Member Spotlight: InWave Renewables
Based in Illinois, InWave Renewables is dedicated to making sustainable energy accessible to all. Its co-founders, Asfandyar “AK” Khan and Mohammad Najjar, have a diverse history in power and construction prior to starting InWave. This is an interview with Mohammad Najjar.
Tell us a little about your company and how it began. What were the motivations to start your company?
Growing up in places where energy was often unreliable — or entirely inaccessible — sustainable power was more than a challenge; it felt like a distant dream. […] Over the years, as we’ve worked in the renewable energy and construction sectors, one truth became undeniable: Energy is far more than just a resource, it is the foundation for resilience, opportunity, and growth. InWave was born out of this realization with a vision to make sustainable energy accessible to all.
What do you customers appreciate most about your current and past work?
One of our core values is to stay objective and prioritize the client’s vision. We approach every project through this lens, carefully considering each aspect to help our clients achieve their goals. This commitment is reflected in our work and is often what our clients appreciate most.
What has been your experience with supply chain issues over the past year or few years?
We have a strong foundation in the renewable energy and electrical gear supply chain markets, so we have not really have had any significant issues. To mitigate any potential issues, we are proactive and stay in communication with our suppliers to get frequent updates on pricing and lead times. We use this to keep our databases up to date. This helps us ensure that our design and estimate are aligned with market conditions.
Tell us about the most interesting or unique system you have installed.
[Response from Asfandyar Khan] One of our most impactful projects in our past position was the 7VB Solar Canopy, an initiative for the Oak Park Residence Corporation—a nonprofit dedicated to providing high-quality, well-maintained multifamily housing in areas affected by disinvestment. Their mission includes acquiring and rehabilitating properties while preserving historic features and incorporating modern amenities.
7VB is the first Passive House-certified net-zero multifamily building in Illinois, setting a new standard for sustainable housing in the state. The client sought a partner who could deliver a functional, high-performance solar system capable of offsetting the building’s total energy consumption—while adhering to a strict project timeline.
This project posed unique challenges, including designing and installing a solar canopy over a rooftop amenity space as well as a vertical wall canopy, requiring precise engineering and execution. Despite these complexities, we successfully delivered a system that not only meets the building’s energy goals but also reinforces the client’s commitment to clean energy-powered affordable housing.
By completing this project, we provided the client with confidence in their sustainability objectives and helped pave the way for more energy-efficient housing solutions in Illinois.
Tell us about your company’s operations and project logistics. How does a project happen, from initial planning to commissioning?
Our process can be broken down into phases:
Discovery/Learn: We start by understanding our clients’ goals—balancing cost, efficiency, sustainability, and longevity—to design solutions that align with their vision.
Evaluate: After defining the solution, we use proprietary tools to develop early deliverables that help clients visualize the system and understand our implementation approach.
Design, procure, build: In the design phase, we ensure code compliance while honoring the client’s vision. We proactively address supply chain and market constraints to ensure buildability and timely delivery. By leveraging strong supplier relationships and real-time data, we optimize procurement for cost and efficiency. During construction, our experienced team works closely with subcontractors, prioritizing safety, quality, and smooth execution from start to finish.
Energize/Commission: Commissioning is a critical phase where we rigorously test and verify system performance for safety, reliability, and efficiency. We manage utility coordination for a smooth interconnection and activation. After energization, we monitor performance, make necessary adjustments, and equip clients with the tools and knowledge to operate their system with confidence.
Operate & maintain: We ensure long-term system value through continuous monitoring, proactive maintenance, and real-time support—maximizing energy savings, reliability, and sustainability over the system’s lifetime.
How do you keep in good communication with the customer?
We truly try to learn the customer’s business, goals, and challenges and look out for their best interest. We aim to send relevant information via email communications that customers may find interesting or helpful, plan lunch and learn presentations if they or their team is interested in learning a topic of our expertise, engage in customer entertainment activities (like going out to TopGolf, dinners, etc.), and actively listen for their feedback and being proactive with our approach and responses.
