11 Best Solar Companies in Raleigh, NC (Jan 2023 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 11 in Raleigh based on:
-
Customer review scores
-
Solar installers near you
-
Company policies and services offered
-
Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated January 20, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Raleigh
As a homeowner in Raleigh, you may be interested in switching to solar and wondering about the best solar companies in your city. Solar could be a great choice since it has many perks. Since Raleigh is a city with great potential for solar power, it's no wonder you're looking into installing solar panels.
In this article, we'll let you in on the top Raleigh solar installers so you can make the best decision for your home's sustainable energy needs. Interested in seeing how much it'd cost to install solar panels on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated Raleigh solar installer.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Raleigh

EcoEthic Solar LLC
-
Can browse portfolio on website
-
Educational sales approach
-
Licensing and credentials transparency
-
Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Solar Batteries
-
Maintenance and Repairs
-
Commercial Solar Services
-
Solar Panels

Balex Electrical Company, LLC
-
Educational sales approach
-
Assists with maximizing rebate
-
Has an online quote form
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Maintenance and Repairs
-
Commercial Solar Services
-
Solar Panels

Elite Roof and Solar - Winston-Salem
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Offers a free quote process
-
Educational sales approach
-
Custom system designs
-
Can browse portfolio on website
-
Licensing and credentials transparency
-
Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Maintenance and Repairs
-
Roofing Services
-
Commercial Solar Services
-
Solar Roof Shingles
-
Solar Panels

Green State Power, LLC
-
Can browse portfolio on website
-
Educational sales approach
-
Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Commercial Solar Services
-
Solar Panels

Carolina Connections
-
Offers a free quote process
-
Educational sales approach
-
Licensing and credentials transparency
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Solar Batteries
-
Commercial Solar Services
-
Solar Panels

Solar Energy of the Carolinas
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Offers a free quote process
-
Educational sales approach
-
NABCEP-certified technicians
-
Assists with maximizing rebate
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Commercial Solar Services
-
Solar Panels

Pink Energy Fayetteville
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Offers a free quote process
-
Educational sales approach
-
NABCEP-certified technicians
-
Assists with maximizing rebate
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels
-
Commercial Solar Services

ACT Power Services, LLC
-
Educational sales approach
-
Licensing and credentials transparency
-
Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Solar Batteries
-
Solar Panels

Southern Energy Management
-
Offers a free quote process
-
Educational sales approach
-
Assists with maximizing rebate
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels
-
Commercial Solar Services

Pink Energy Raleigh
-
Licensing and credentials transparency
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Offers a free quote process
-
Educational sales approach
-
NABCEP-certified technicians
-
Assists with maximizing rebate
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Solar Batteries
-
Solar Panels
-
Commercial Solar Services

Carolina Solar Energy III, LLC
-
More transparent pricing than competitors
-
Educational sales approach
-
Family owned and operated
-
Makes charitable contributions
-
Can browse portfolio on website
-
Excellent reputation
-
Some reports of long wait times for installation
-
Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
-
Some reported communication issues
-
Some reported issues with customer services
Services Offered
-
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 Raleigh
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you must first pay to install your system. Some significant things that influence how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- The kind of solar panels you have the money for: This depends on your income and budget.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less 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 utility bills, which can result in an average of $17,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Raleigh gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your electricity bills will be.
- Your energy bills: This will dictate how much you can save. In Raleigh, the average resident can save about $1,300 a year on their electricity bills.
As a result of solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for most homeowners.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
If you'd like to know what your impact could be if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Raleigh, NC.
{{ 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.
Solar Incentives in Raleigh
Because solar power is more sustainable than traditional energy sources, there are quite a few government incentives available to encourage people to make the switch. On top of the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local programs, which in most cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Raleigh.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Raleigh
There are tons of reasons to trade traditional energy for solar energy, like saving money on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. You may be curious — how much does going solar do for the planet anyway? The more energy you use, the the more the environment will benefit if you switch to solar since you won't have to burn as many fossil fuels. Since solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they're a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 60 pounds each year. As you can see, trading traditional energy for solar has so many other benefits besides saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the environment too.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Raleigh, NC Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Raleigh?
The highest-rated local solar company in Raleigh is EcoEthic Solar LLC, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of installing solar panels?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, totally eradicate your electricity bills, raise your home's value and bring down your carbon footprint. The main disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not save a lot if you don't use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels require a large upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like local electricity rates and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
What is the best kind of solar panel?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more expensive. Polycrystalline panels cost less but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other kinds can't, like on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, roof configuration and how much energy generation you want.
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.