Best Solar Companies in Ohio (2022 Rankings & Reviews)

What Are the Top 5 Solar Companies in Ohio?

Below is a quick look at and comparison of the best solar companies in Ohio. After looking through our rankings, you might be surprised that we haven’t included some popular companies, like Vivint Solar. This was an intentional decision on our part. We have left several companies out of our ratings because of current litigation, customer service issues and other issues that may prevent them from serving you well.

1. YellowLite

YellowLite is a larger solar company that serves areas throughout the Northeast U.S., and its service area includes all of Ohio. Despite its size, this company provides outstanding customer service, maintains good communication from the consultation through the installation and beyond, and maintains almost entirely positive reviews.

YellowLite sells panels made by some of the top manufacturers, most of which come with extensive equipment and power production warranties to ensure optimal performance through the winters in Ohio. YellowLite provides solar panel and solar battery installations, plus system monitoring, and offers general contracting and electrical services through its GCs and electricians.

YellowLite has very few drawbacks. It doesn’t offer leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs), and its in-house warranty on labor is only good for 10 years.

Pros for YellowLite

YellowLite has some of the best customer service and highest ratings for customer reviews in Ohio. It has a good number of high-quality products available, and it has an excellent selection of solar services.

• Excellent customer service
• High-quality solar products
• Wide range of services

Cons for YellowLite

There are few negative things we can say about YellowLite. Two are that the company doesn’t do leases or PPAs, and it only offers a 10-year warranty on labor.

• No leases or PPAs
• Only 10-year coverage on labor

Facts and Figures: YellowLite

Solar Veteran

4/5

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Regional Service

2. Paradise Energy Solutions

Paradise Energy Solutions is another regional solar company with offices in Ohio that cover most major cities throughout the state. This company is best known for its robust warranties, which include 25 to 30 years of coverage on equipment (depending on brand) and a 10-year warranty on workmanship and production. These warranties should provide just about any Ohioan some peace of mind when going green.

Paradise Energy provides more than just warranties — it also gives our No. 1 choice for best solar company in Ohio a run for its money in terms of customer service. Paradise Energy Solutions has managed to get nearly 5-star ratings on all platforms, and customers seem genuinely satisfied with the company’s services before, during and after installation.

It carries a nice variety of solar panels to provide you with some customization options, as well as some variety in solar battery brands and inverters.

Pros for Paradise Energy Solutions

Paradise Energy Solutions delivers outstanding customer service and customization options that will appeal to most homeowners. It has some of the best warranties in the industry as well.

• Outstanding customer service
• Many brands available
• Appealing warranties

Cons for Paradise Energy Solutions

Paradise Energy Solutions doesn’t have options for leases or PPAs for residential customers. It also only handles solar panel and battery backup installations.

• No leases or PPAs
• Limited services

Facts and Figures: Paradise Energy Solutions

Solar Veteran

4.5/5

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Regional Service

3. Ohio Power Solutions

As the name suggests, Ohio Power Solutions is a company local to Ohio. It services just a handful of major cities, including Columbus, London, Dayton, Springfield, Etna and Westerville. It delivers the high-quality customer service you’d expect from a smaller, local company and nearly every customer that has reviewed its services has been beyond satisfied.

According to reviews, Ohio Power Solutions maintains communication throughout the entire installation process and is willing to work with customers to take advantage of tax credits and rebates as well.

It has a decent selection of products for customization options, and it provides a wide array of services that cover everything from solar panel installation to general contracting and electrical work.

Ohio Power Solutions offers a 15-year warranty on workmanship, which isn’t quite as good as the warranty from some top competitors. Its prices are also a bit on the high side.

Pros for Ohio Power Solutions

Ohio Power Solutions maintains an unblemished record of quality customer service and professionalism. It provides access to a good selection of solar products and offers a wide range of services.

• Unmatched customer service
• Several brands to choose from
• Many services available

Cons for Ohio Power Solutions

Ohio Power Solutions doesn’t offer leases or PPAs, and its prices can be a bit high. It also only offers a 15-year warranty on workmanship, whereas some competitors offer up to 25 years of coverage.

• No leases or PPAs
• Expensive
• Not the best warranties

Facts and Figures: Ohio Power Solutions

Outstanding Local Installer

4.5/5

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Local Service

4. SunPower

SunPower is a large national solar company that manufactures its own panels through sister company Maxeon. Its products are regarded by many as the leading solar technology. However, it sometimes outsources installation and maintenance to third-party companies. This allows SunPower to maintain some of the best product availability in Ohio, but it does mean that customer service can vary.

SunPower is on the expensive side, but it does back its products with a 25-year all-inclusive warranty, which is one of the best guarantees in the industry.

