The Best Solar Companies in the Country

Final Verdict

SunPower is our top solar company for its nationwide availability, high-quality company-produced solar panels, and top-notch warranty. Also, SunPower provides $0 down purchasing and leasing options without hidden fees. Lastly, SunPower offers backup storage batteries that help you save excess energy.

If your goal is to improve your entire home’s efficiency to reduce your impact on the environment while potentially saving money on your energy bill and total solar system needs from the start, Elevation is our pick for whole-home integration. 

If purchasing or financing your solar system is out of reach, you can still get started with solar by leasing. Our pick for best leasing options is Sunrun, which offers two leasing options starting at $0 down, but still provides the same level of care and warranty guarantees across payment options.

Compare the Best Solar Companies

How Does Solar Energy Work?

Solar technologies, such as the panels installed on homes, convert photons from sunlight into electrical energy (voltage) using photovoltaic (PV) panels or mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. This concentrated energy is then used to generate electricity for immediate use or is stored in batteries or thermal storage for later use.

Solar radiation is electromagnetic, meaning it has electric and magnetic properties, traveling through space at the speed of light. Solar radiation travels through packets of energy called photons. When photons hit the photovoltaic array, an electric current is generated. This occurs due to atoms becoming excited, which allows electrons to flow inside the PV cell. Thousands of cells are interlinked to generate more electrical currents within the entire solar panel, which is made of these individual cells. The type of current generated is called direct current, also known as DC, and flows in only one direction, as opposed to alternating current (AC), which can reverse direction. DC current does not change in voltage as AC does. Since AC is used in homes, inverters are installed by solar companies to create AC from solar panel-generated electricity. 

After inversion, the solar panels are connected to your home or business panel board to be distributed throughout your home as needed. Solar energy will be used first, and if any additional electricity is needed, then panels will draw from the grid. If your area of residence allows for selling back solar-generated electricity to the grid, then any extra power your system creates can be sent into the grid via a bidirectional meter. If you want to rely even less on the grid or go completely off-grid, then a battery system can help you store power for later use.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar-generated kilowatt hours help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants, including CO2, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Reducing these improves air quality and the environment. Additionally, solar energy helps cut back on the consumption of water, which further benefits the environment.

Solar energy also benefits your budget. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), home value increases by $20 for every single dollar saved on your electricity bill due to solar-generated electricity. What’s more, although solar energy systems can be initially expensive to set up, after six or so years, the investment will break even and then begin to save money over the lifespan of the panels, often for another 10 to 15 years.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Solar Company

When choosing a solar company, there is a range of factors to consider that depend on your home, budget, and preferences. 

Price

Solar companies’ prices vary, based on the products and services they provide. Although solar energy systems are likely to save you plenty of money in the long run, you should still examine your budget and compare the prices of various companies to see which one best fits your circumstances and needs.

Performance

Each solar company provides panels of varying performance levels. Some panels are more efficient and perform better than others, which is often reflected in the price. Consider how the entire system performs based on the conversion efficiency of sunlight to electricity. 

This will depend on what materials the panels are made from, whether or not they have an anti-reflection coating to help prevent light from reflecting away from the cells instead of being captured, and how they are maintained.

Panel Size

Solar panels are made in various sizes, with those designed for residential use being shorter and having fewer cells than the longer panels designed for businesses.

Each cell is approximately six by six inches, with residential panels containing 60 cells and commercial panels containing 72 cells. Solar panel companies will measure your roof’s total area to determine how many panels you will need or can accommodate.

Roof Compatibility

Solar panels vary in weight but are typically light enough not to be a risk to your roof. However, if your roof is damaged or in need of repairs, you may need to factor that in first. 

You will also need to consider the type of roof you have, and whether it is compatible with the solar panel installation you prefer. Asphalt, standing metal, and tile roofs tend to work with most solar panels, but wood and slate roofs may not work.

Many solar companies will offer a free consultation—and sometimes an audit—to evaluate whether or not your roof’s size and location (in terms of exposure to the sun) will be compatible with a panel they offer.

