NINTH LOAN MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

NINTH LOAN MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Ninth Loan Modification Agreement (this “Loan Modification Agreement”) is entered into as of March 16, 2015 (the “Ninth Loan Modification Effective Date”), by and among (i) SILICON VALLEY BANK, a California corporation with a loan production office located at 2400 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304 (“Bank”), and (ii) REAL GOODS ENERGY TECH, INC., a Colorado corporation (“Real Goods Energy”), REAL GOODS TRADING CORPORATION, a California corporation (“Real Goods Trading”), ALTERIS RENEWABLES, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Alteris”) and REAL GOODS SYNDICATED, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Syndicated”), MERCURY ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Mercury”), REAL GOODS SOLAR, INC. – MERCURY SOLAR, a New York corporation (“Mercury Solar”), ELEMENTAL ENERGY, LLC, a Hawaii limited liability company (“Elemental”), and SUNETRIC MANAGEMENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sunetric”, and together with Real Goods Energy, Real Goods Trading, Alteris, Syndicated, Mercury, Mercury Solar and Elemental, individually and collectively, jointly and severally, the “Borrower”).

1. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS AND OBLIGATIONS. Among other indebtedness and obligations which may be owing by Borrower to Bank, Borrower is indebted to Bank pursuant to a loan arrangement dated as of December 19, 2011, evidenced by, among other documents, a certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2011, as amended by a certain First Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2012, as further amended by a certain Second Loan Modification and Reinstatement Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2012 as further amended by a certain Third Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2013, as further amended by a certain Joinder and Fourth Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2013, as further amended by a certain Fifth Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2013, as further amended by a certain Joinder and Sixth Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2014, as further amended by a certain Seventh Loan Modification and Waiver Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014 and as further amended by a certain Eighth Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 (as amended, the “Loan Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Loan Agreement.

2. DESCRIPTION OF COLLATERAL. Repayment of the Obligations is secured by (i) the Collateral as described in the Loan Agreement, (ii) that certain Security Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2011, between the Secured Guarantor and Bank (as amended, the “Security Agreement”), and (ii) the “Intellectual Property Collateral”, as such term is defined in each certain IP Agreement (together with any other collateral security granted to Bank, the “Security Documents”).

Hereinafter, the Loan Agreement, together with all other documents executed in connection therewith evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to the Obligations shall be referred to as the “Existing Loan Documents”.

3. DESCRIPTION OF CHANGE IN TERMS.

Maintain at all times, subject to periodic reporting as described below, on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower, unless otherwise indicated:

(a) EBITDA. Achieve EBITDA (loss no worse than), measured quarterly, on a trailing three month basis, on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower, of the following amounts for each period ending as of the date indicated below:

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; provided, that nothing in the foregoing financial covenant shall be deemed to be an extension of the Revolving Line Maturity Date.”

and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

Maintain at all times, subject to periodic reporting as described below, on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower, unless otherwise indicated:

(a) EBITDA. Achieve EBITDA (loss no worse than), measured quarterly, on a trailing three month basis, on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower, of the following amounts for each period ending as of the date indicated below:

; provided, that nothing in the foregoing financial covenant shall be deemed to be an extension of the Revolving Line Maturity Date.

(b) Liquidity Ratio. Maintain (A) the sum of (i) unrestricted cash at Bank plus (ii) Borrower’s net billed accounts receivable divided by (B) the sum of (i) the total outstanding Obligations of Borrower owed to Bank plus (ii) the total outstanding Subordinated Debt of Borrower, expressed as a ratio, of at least 1.25:1.00.”

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and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“Availability Amount” is (a) the lesser of (i) the Revolving Line or (ii) the result of the amount available under the Borrowing Base minus One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); minus (b) the Dollars Equivalent amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit (including drawn but unreimbursed Letters of Credit plus an amount equal to the Letter of Credit Reserve); minus (c) the outstanding principal balance of any Advances.

“EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to Borrower, on a consolidated basis, for any period of measurement, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP: (a) Net Income; plus (b) the following, in each case to the extent deducted from the calculation of Net Income: (i) Interest Expense; (ii) income tax expense; (iii) depreciation expense and amortization expense; (iv) non-cash stock compensation expense; (v) for the trailing three month period ending September 30, 2013, up to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) of one-time, non-recurring cash transaction expenses actually incurred in connection with the Syndicated Acquisition and/or the Mercury Acquisition; (vi) for the trailing six month period ending December 31, 2013, up to One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,250,000) of one-time, non-recurring cash transaction expenses actually incurred in connection with the Syndicated Acquisition and/or the Mercury Acquisition and (vii) for the trailing three month period ending June 30, 2014, up to Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000) of one-time, non-recurring cash transaction expenses actually incurred subsequent to March 31, 2014 in connection with acquisitions which were closed prior to the date of the Sixth Loan Modification Effective Date; minus (c) the following, to the extent included in the calculation of Net Income: (i) interest income; (ii) income tax credits (to the extent not netted from income tax expense); and (iii) all extraordinary gains and all other non-cash items of income for such period.

“Revolving Line” is an Advance or Advances in an amount not to exceed Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($5,500,000) outstanding at any time.

“Revolving Line Maturity Date” is March 17, 2015.

“Subordination Agreement” is the collective reference to (i) that certain Amended and Restated Subordination Agreement by Riverside Renewable Energy Investments, LLC, each in favor of Bank, dated on or about the Fourth Loan Modification Effective Date; and (ii) each other subordination, intercreditor or similar agreement entered into by Bank and any creditor of Borrower.

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and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“Availability Amount” is (a) the lesser of (i) the Revolving Line or (ii) the result of the amount available under the Borrowing Base; minus (b) the Dollars Equivalent amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit (including drawn but unreimbursed Letters of Credit plus an amount equal to the Letter of Credit Reserve); minus (c) the outstanding principal balance of any Advances.

“EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to Borrower, on a consolidated basis, for any period of measurement, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP: (a) Net Income (excluding any gain or loss with respect to a change in the valuation of derivative warrant liability); plus (b) the following, in each case to the extent deducted from the calculation of Net Income: (i) Interest Expense; (ii) income tax expense; (iii) depreciation expense and amortization expense; and (iv) non-cash stock compensation expense.

“Revolving Line” is an Advance or Advances in an amount not to exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) outstanding at any time.

“Revolving Line Maturity Date” is March 15, 2016.

“Subordination Agreement” is the collective reference to (i) that certain Second Amended and Restated Subordination Agreement by Riverside Fund III, L.P., in favor of Bank, dated on or about the Ninth Loan Modification Effective Date; and (ii) each other subordination, intercreditor or similar agreement entered into by Bank and any creditor of Borrower.

“(k) Liens in favor of Finco; and”

and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“(k) (i) Liens in favor of Finco and (ii) Liens in favor of Riverside Fund III, L.P., to the extent securing Subordinated Debt; and”

“Ninth Loan Modification Effective Date” is March 16, 2015.

4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Borrower hereby agrees that the following documents shall be delivered to the Bank prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Loan Modification Agreement, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank (collectively, the “Conditions Precedent”):

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5. FEES. Borrower shall pay to Bank a non-refundable extension fee equal to Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), which fee shall be due on the date hereof and shall be deemed fully earned as of the date hereof. Borrower shall also reimburse Bank for all legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Existing Loan Documents and this Loan Modification Agreement.

6. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS: RATIFICATION OF PERFECTION CERTIFICATE. Borrower hereby certifies that, other than as disclosed in the Perfection Certificate, no Collateral with a value greater than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) in the aggregate is in the possession of any third party bailee (such as at a warehouse). In the event that Borrower, after the date hereof, intends to store or otherwise deliver the Collateral with a value in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) in the aggregate to such a bailee, then Borrower shall first receive, the prior written consent of Bank and such bailee must acknowledge in writing that the bailee is holding such Collateral for the benefit of Bank. Borrower hereby ratifies, confirms and reaffirms, all and singular, the terms and disclosures contained in certain Perfection Certificates previously delivered to the Bank (in each case as supplemented through the Seventh Loan Modification Effective Date), and acknowledges, confirms and agrees the disclosures and information above Borrower provided to Bank in such Perfection Certificates, as supplemented, remain true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof.

7. CONSISTENT CHANGES. The Existing Loan Documents are hereby amended wherever necessary to reflect the changes described above.

8. RATIFICATION OF LOAN DOCUMENTS. Borrower hereby ratifies, confirms, and reaffirms all terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and each other Loan Document (including, without limitation, each Borrower’s and each Guarantor’s Operating Documents previously delivered to Bank (unless re-delivered to Bank in connection with this Loan Modification Agreement)), and of all security or other collateral granted to the Bank, and confirms that the indebtedness secured thereby includes, without limitation, the Obligations.

