16 Best Solar Companies in San Diego, CA (May 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 16 in San Diego based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Updated 4/26/2022
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in San Diego
As a homeowner or business owner in San Diego, you may be interested in switching to solar energy and wondering about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a great choice since it comes with lots of benefits. Solar panels aren't just good for the Earth — your bank account will be better off too. After switching to solar power, you can save an average of $31,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.
There are lots of installers to consider, but in this article, we'll help you pin down your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in San Diego. To get an estimate of what it would cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
4.5
Great warranty coverage- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
-
Slightly limited service offerings
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
4.5
- 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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in San Diego
Local Service
Future Energy Corporation
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Family owned and operated
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Speedy and efficient installations
- Educational sales approach
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
Services Offered
-
Commercial Solar Services - Solar Roof Shingles
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Solar Optimum
- Offers a free quote process
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
Local Service
Nippon Energy Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Custom system designs
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Some reported communication issues
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Maintenance and Repairs
Local Service
Forme Solar
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
Local Service
Aikyum Solar
- Can browse portfolio on website
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
Local Service
Keegan Electric Solar
- Offers a free quote process
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Some reported communication issues
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Soltech Electric Inc
- Offers a free quote process
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
- Solar Roof Shingles
- Solar Batteries
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Local Service
Solar Source, Inc.
- Offers a free quote process
- Has an online quote form
- Educational sales approach
- Family owned and operated
- Excellent reputation
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
Local Service
Sattler Solar Inc
- Locally owned and operated
- Offers a free quote process
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
RT Roofing Specialist Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Family owned and operated
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Has an online quote form
- Educational sales approach
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Solar Panels
Local Service
BVI Solar
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Offers a free quote process
- Makes charitable contributions
- Excellent reputation
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Rehab Solar Construction Inc
- Educational sales approach
- Can browse portfolio on website
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Family owned and operated
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Pacific Sun Technologies Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Custom system designs
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
Local Service
Pure Solar Power
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reported issues with customer services
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Progressive Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Solar Panels
Solar Company Ranking Methodology
Click here to see a more detailed overview of our solar company ranking methodology.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in San Diego
For a lot of homeowners, whether or not you should invest in solar panels boils down to the cost. A few key factors that affect the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home and how much it could save you over time are:
- The type of solar panels you want: More high-tech panels are more highly priced, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
- Incentives: Those who buy and install a solar energy system this year can save 26% of their overall solar costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $31,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years without incentives.
- Your location: This influences how much sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in San Diego doesn't use much energy, and consequently may not see as many savings on their power bills.
There are several wonderful benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your wallet. In addition, it can increase the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you choose to sell your home later.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
Adopting green energy can considerably impact both the environment and your utility bills. To see how much, try out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for San Diego, CA.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years. This means that with an average cost of {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }}, it would take {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years to recover the cost of of your solar array.
In addition to the financial savings, hiring a solar company in {{ solarcalc.name }} will have a significant, and positive, impact on the environment. Over {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years, a {{ solarcalc.system_size }} kW solar array would prevent {{ solarcalc.CO2_savings()|number:0 }} lbs of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. This is equivalent to driving {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()*0.78|number:0 }} miles in an average car.
Solar Incentives in San Diego
Switching to solar power has a lot of considerable benefits. Not only can it help protect the planet, but you can also save a decent amount of money on your installation with various government incentives. When you install solar panels, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 26% of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there may often be some regional incentives that you can use to further save. The table below lets you know about the incentives you can find in San Diego.
| Name | Renewable Market Adjusting Tariff (ReMAT) |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
| Name | ITC |
| Type | Tax Incentive |
| Incentive Amount | 26% of installation cost |
| Website | Visit here |
| Name | Local Option - Municipal Energy Districts |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
| Name | San Diego County - Green Building Program |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
| Name | City of San Diego - Sustainable Building Expedited Permit Program |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
| Name | Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems and Solar Plus Storage System |
| Incentive Amount | 100% of system value; 75% of system value exemption for dual-use equipment |
| Incentive Max | Not specified. |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in San Diego
There are lots of reasons to trade traditional energy for solar power, like saving some money on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint. But — how much exactly can you help the environment by making the switch to solar? The more power your household uses, the the more the environment will benefit from you switching to solar since you won't have to burn as many fossil fuels. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since solar energy is abundant and produces electricity without CO2 emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help preserve the environment.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
4.5
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
4.5
- 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
EcoWatch's San Diego, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installer in San Diego?
The highest-rated local solar company in San Diego is Future Energy Corporation, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they're made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my house?
Solar panels can be a good investment for lots of homeowners, but admittedly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your power bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on the amount of power they produce under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average household will need 20 to 35 panels.
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.