About Us

ViaSol Energy Solutions is an equipment supplier and solar energy systems integrator dedicated to facilitating the implementation of solar technologies for commercial, industrial and government entities. ViaSol Energy's principals were part of designing and installing some of the first large scale single-axis tracking solar electric systems in the world. With almost two decades of experience and a large scope of knowledge, the ViaSol Energy Team has witnessed and participated in the evolution of the solar industry.

With in-house resources and an extensive network of industry partners, ViaSol Energy complements its equipment offerings with a wide array of services including solar power plant design, construction and full service warranties, with optional turnkey construction service. All ViaSol Energy products feature "best of class" design and offer flexibility, scaling and site optimization.

ViaSol Energy Solutions is dedicated to the advancement of the PV industry through cost efficient design and implementation that enables our customers to realize the lowest Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). By incorporating commercial off the shelf parts (COTS) into the design we deliver lower maintenance cost, lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), assured maintainability, and higher investment returns.

ViaSol Energy Products & Services are provided directly to solar integrators, solar project developers, consumers, businesses and government entities. ViaSol Energy Solutions is focused on cooperative business development in the solar industry and is available to partner with other firms to make projects viable.

Internationally, ViaSol Energy is a tracker equipment supplier and power plant designer. ViaSol Energy Solutions currently maintains relationships with firms in Canada, India & Europe.

Management and Project Execution Team

ViaSol Energy Solutions LLC has a very large scope of knowledge, ability, industry expertise and experience. Each member of our project and management team brings unique, industry specific skills and knowledge that, combined, permit us to deliver “best of class” design, installation, and operations service while avoiding the high cost associated with maintaining a large engineering and construction firm. Our expertise and efficiencies enhance our customers’ and project partners’ competitive positions in the cost driven solar energy market.

Eric Schlichtmann, Principal and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Schlichtmann brings nearly 7 years experience at Kanto Corporation and at Harder Mechanical Contractors, managing all aspects of large scale high purity chemical system installations at major semiconductor manufacturing facilities including Fujitsu, NEC, Wafertech, Komatsu, and AMI. Additionally, Mr. Schlichtmann has managed a group of foreign and domestic engineering and construction firms which built the world’s highest purity aqueous ammonia plant. During his tenure at Kanto, acting in the capacity of a Senior Vice President, Eric led a complete organizational realignment and SAP implementation.

BS in Systems Engineering - University of Virginia
MBA (Entrepreneurship Focus) - Eller College of Management - University of Arizona

Daniel Tarico, Principal and Chief Operating Officer
Prior to co-founding ViaSol Energy Solutions, Mr. Tarico was Vice President of Finance and Operations at GreenSun Energy, LLC where he focused on project finance for and installation of commercial scale photovoltaic projects. Other experience includes 12 years of specialty commercial and residential construction. Adept at modifying existing structures and designing for long life, maximum reliability and minimum operating expense.  Daniel has also enjoyed 6 years of R&D experience at the University of Arizona. While employed at Donnelly Corporation Daniel co-authored 4 U.S. patents.

B.S in Metallurgical Engineering - University of Arizona
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering - University of Arizona
MBA (Finance and International Management Focus) - Eller College of Management - University of Arizona

Dr. Devarajan Srinivasan, Principal and Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Srinivasan has 14 years experience in the design and testing of solar energy systems. During that time Dr. Srinivasan has gained extensive experience in the design of power electronics systems, digital and analog circuits, and photovoltaic systems and data collection/analysis systems. Specific to PV systems, Dr. Srinivasan designed and built inverters and inverter components, and he has designed complete off grid hybrid power systems. He spent more than 5 years applying this knowledge to the operation and optimization of the solar systems at the Arizona Public Service Solar Test and Research Center and has a unique expertise in PV tracking systems and controllers. In addition to his personal expertise, Dr. Srinivasan has excellent relationships with industry experts at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and locally, and these relationships allow him a unique perspective on performance and reliability issues related to photovoltaic technologies.

Dr. Srinivasan has authored nearly 20 papers and reports on subjects within his expertise. Since the founding of ViaSol Energy Solutions LLC Dr. Srinivasan has been responsible for control system design and engineering, data acquisition performance estimation, equipment validation, and PV plant design. In addition to his management responsibilities, he provides consulting services to Arizona’s largest utilities and teaches part time at Arizona State University.

BS in Electrical & Electronic Engineering – Regional Engineering College in Calicut, India
MS in Electrical Engineering – Arizona State University
PHD in Electrical Engineering – Arizona State University

Philip Potter, Principal and Superintendent

Before joining ViaSol Energy Solutions as a project superintendent, Mr. Potter spent nearly 6 years as construction superintendent for S.L. Henry Steel Service. During that time, he supervised 9 installations of approximately 6 MW of single-axis tracking arrays and 1.2MW of concentrating PV dual-axis tracking systems. He worked very closely with Eric Suriano on the construction of the Prescott Airport PV plant which, at its completion, was one of the 10 largest PV plants in the world. He has nearly 25 years experience in commercial and utility construction. Since joining ViaSol, Mr. Potter supervised the completion of the ASU garage mounted tracking PV arrays, as well as the installation of ViaSol’s first-of-its-kind elevated agricultural array constructed over a rainwater retention basin. He continues to research methods to reduce installation cost and participates with the steel fabricators and engineers in refining ViaSol’s tracking system designs.