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5 Best Solar Companies in Virginia (2024 Guide)

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Default Author Icon Written by Tamara Jude Updated 04/17/2024

Virginia’s sunny conditions make it a great place to use solar energy. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), it’s one of the top 10 states for solar energy and has invested $4.8 million in solar power as of December 2022. The Colonial Trail West solar farm in Surry County is so large it could power more than 24,000 homes alone. 

We researched more than 30 solar providers available in Virginia, evaluating their product selection, services, and other important factors to homeowners. See which of the best solar installers we recommend below.


Compare Solar Companies Across VA

Company Star Rating Warranties Payment Options Link
4.4
10–25 years Full purchase, loan GET QUOTE
4.4
10–25 years Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA GET QUOTE
4.4
25 years Full purchase, loan GET QUOTE
4.4
25–30 years Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA GET QUOTE
4.0
10-25 years Full purchase, loan GET QUOTE
No results were found.

*All BBB ratings are current as of March 2024.


Virginia’s Top Solar Energy Companies

SunPower: Best High-Efficiency System
Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
Palmetto Solar: Best Customer Service
Freedom Solar: Most Complete Warranty
Solar Energy World: Best East Coast Installer

Our Top Picks for Solar Panels in Virginia

SunPower Best High-Efficiency System
4.8

Solar panels have an average energy efficiency of 15%–22%. SunPower’s monocrystalline solar panels have up to 22.8% efficiency, making the company a leader in the industry.

Learn more: SunPower review

Pros and Cons
Pros Builds customized, high-efficiency solar panels Provides solar batteries and electric vehicle (EV) chargers Has a 25-year system and labor warranty Cons Only has in-house products, limiting customization More expensive than some other solar providers Some customer complaints cite panels and monitoring systems not working
Why We Chose SunPower

SunPower offers some of the most energy-efficient and high-performing solar panel systems available. It’s one of the few companies that uses in-house system components, creating a system in which each part is designed to work optimally together.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

SunPower backs its solar products with an all-inclusive 25-year warranty covering all solar system components, additional equipment add-ons, workmanship, and a production guarantee of a 92% power output.

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA

Reputation and Awards

SunPower received PV Magazine’s 2019 Sustainability Award for outstanding sustainability leadership in the solar industry. SunPower also received Good Housekeeping’s 2022 Home Renovation Award in the Biggest Energy Savers category for its innovative SunVault energy storage system.

SunPower is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently holds an A+ rating from the organization.* Based on our team’s analysis, we discovered that customers were overall pleased with their SunPower system’s performance.

Blue Raven Most Reputable
4.4

Blue Raven is a well-respected solar provider in the industry. It has an A+ rating from the BBB and 4.46 out of 5 star customer rating as of May 2023.

Learn more: Blue Raven Solar review

Pros and Cons
Pros Provides a unique financing option that includes 18 months of free solar energy Sells SunPowers’s high-efficiency solar products Has won multiple awards for its in-house team Cons Offers one of the shortest guarantees among companies we reviewed Doesn’t have solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) financing options Some customer reviews mention aggressive sales tactics
Why We Chose Blue Raven

Blue Raven has one of the best reputations for reliability and trustworthiness. The company also stands out for its in-house loan option, which includes 18 months of free solar energy. We noted that customers praised the company’s knowledgeable staff and prompt installation in online reviews.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

A Blue Raven Solar system comes with a 25-year warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, and two-year production guarantee. 

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Blue Raven has won several awards from Comparably, a site known for its comprehensive company culture and reputation reviews. Comparably recognized Blue Raven for Best Operations Team 2022, Best Sales Team 2022, Best Product and Design Team 2022, Best Places to Work in Salt Lake City 2022, and Best Company Outlook 2022. Its 2021 wins include Best Company for Diversity 2021, Best CEO 2021, Best Company Work-Life Balance, and Best Career Growth 2021. Blue Raven Solar ranked No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA in 2021.

Palmetto Best Customer Support
4.4
Pros and Cons
Pros Offers a tiered protection plan for your system Provides an online savings calculator to estimate your ROI Includes a 25-year output warranty for its panels Cons Requires an additional monthly fee for active system monitoring Doesn’t offer a free energy consultation Doesn’t offer leasing or PPA financing options
Why We Chose Palmetto

Palmetto has a wide range of solar services, from comprehensive protection plans to pest abatement. It offers some of the most efficient residential solar panels on the market. It also includes a 25-year system performance warranty and ongoing customer support via its app.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

Palmetto provides a 25-year panel warranty, 12-year inverter warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, and five-year roof penetration warranty.