Durability

Solar panel durability is measured by degradation rate, which is the speed at which panels reduce their conversion output over time. Typically, degradation rates average around 0.5 percent per year, but the durability and degradation rates of solar panels will vary based on panel quality and maintenance.

Warranty

The warranty provided by each solar company is a significant factor to consider when deciding on a solar panel. 

Typically, each company will have a warranty on performance and materials. Performance warranties will often change over the lifespan of the panels, with a certain percentage being offered for the first 10 years (usually 90 percent coverage), then a reduced production is guaranteed for the next 10 to 15 years (typically 80 percent). Material warranties vary and include a certain time frame the company guarantees the product will last. Warranty insurance guarantees the product will be covered from premature wear and tear, manufacturer defects, and other potential issues for a specific time frame.

Provider Maintenance

Maintaining your solar panels is crucial for performance, and the best solar companies will offer maintenance. The most common type of maintenance is cleaning debris and dirt to allow sunlight to fully reach the cells in the panels. Most solar panel installers provide complimentary checkups to ensure panels are not damaged and working optimally. Check to see if the solar companies you are considering offer regular maintenance and if it is included (and to what degree) in your initial inquiry and/or purchase.

Different Types of Solar Panels

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panels are the most commonly used type, and this is likely due to their superior efficiency. About 95 percent of solar panels sold are either monocrystalline or polycrystalline, according to the NREL. 

Monocrystalline solar panels use semiconductors made from silicon that are refined to make crystalline silicon, formed into blocks, and cut into thin wafers to become solar cells. Monocrystalline solar cells are made from one crystal structure and are highly efficient due to electrons moving more freely to generate electricity. While they are more expensive to produce than other types, they are the most efficient.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels are made in much the same way as monocrystalline but have multiple crystals instead of one crystal structure. Although polycrystalline solar panels are less efficient than monocrystalline panels, they are less expensive to produce. Customers with a tighter budget may want to consider polycrystalline panels for some savings in terms of upfront costs.

Thin Film Solar Panels

Thin film solar panels are lightweight, easier to install, and less expensive than mono- and polycrystalline panels. There are several types of thin film solar panels available: amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS).

Amorphous silicon panels are ideal for very warm climates since they withstand heat well, but they are less efficient (7 percent) than monocrystalline, and they do not last quite as long—about 10 to 20 years, according to the American Solar Energy Society. However, they are the cheapest on the market, use less material, and generate less waste to produce than other types.

Cadmium telluride panels are made from toxic materials that are effective at capturing and converting sunlight to energy. However, tellurium is rare, and the production of these panels takes special precautions due to toxicity. CIGS panels use each element in a layered fashion to create powerful semiconductors. They are cheaper to produce and are increasing in efficiency with advancing technology and production methods and are approaching 20% efficient.

Passive Emitter and Read Cell Panels (PERC)

PERC panels are a more recent technology that is designed to be more efficient than monocrystalline. Silicon is used to produce the cells on the backs of panels, and they are less expensive to make. However, this technology is still being developed and tested, so it is less available on the market.

Do Solar Panels Really Save Money?

Solar panels have the potential to save you a lot of money. How much depends on the quality of the panels, how they are installed, and whether they are maintained properly. Although the initial cost of solar panels is hefty, over the long term, solar panels typically pay for themselves after about 10 years and then save you money over the next few years of use.

In terms of home value, NREL estimates that your property value increases by $20 for every $1 dollar your solar system saves on your electricity bill, which further increases your financial gains over the long term.

Additionally, any excess energy your panels produce may be sold back to the grid. This feature is available in many states and helps you make money from the energy your solar system produces that you do not need for personal use.

Methodology

To compile this list of the best solar companies, the writer collected data based on an extensive set of criteria, ranging from nationwide availability to financing options. The writer also considered:

• Installation cost
• Energy efficiency
• Solar panel design
• Warranties and guarantees
• Protection plan coverage
• Company reputation
• Access to customer service
• Quote processes

Solar companies that provide extensive coverage, excel in customer service, and offer a variety of payment plans were awarded extra points during the scoring phase.