The solar industry is constantly seeing rapid growth because of the increasing adoption of renewable energy. Also, different types of solar companies play certain roles in the market which include – solar panel manufacturers, solar panel installers, solar financing companies, solar energy storage system manufacturers, and solar inverter manufacturers.
Additionally, these companies contribute to solar energy adoption in several ways such as — Innovation, Policy Advocacy, Education, Community Engagement, Job Creation, availability, accessibility, and advancement of solar energy technologies.
Solar Panel Manufacturers
Solar panel manufacturers are the ones who create, design, and supply solar panels that turn sunlight into electricity. Also, these manufacturers play a major role in assembling components like solar cells, their frames, and covering glass materials essential in developing solar power systems. You should also know how solar panel manufacturers make solar panels.
Especially while going solar, these solar panel manufacturers are important as they influence the solar panel’s quality, efficiency, and durability. If you are considering buying from a highly reputable manufacturer, you can be assured of superior energy production, long-lasting lifespan, and consistently strong performance.
Here are the top 6 prominent and reputable solar system companies in the USA:
- First Solar: Largest solar manufacturer in the U.S.
- QCells: Singapore-made REC (parent company: Hanwha Solutions).
- SunPower: High-efficiency solar panels.
- Silfab Solar: Attractive black-on-black solar panels. Good efficiency ratings, and high snow load capacity.
- SunSpark: Durable and efficient solar panels at competitive prices.
- Jinko Solar: High-performance solar panels.
While you are deciding to choose the right solar panel company, you must consider certain criteria that are influential in solar panel quality. Here are the several factors that ensure selecting the best solar company for you:
- Reputation and Experience: Well-established companies with a stable and proven track record in the solar industry.
- Certifications and Standards: Check whether certified by the NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) and holds the necessary licences.
- Product Quality: Solar Panel Efficiency and Quality offered by the company.
- Go through recommendations & Read Customer Reviews: Seek recommendations from trusted sources and read user experience feedback and reviews to know about customer satisfaction.
- Compare other company’s quotes: Check prices with multiple solar companies and choose the best.
- Warranty and Support: Check the offered warranty period and the company’s level of customer support.
Solar Panel Installers
Solar panel installers are the professionals who install solar panels in your home or business places. They play a major role in measuring and mapping the solar array, installing solar panels, supporting structures and running electrical wirings.
Additionally, when you are going solar, these solar panel installers are very important for handling the proper integration of electrical connections to the property. Also, they make sure of the efficiency and safe installations, which influences the longevity of the system. They look into aspects requiring knowledge of — electrical systems, roofing, and solar panel technology.
Here are the top 6 solar panel installation companies in the USA:
- SunPower: Great reputation.
- Blue Raven Solar: Customer Satisfaction.
- Elevation Solar: Quick and reliable services.
- Tesla Solar: Innovative solar solutions.
- Vivint Solar: Energy monitoring and audits.
- Palmetto Solar: Top-notch equipment and services.
Choosing the right solar panel installers can influence the longevity of your panels and here are the several factors you should consider when choosing the best solar installers:
- Reputation: Check the company’s reputation for how long it has been surviving in the industry.
- Experience and Expertise: Consider the company’s number of installations completed successfully and their installers’ qualifications.
- Reviews about Customer Service: Read customer reviews about the company’s response, professionalism, and ability to handle your queries or issues.
- Warranty and Support: Check the company’s warranty and the customer support provided.
Solar Financing Companies
Solar Financing refers to different techniques an individual uses to make solar energy systems more affordable. It includes options like loans, leases, and power purchase agreements (PPAs), thereby permitting homeowners and businesses to expand their expenses over time which results in reduced energy bills and environmental impact.
These financing companies are important while preferring solar to reduce the financial gap and make it more accessible through tax incentives and credits.
Here are the top 6 solar financing companies in the USA:
- Mosaic: Offers solar loans in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
- Sunlight Financial: It is a direct financier of solar loans with more than 300,000 solar systems financed.
- Good Leap: Offers fixed-rate loans that include installations for panels and batteries.