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Palmetto received Solar Power World’s Most Forward-Thinking Contractor award in 2022. Inc. Magazine recognized the company with a Power Partner Award the same year. Palmetto also aims to provide solar energy to underserved communities with its Get Solar, Give Solar program.

Palmetto Solar holds accreditation with the BBB and has an A+ rating. While reading online reviews, we noticed that homeowners praised Palmetto for its dedicated installation managers and quality systems.

Freedom Solar Power Best Off-Grid Installer
4.4
Pros and Cons
Pros Caters to off-grid systems Provides 25-year warranty coverage Sells panels from reputable brands, including Tesla and SunPower Cons Doesn’t offer lease or PPA financing options Has limited availability Known for long wait times according to some BBB reviews
Why We Chose Freedom Solar

Freedom Solar offers grid-tied options but specializes in off-grid systems, so it’s a helpful option for people who want to go that route. The company has over 15 years of experience and sells solar solutions from well-respected brands such as SunPower and Tesla. Products include high-efficiency Maxeon solar panels, solar batteries, and home generators. 

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

Freedom Solar offers its comprehensive Complete Freedom Warranty with every solar project. This includes 25 years of product, workmanship, and performance coverage. This is higher than the industry standard of only a 25-year product warranty with a 10-year labor warranty.

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

The company made Solar Power World’s Top Solar Contractors list in 2023 and is one of SunPower’s Master Dealers, a partnership that displays its commitment to quality and record-setting technology. It’s won numerous awards for environmental responsibility and being a top residential installer. 

Freedom Solar has an A+ rating with BBB and 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews.

Solar Energy World Best East Coast Installer
4.4
Why We Chose Solar Energy World

Solar Energy World’s inventory includes solar panels from three popular manufacturers: Silfab, LONGi Solar, and Q Cells. The company also sells solar batteries from Tesla, Enphase, and SolarEdge, and inverters from Fronius, Enphase, and Solar Edge. That’s a wider product selection than many solar companies offer customers. 

We’re also impressed by Solar Energy World’s 30-year manufacturer’s warranty. This is rare in the solar industry since most warranties are 25 years or less.

Pros and Cons
Pros Has a diverse panel and inverter selection Offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty Holds an A+ BBB rating Cons Doesn’t conduct energy audits Has limited availability Doesn’t have weekend or evening customer service hours
Warranty and Financing

Warranty

The company offers all customers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all purchased solar panels and inverters. 

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ PPA

Reputation and Awards

Solar Energy World has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a 4.6 out of 5 customer rating on the site. The company also has mostly positive customer reviews on Yelp and Angi’s List. Solar Power World put the provider on its 2021 Top 400 Solar Contractors list, ranking it at No. 17. 


What Are the Available Solar Incentives in Virginia?

Homeowners can take advantage of several solar incentives offered in Virginia to save money. The first is Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). Virginia solar owners earn one SREC for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy their panels produce. You can sell these SRECs to your utility company to make money back.

Virginia solar customers who purchase their systems in full or take out a loan also qualify for the federal solar tax credit, referred to as the Residential Clean Energy Credit. This federal credit provides a federal tax deduction equal to 30% of your solar panel installation costs. The credit will drop to 26% in 2033 before reducing to 22% in 2034. It will end in 2035 unless Congress renews it.

You can also participate in net metering in Virginia. Signing up for net metering allows you to earn credits on your electricity bill for every extra kilowatt-hour of solar electricity you send back to the grid.


Solar panels are an investment that requires thorough research and vetting. We recommend considering the following factors when choosing a solar company.

Solar Services

Not all companies have the same offerings. Some only install panels, while others also install solar batteries, inverters, EV chargers, and other accessories. Some have an in-house installation team, while others outsource labor to third parties.

You can also find companies that partner with third parties for services such as roof repair and pest control to make your installation smoother. Additionally, some companies have mobile apps and active system monitoring for continued support after installation. Make your investment go further by getting as much as you can from a company. 

