18 Best Solar Companies in Palo Alto, CA (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 18 in Palo Alto based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Palo Alto, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Palo Alto homeowner saves $2,597/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
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Best Solar Companies in Palo Alto
As a homeowner or business owner in Palo Alto, you may be planning on switching to solar and wondering about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a good choice since it has many perks. After 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar system, you can save about $31,000 on your power bills.
If you're thinking about going solar, the first step to make is to find the best solar companies in Palo Alto and compare quotes. The great news is we went ahead and compiled a list of the best solar companies to make it easier on you. Read on to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or get connected with a vetted solar company near you right away by clicking the button below.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Palo Alto
Average Cost
SunPower
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Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
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Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
Clean Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Clean Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Average Cost
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Average Cost
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
SolarWorld PanelWorks Palo Alto
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
SCARLET Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Cobalt Power Systems Inc.
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Jurchen Technology US Corporation
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Solar Components LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
Lauritzen Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
Rise & Shine Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
Shade Power
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Highlands Energy Service Newark
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Home installations
Next Solar, Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Palo Alto
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Palo Alto based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Palo Alto
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Palo Alto
The cost of installing solar panels has decreased immensely over the past few years, but it's still a significant investment for most homeowners. A few main factors that affect the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home and how much it could save you over time are:
- How much energy costs for you: If your local energy rates are quite high, there's a better chance you'll end up with a higher return on your investment in a solar panel system. In Palo Alto, you can save an average of $81 a month on your electricity bills.
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your energy bills, which can give you an average of $31,000 of savings over 20 years.
- The model of solar panels you can purchase: This depends on what your budget is.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Palo Alto gets lots of sunlight, your solar panel system will most likely be able to generate enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much you can save on your energy bills.
Thanks to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as several solar incentives, they are a solid investment for many homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Palo Alto
If you're planning on switching to solar energy, a variety of government incentives and subsidies can greatly lower your project costs and speed up the return on your investment. Local solar incentive programs vary by location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for home solar power systems, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. Our article on solar incentives goes over more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in Palo Alto.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Palo Alto
Installing solar panels is a powerful way to do what you can for a more eco-friendly future. A question many might be thinking about is how much can they really help protect the environment by going solar anyway? A key thing to keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend a lot of time driving to work, your footprint may be greater, so adopting solar energy for your house can help offset that. While solar panel production emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by considerably reducing the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In Palo Alto, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, going solar has so many other rewards beyond saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Palo Alto, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar company in Palo Alto?
In Palo Alto, APG Solar is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 5.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your roof.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lowers your electricity bills, it's good for the environment, and it can provide a good return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't produce electricity at night, the installation cost is pricey and solar panels aren't always aesthetically pleasing.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a great investment for a majority of homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your energy bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
Although the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable. What this means is their energy production will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can choose to replace them after having them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency after that time.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.