- Dividend: Provides solar loans for residential solar systems, solar storage and other home improvement projects.
- Energy Loan Network: Connects lenders to contractors for selling and installing residential solar systems.
- Lightstream Financial: Provides long-term loans between 2 and 12 years with an interest rate of 7.99% to 21.24%.
Choosing the right solar panel companies offers advantageous loan terms to maximize your investment with monthly payments to ensure both short-term and long-term savings. Here are the certain important factors you should consider while selecting the best ones:
- Identify your energy needs: You need to understand the energy consumption patterns and purposes.
- Check certifications and experience: It is important to check the experience of long-term established companies that hold valid certifications and licences.
- Compare multiple quotes: While installing solar panels gather different quotes from various companies and finalize the best ones.
- Check for Warranties and Contracts: It is important to look for a company that offers warranties for performance and equipment to protect your investment for solar panels to sustain a long life.
Solar Energy Storage System Manufacturer
The main objective of solar energy storage system manufacturers is to resolve discontinuity in solar power generation. Especially, during cloudy periods or nights, energy production decreases, which can be addressed by storing additional electricity through the energy storage system. As a result, you can use electricity during the night or solar production during downtimes.
Here are the top 6 solar energy storage system companies in the USA:
- NextEra Energy: Top utility company in the US that supplies electricity to more than 5 million Florida citizens.
- Toshiba: A combination of SCIB technology and a high-performance DC-to-AC converter that utilizes peak load and stability controls.
- Tesla: Includes Powerwall and Powerpack batteries.
- General Electric: Core player in the U.S. energy sector for more than 130 years.
- ABB: Serves various categories like utility, industries, infrastructures, and transport.
- Panasonic: Provides reliable and high-performance batteries.
You need to choose the right company to make solar energy more reliable and reduce energy costs by considering these factors:
- Innovation and Product Range: Measure the manufacturer’s technology capabilities and product range to confirm if they could align with your current energy storage requirements.
- Quality and Efficiency: Review the performance measures and efficiency of the manufacturer’s system including life cycle, round-trip efficiency, and degradation rates over time.
- Reliability and Protection: Examine the manufacturer’s track record for product reliability and protection offered in terms of warranty.
- Regulation and compliance: Check if the manufacturer’s energy storage system adheres to your country’s environmental safety rules and regulations.
- Integration and Compatibility: Verify that the manufacturer’s systems are highly adaptable to your existing solar panel infrastructure.
- Cost and Ownership: It is important to compare the upfront and total ownership costs which include maintenance expenses, energy savings and revenue generation from grid adjustments.
Solar Inverter Manufacturer
Solar Inverter Manufacturers are the companies that design and manufacture solar inverters to convert direct current (DC) to alternating current (DC). These inverters are important for current conversion by serving as the core component of solar power systems.
These are the reputed solar inverter manufacturers in the USA:
- Enphase Energy: Since its establishment in 2006, its products are highly reliable, efficient and smart grid integration.
- OutBack Power: Perfect choice for off-grid and battery-based solar systems.
- Chilicon Power: Offers best features like grid assistance and grid-interactive capabilities.
- Magnum Energy: Top manufacturers of power inverters and chargers known for superior quality, adaptability, and reliability.
- Morningstar Corporation: Has a strong global presence by focusing on off-grid solar markets as a leading supplier of solar inverters and controllers.
- Schneider Electric: The inverters combine high quality, reliability, and efficiency, becoming a cost-effective option for several solar applications.
Choosing the right solar inverter manufacturer helps with effective energy conversion, system efficiencies, and enhancing performance for system inspection and problem-solving by considering these factors:
- Reputation: Choose the best manufacturer with a strong reputation to gain several benefits in the long run.
- Product Quality and Warranty: Check for quality standards, efficiency ratings, strength, and warranty details.
- Compatibility: The inverter should be compatible with different types of solar panels, batteries or monitoring systems.
- Environmental considerations: Eco-friendly manufacturing practices and recyclable products can serve as a unique factor in the competitive market.
Ray is an avid reader and writer with over 25 years of experience serving various domestic and multinational private and public energy companies in the USA.