Warranties and Power Production Guarantees

Solar warranties usually fall into the below categories. Top companies offer 25-year warranties in each of these cases, though some limit their workmanship warranty to 10 years. We recommend finding a company that provides 25-year warranties for each warranty type to cover the lifetime of your solar investment.

  • Manufacturer’s warranty (or product warranty): This protects the individual solar system components in case of defects.
  • Workmanship warranty: A workmanship warranty covers installation in case of poor workmanship or faulty installation.
  • Performance (or power production) guarantee: A power production guarantee refers to the promised power output for your panels for the duration of their life span. This should be outlined in your contract. These guarantees can be 10–15 years for cheap solar panels or 25 years for premium options.

Payment Options

There are four primary solar financing options:

  • Full purchase: You’ll pay for your system in full up-front and own it immediately. 
  • Loan: A solar loan allows you to make monthly payments on your system and eventually own it. Note that you’ll pay more in the long-term due to interest rates.
  • Lease: Leases also allow you to pay monthly to rent your system. You won’t own your system or qualify for solar incentives, but you also won’t have to put any money down. 
  • Power purchase agreement: PPAs allow you to pay monthly for the energy your system generates, similar to an electricity bill. This option also disqualifies you from solar incentives.

We generally don’t recommend solar leases or PPAs. However, they’re worth considering if you don’t want to make a big financial commitment and are primarily concerned with being more eco-friendly or generating short-term savings on your energy bills. A reputable installer should be able to give you an idea of your estimated savings with any payment option.

Customer Support

Visit a provider’s site to see which customer support options it offers. Try calling the company and speaking with a representative to see how helpful and friendly the support team is. Read customer reviews on the BBB, Trustpilot, and other respected review sites. Look for patterns in complaints about product performance, service, and surprise fees. 


How To Get a Solar Quote in Virginia

Getting a solar quote is simple. You can do this online with most companies by following these steps:

  • Visit the provider’s website and look for the Get a Quote button, often in the top right corner of the home page.
  • Fill out the requested information, which typically includes your location, home size, and contact information. 
  • Review your estimate and select the products you want, such as panel type and solar accessories. 

You can also call to get a free quote. When we called SunPower, we were asked about our location to gauge the sun exposure in our area. We were also asked about our roof to determine what size and style of solar panels could be installed. From there, we were given estimates based on which type and size of panels we wanted. The call took less than 15 minutes.


Our Conclusion

All of the providers on this list are reputable and trustworthy. We particularly recommend SunPower and Blue Raven Solar for their products and services. Both companies have positive customer reviews and a history of being leaders in the solar industry. They also offer some of the most energy-efficient panels available.

Whichever solar provider you choose, carefully review its site and policies, read customer reviews, and get an online quote. We suggest getting a quote from at least three solar installation companies to compare pricing.


Other Virginia Home Service Resources


FAQ About Solar Companies in VA

Is solar worth it in Virginia?

Yes, it’s worth it to go solar in Virginia. The state has invested more than $4 billion in solar energy as of early 2023. It also has regularly sunny weather, making it ideal for generating solar energy. Major companies such as Amazon and Microsoft have installed systems in the state to power their facilities. 

What is the average cost of solar in VA?

According to EnergySage, the average cost of solar panels in Virginia is $15,050 for a standard 5-kilowatt system. This is before applying any solar incentives to reduce costs.

Does Virginia have a solar tax credit?

Virginia does not have a solar state tax credit, but residents can access other incentives and rebates as well as the federal tax credit. 

What is the best solar company brand?

Many solar customers express positive experiences with solar panel companies such as SunPower, Blue Raven, and ADT. 


Our Methodology

We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparent reviews and data to back up our ratings and recommendations. Our rating system for solar providers is on a 100-point system based on five factors:

  • Payment options (40 points): Options include purchase, loan, lease, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Companies receive points for each of the four options they provide.
  • Solar services (30 points): Does the company provide in-house installation of solar panels and battery backups? Can the company also monitor energy production and perform energy-efficiency audits to ensure system performance? The more options available, the higher the score. 
  • Warranty options (10 points): The success of a residential solar system depends on the workmanship, performance guarantees, and length of product coverage. The more warranties a company offers, the higher the score it receives. 
  • State availability (10 points): We award the most points to companies with the broadest service area and state availability.
  • Reputation (10 points): We factor in how the Business Better Bureau (BBB) scores each company. We deduct points for any alerts or pending lawsuits.

Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.