can you talk about any specific items in there? Is this really the debugging of some of your plants and maybe some of rings in there, what were the contributing items to the strength that we saw both sequentially year-over-year there?

George Sakellaris

Management

Doran?

Doran Hole

Management

Yes. I mean, Craig, I’ll start, Mark might jump into that. But I think as we talked about the performance of the Federal Group was quite strong in the quarter. And when we look at operating leverage, I think that’s a business that actually operates extraordinarily efficiently. So the EBITDA contribution is a bit stronger even versus some of our other businesses. So I don’t know that I could actually isolate any particular items there. Mark, can you?

Mark Chiplock

Analyst

Yes. I don’t think there’s much more to add, there were no real unusual, it was really just comes down to the mix of those federal projects in the overall project revenue across the company. So it was just a stronger mix and continued execution there whether the contributions.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

That’s excellent. So the other business that was particularly strong in the quarter was O&M $5.8 million in EBITDA, up $4 million sequentially, that’s again a big chunky number. Were there any maybe project closeouts in the quarter or any other items that lifted that and gave that strength? Or is it really just a steady state number based on the number of projects that Ameresco has built into its book that runs-off over many, many years?

George Sakellaris

Management

Yes. That’s why we love that business and that’s why we when we say we want to improve or increase our recurring revenue base and the O&M is one that basically doesn’t require any capital, but it comes after the large energy savings performance contracts that we implement. And then it’s lumpy, but once we get going on them, they had quite a bad. It’s a great business line. And that’s the one that we are focused a lot, that maybe we will find some niche player that will fit in our gearbox and maybe we’ll acquire a small company and grow the business more. It’s a greater opportunity for us. And it’s sticky. I mean many of the federal contracts we have there, 18-year to 22-year contracts, O&M agreements.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

A great business to be in!

George Sakellaris

Management

Yes.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

So my last question is about the environment for cellulosic plants. I understand there are actually a couple of plants that are being offered for sale right now. They’re definitely not cheap given the value in these properties, but should we be surprised if Ameresco maybe chooses to acquire one of these plants in the market, particularly given that your equity has a much more fair valuation than it has for the last several years. And investors seem to understand this business and the long-term profit potential pretty well right now?

George Sakellaris

Management

Look, we are looking at all kinds of opportunities. If they make sense to us, otherwise the price is right and we will do it. But on the other hand, we’re very, very cautious. And I know the expectations out there on the street they are very, very high. And I think you know little bit better than that, Craig. I like deals that can make money.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

I like your cautious as the most of your investors. So congratulations on another…

George Sakellaris

Management

On the other hand there are some opportunities that you might not be aware. But we are looking at they are not as expensive as the other things might be. So I wouldn’t be surprised that we might acquire something, but it’s going to meet our key criteria, make great economic sense for the company and strategic fit.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

Would you consider buying maybe one of the portfolios? There was a portfolio that was up for sale that a bulge bracket bank butchered the transaction didn’t know really who to go to on, would you consider a portfolio of multiple plants?

George Sakellaris

Management

That’s a little bit beyond our reach. I will look at it, but like I said, that we are extremely careful, because some people they want some crazy prices out there and look, we’re a developer. We develop our own assets, we know our own assets. And we built – last time you brought it up that we operate in a little bit better than some of our competitors. We built these plants to last and it has helped us that strategy so far. We’ll continue it. On the other hand, I did say somewhat opportunistically, we’ll be opportunistic, we will continue. And look, we have 12 plants that we want to develop, execute them, and then we have a couple they will be different in the landfill gas, so there’s no shortage.

Craig Irwin

Analyst

That’s good to hear. Congratulations on the progress.

George Sakellaris

Management

Thank you very much, Craig.

Doran Hole

Management

Thanks, Craig.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Pavel Molchanov from Raymond James. Your line is now open.

Pavel Molchanov

Analyst

Thanks for taking my question. In your portfolio that’s in operation solar is exactly 50% of the megawatts. And in the development portfolio, solar I believe is 65%. Is there a mix that you’re aiming for, or does it not matter either way as long as the economics makes sense?

George Sakellaris

Management

Doran?

Doran Hole

Management

Yes, Pavel thanks for the question. I think it’s more the latter really. You’ll see, as we talked about energy-as-a-service asset opportunities started appearing and developing those in the proposal stage, it’s all going to be down to risk reward in what makes sense economically and what the returns look like. Solar in the last 12 months to 18 months for the company, I think grew pretty substantially because the opportunities were available and we were finding good deals. At the same time, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what’s going to continue to happen.

George Sakellaris

Management

What I might add there, one of the advantages of the solar is the fact that, across the country all of our offices, now they can develop the solar plants and of course manure them, they are behind some customer accounts like schools, colleges, universities, and so on. So you will see us developing what I’d say the smallest scale sites for solar, they have 5 kilowatts to 5 megawatts happening lot. Where the green gas plants, there’s much more specialized item and we have one group basically that does that for across the country, all the plants. So we have little bit limitations as to come in green gas plants. We can do where there – and that’s why we are building the capabilities up on that side, whether the solar plants, they are easier to develop and hopefully everybody around the company will be able to do that. And that will help us, but accelerate that as much as possible.