9. NO DEFENSES OF BORROWER. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that Borrower has no offsets, defenses, claims, or counterclaims against Bank with respect to the Obligations, or otherwise, and that if Borrower now has, or ever did have, any offsets, defenses, claims, or counterclaims against Bank, whether known or unknown, at law or in equity, all of them are hereby expressly WAIVED and Borrower hereby RELEASES Bank from any liability thereunder.

10. CONTINUING VALIDITY. Borrower understands and agrees that in modifying the existing Obligations, Bank is relying upon Borrower’s representations, warranties, and agreements, as set forth in the Existing Loan Documents. Except as expressly modified pursuant to this Loan Modification Agreement, the terms of the Existing Loan Documents remain unchanged and in full force and effect. Bank’s agreement to modify the Existing Loan Documents pursuant to this Loan Modification Agreement in no way shall obligate Bank to make any future modifications to the Obligations. Nothing in this Loan Modification Agreement shall constitute a satisfaction of the Obligations. It is the intention of Bank and Borrower to retain as liable parties all makers of Existing Loan Documents, unless the party is expressly released by Bank in writing. No maker will be released by virtue of this Loan Modification Agreement.

11. JURISDICTION/VENUE. Section 11 of the Loan Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference.

12. COUNTERSIGNATURE. This Loan Modification Agreement shall become effective only when it shall have been executed by Borrower and Bank.

[Signature page follows.]

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This Loan Modification Agreement is executed as of the date first written above.

Acknowledgment and Agreement:

The undersigned ratifies, confirms and reaffirms, all and singular, the terms and conditions of a certain Second Amended and Restated Unconditional Guaranty and a certain Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement, each dated as of June 6, 2014, and each document executed in connection therewith, and acknowledges, confirms and agrees that the Second Amended and Restated Unconditional Guaranty, Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement and each document executed in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be limited by the execution of this Loan Modification Agreement, or any other documents, instruments and/or agreements executed and/or delivered in connection herewith.

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Exhibit A to Ninth Loan Modification Agreement

EXHIBIT B

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

The undersigned authorized officer of REAL GOODS ENERGY TECH, INC., et al. (the “Borrower”) certifies that under the terms and conditions of the Loan and Security Agreement between Borrower and Bank (as amended, the “Agreement”), (1) Borrower is in complete compliance for the period ending                      with all required covenants except as noted below, (2) there are no Events of Default, (3) all representations and warranties in the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on this date except as noted below; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects as of such date, (4) Borrower, and each of its Subsidiaries, has timely filed all required tax returns and reports, and Borrower has timely paid all foreign, federal, state and local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by Borrower except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 5.9 of the Agreement, and (5) no Liens have been levied or claims made against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, if any, relating to unpaid employee payroll or benefits of which Borrower has not previously provided written notification to Bank. Attached are the required documents supporting the certification. The undersigned certifies that these are prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied from one period to the next except as explained in an accompanying letter or footnotes. The undersigned acknowledges that no borrowings may be requested at any time or date of determination that Borrower is not in compliance with any of the terms of the Agreement, and that compliance is determined not just at the date this certificate is delivered. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Agreement.

Please indicate compliance status by circling Yes/No under “Complies” column.

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The following financial covenant analyses and information set forth in Schedule 1 attached hereto are true and accurate as of the date of this Certificate.

The following are the exceptions with respect to the certification above: (If no exceptions exist, state “No exceptions to note.”)

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Schedule 1 to Compliance Certificate

Financial Covenants of Borrower

In the event of a conflict between this Schedule and the Loan Agreement, the terms of the Loan Agreement shall govern.

Dated:                     

Required: Maintain at all times, subject to periodic reporting as described below, on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower, unless otherwise indicated:

(a) EBITDA. Achieve EBITDA (loss no worse than), measured quarterly, on a trailing three month basis, on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower, of the following amounts for each period ending as of the date indicated below:

; provided, that nothing in the foregoing financial covenant shall be deemed to be an extension of the Revolving Line Maturity Date.

Actual: All amounts measured as indicated above and determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP:

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Is line C equal to or greater than (loss no worse than) ($[         ])?

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Required: Maintain (A) the sum of (i) unrestricted cash at Bank plus (ii) Borrower’s net billed accounts receivable divided by (B) the sum of (i) the total outstanding Obligations of Borrower owed to Bank plus (ii) the total outstanding Subordinated Debt of Borrower, expressed as a ratio, of at least 1.25:1.00.

Actual:

Is line E equal to or greater than 1.25:1:00?

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