11 Best Solar Companies in Champaign, IL (Aug 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 11 in Champaign based on:
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Customer review scores
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Solar installers near you
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Company policies and services offered
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Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!

Updated 7/19/2022
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Champaign
Hoping to obtain energy freedom in Champaign? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding course of action since you can enjoy lots of perks when you go solar. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $13,000 on your utility bills.
The cost of installing solar panels can change considerably depending on your home's configuration and your overall energy usage. To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Champaign, you can click "get quote" below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
The Green Panel
- 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 Champaign


Nationwide Service
Average Cost
SunPower
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Most efficient panels on the market
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National coverage
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Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
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Great warranty coverage
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Expensive
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Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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System Monitoring


Local Service
Eagle Point Solar, LLC
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Licensing and credentials transparency
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Can browse portfolio on website
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Educational sales approach
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Batteries
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Solar Panels


Local Service
StraightUp Solar
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Offers a free quote process
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Educational sales approach
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NABCEP-certified technicians
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Some reports of long wait times for installation
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Batteries
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Maintenance and Repairs
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Solar Panels


Local Service
Solar Panther
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Offers a free quote process
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Can browse portfolio on website
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Educational sales approach
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Roof Shingles
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Solar Batteries
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Maintenance and Repairs
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Solar Panels


Local Service
EFS Energy Inc
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Licensing and credentials transparency
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Can browse portfolio on website
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Custom system designs
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Educational sales approach
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels


Regional Service
Average Cost
Blue Raven Solar
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Industry-leading in-house financing
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Competitive pricing
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Excellent reputation
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Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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System Monitoring


Nationwide Service
Average Cost
The Green Panel
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Price-match guarantee
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Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
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Best solar battery on the market
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Some reported issues with customer service
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Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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Solar Roof Shingles
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System Monitoring


Regional Service
Average Cost
Sunpro Solar
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Industry-leading warranty coverage
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Expansive service area
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Some reported communication issues
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No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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Energy-Efficiency Upgrades


Regional Service
Average Cost
Sunrun
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Expansive service area
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Many financing options
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Some reported issues with customer service
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Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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Energy-Efficiency Upgrades


Regional Service
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
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Expansive service area
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Makes charitable contributions
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Certified B Corp
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No leases or PPAs
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Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
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Maintenance & Repairs


Local Service
API Solar
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Educational sales approach
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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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 Champaign
For the majority of homeowners, whether or not to invest in solar energy depends the most on the cost. Some key things that affect how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Typical energy usage: The more energy your household consumes on average and the higher your current energy bills are, the more benefits you'll see from switching to solar.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: This, and the configuration of your roof, affects affect how much electricity your solar panels can produce.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you need will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which can save you some money, allows you to deduct 26% of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $13,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
Because of solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as various solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for many homeowners.
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Adopting clean energy can significantly 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 Champaign, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Champaign
One of the benefits of installing a solar panel system is receiving incentives from the government. Everyone can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which allows you to claim 26% of your project costs on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some state and city incentives that stack with the ITC too. For detailed information about incentives that apply to you, see the table below.
Name | Solar Renewable Energy Credits |
Incentive Amount | Negotiated with procurement administrators |
Incentive Max | Benchmarks set by procurement administrators |
Website | Visit here |
More Info | Click here |
Name | ITC |
Type | Tax Incentive |
Incentive Amount | 26% of installation cost |
Website | Visit here |
Name | Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems |
Incentive Amount | Varies |
Incentive Max | None specified |
Website | Visit here |
More Info | Click here |
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Champaign
One of the best reasons to use solar energy is to cut your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are destructive for the environment. But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually help the environment? In Champaign, where the energy generation produces a lot of greenhouse gasses, going solar can have a big effect on the environment since solar power has a lower carbon footprint. Since solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they're a good alternative to traditional energy sources. In fact, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll no doubt understand that there are many benefits of adopting solar energy other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is worth more.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
The Green Panel
- 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 Champaign, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel installation company in Champaign?
In Champaign, Eagle Point Solar, LLC is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.81 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your house.
Are solar panels actually environmentally friendly?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main downside of solar panels.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels call for a significant upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like how much you pay for electricity and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can choose to replace them once you've had 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.