Doran Hole

Management

Yes. I mean, I guess – I would also – sorry, Pavel, I’ll just add, solar plus storage is certainly something that’s starting to emerge a lot in our development pipeline here. You’re not seeing that actually in this metric, I think as we’ve talked about before, we’re relatively conservative in terms of putting things in this metric, in terms of milestones that our projects have to reach before they actually get recorded here. But there’s certainly plenty of activity there as well.

Pavel Molchanov

Analyst

In that context, since we’re a day away from the election. So, let’s suppose that the ITC for solar expires or drops to the statutory 10% at the end of 2021. Is it fair to assume that for your development efforts, if that’s the scenario, you’re going to pull in as many projects as possible for solar into next year and then perhaps take your foot-off the accelerator in 2022 and beyond?

Doran Hole

Management

Foot-off the accelerator is a little bit of an extreme reaction. I think that like any other developer, we will be reasonable in terms of our desire to safe-harbor equipment in order to preserve 26 and 22. Costs, as we all know costs should come down they’ll continue to come down. We have to continue to strive to increase efficiencies and bring down balance systems. And then, keep in mind that a lot of the work that we do in solar and battery storage is in our project business. So, I don’t think we’re necessarily going to slow down as a contractor in the sector.

George Sakellaris

Management

Now, what I may add. Solar is here at state. And even if all the incentives go away, let’s say three years from now, by that time, I think the drive, whether it’s from the mass market or the C&I and they will be happening.

Doran Hole

Management

Just think about where solar module pricing is today versus the wattage of modules, the standard module that you can get in the increases in efficiency that you’re seeing. If that’s going to keep going that direction, there are going to be ways to make these deals pencil.

Pavel Molchanov

Analyst

Thank you guys.

Doran Hole

Management

Thanks Pavel.

George Sakellaris

Management

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your last question comes from the line of Christopher Souther from B. Riley. Your line is now open.

Christopher Souther

Analyst

Hey, guys, thanks for my question and congrats on the quarter. To piggyback on that last point when you’re talking about solar and the addition of storage which seems to be continuing to be an opportunity there, could you just talk about within that mix do you have a sense of what the percent that includes storage? And then I think you also mentioned a standalone battery system in the prepared remarks, could you provide a bit more color on that project, maybe?

George Sakellaris

Management

Right now, the percentage of storage on the basis, the military basis, the ones that we have done recently, I want to say just about every one of them is some kind of form of storage. But as far as the other applications, the sizes, I will say very small percentage, maybe 10%, if that. But the storage is evolving – right now, I will say in the first at ENGIE, if at that, and as far as the costs concerned and as far as the acceptability of various customers out there. But like the state of Massachusetts, many schools right now where we did solar installations couple of years back. They want us to go back and put some battery storage, and we have a couple of examples of that. So we had the early stages of storage. So it doesn’t represent a large portion of our portfolio. And then Doran, might add?

Doran Hole

Management

No, I think as those, as those projects start going into the asset and development metric, we’ll talk more about it and talk about how the volumes are looking versus the rest of the categories of assets. And the standalone storage is actually a small utility contractor. I don’t think we’re in a position to disclose anything further about that.

Christopher Souther

Analyst

Okay. Understood and appreciate the color. And then just on this past quarter, you discussed had an improved access to work sites, which probably allowed some pull-forward and then new projects popping up during the quarter which seems to be kind of the delta with the full-year guidance. I just wanted to get a sense of how many of these projects are COVID related upgrades, like the UV disinfect and HVAC upgrades, you mentioned being a strength last quarter or what kinds of projects were the incremental types of projects you were saying?

George Sakellaris

Management

It wasn’t that many projects, but I would say we had about five projects that I know the catalyst was the fact that they had to do something because of COVID-19. But the other thing that’s happening though, we incorporate COVID-19 measures. So we get the customers to talk to us and get moving. So it’s – we will, but I know for projects at least the catalyst was covered that the customer ended up moving ahead and one of them that I mentioned at Columbus, they can cut in some money out of the CARES Act and they needed to do something.

Christopher Souther

Analyst

Got it. And then just maybe an update on kind of some of the hospital business which it seemed like had seen a slowdown earlier in the kind of diarist pandemic outbreak. Is that business starting to come back or are there any other beyond the federal strength that we should kind of be monitoring here?

George Sakellaris

Management

No. Recently we haven’t seen any slowdown in the hospital business at all. And we are moving full speed ahead of them, I’d say. And we are doing a couple of large hospitals and institutions. And we did experience some delays early on, but not lately. The other thing that just happened, the COVID-19 cases in the hospital has dropped substantially even with the uptick. And we haven’t seen any slowdowns.

Christopher Souther

Analyst

That’s good here. I’ll hop in the queue. Thanks.

Doran Hole

Management

Thank you.

Mark Chiplock

Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

At this point I don’t see any further questions. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today’s conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.

Doran Hole

Management

Thank you.