SunPower covers installations of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicle chargers, which are standard services. Additionally, SunPower only installs its own products. Any additional services or projects involving other brands of equipment will require a different installer.

Click here for SunPower’s full review.

Pros for SunPower

SunPower focuses on manufacturing products, which means it has some of the best availability in Ohio. The equipment comes with an appealing warranty, and the company offers all standard services.

• Excellent availability
• Great warranty coverage
• Typical services offered

Cons for SunPower

SunPower outsources all labor to third-party companies, so customer service is a bit spotty. The company only sells its own brand of equipment, and it is quite expensive.

• Customer service can vary by local dealer
• Only one brand of equipment available
• Costly

Facts and Figures: SunPower

Best National Provider

5/5

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Nationwide Service

5. Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar is a national company with widespread coverage and installation crews across Ohio. Although it’s one of the larger companies in our rankings, it still maintains a great reputation for positive customer service and communication. Blue Raven has all the benefits of a national company — like below-average pricing — without the downside of poor customer care or slow installation times.

Blue Raven carries several solar product brands, including some of the most popular and trusted in the industry. All equipment is covered by a promising 25-year warranty on parts plus a 10-year warranty on labor. 

Blue Raven doesn’t provide access to solar via leases or PPAs. Additionally, its installation teams only handle panel installations at the moment, and its 2-year production guarantee is relatively short.

Click here for Blue Raven Solar’s full review.

Pros for Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar has outstanding customer service and can often install panels in a timely manner, despite being a larger company. It is affordable, and it provides access to several large brand names of solar panels.

• Affordable
• Excellent customer service
• Fast response times
• Several brands available

Cons for Blue Raven Solar

Unfortunately, Blue Raven isn’t a full-service solar installer and only handles panel installations. It also doesn’t offer leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs).

• Limited services available
• No leases
• No PPAs

Facts and Figures: Blue Raven Solar

Best Solar Financing

4.5/5

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Regional Service

EcoWatch Criteria for Selecting the Top Solar Company in Ohio

The EcoWatch team assesses solar installers based on more than 20 criteria, which you can find more information about by taking a look at our methodology. The below factors are some of the most significant and have the biggest bearing on where each company falls in our ratings.

Warranty

Solar warranties cover equipment — often including physical damage, equipment malfunction and energy production — and labor — including installation, roof damage and workmanship issues. Both warranty types are important in Ohio, but the solar contractors that offer a robust warranty on energy production tend to score the highest in our reviews.

There is some extreme weather in Ohio, including thunderstorms and tornadoes, that can put your panels at risk of damage. However, the state as a whole receives just 173 sunny days annually, far less than the national average of 205 days. As such, Ohioans will naturally have less opportunity to produce energy, so more efficient solar panels are more desirable to take advantage of sunny weather. A warranty covering energy production is a good sign that the panels you’re getting will stay efficient for a certain number of years.

Year Founded

With solar increasing in popularity in Ohio year after year, many “fly by night” companies are popping up to capitalize on the booming industry. Unfortunately, these companies often provide poor or misguided service, and their warranties become void if they go out of business.

As such, the EcoWatch team heavily favors companies that have proven success and longevity in the solar industry, which can often be measured by years of experience.

Services Offered

Not all solar companies provide the same services. Some — like Blue Raven Solar — focus their efforts solely on panel installation. These companies won’t be viable options for customers looking for other solar equipment, like solar batteries and electric vehicle chargers. We typically rank full-service solar companies higher because they’re more likely to appeal to a wider audience.

Brands of Solar Equipment Offered

Just like with services, companies vary wildly in the types of equipment they carry. Some companies — like SunPower — only carry a single brand, while others provide homeowners access to multiple brands and styles for customization. If you’re looking for the most efficient solar panels or the most affordable solar panels, you might need to choose your installer based on the equipment it carries. This is also the case if you’re looking for specific brands, like Tesla Powerwalls.

Companies that carry an array of products rank higher because they can serve the needs of more customers.

Industry Affiliations

The solar industry has many associations and organizations that stand for more accessible renewable energy and bettering the environment. Solar panel companies that affiliate themselves with these organizations are more likely to have a worthy mission statement or philanthropic tendencies.

Some organizations that improve solar installation company ratings include the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), the Ohio Solar Coalition and Green Energy Ohio.

Size of Company

Many people wonder if a smaller company or a larger national one is better, but each comes with its own advantages and drawbacks.

Smaller local companies tend to have better customer service, more customization options for solar projects and more experience taking advantage of local solar incentives like tax exemptions and rebates. On the other hand, larger national companies typically have lower pricing and better availability, often at the expense of consistent, personalized customer service.

Solar Pricing and Financing

Finally, we assess a company based on its pricing model and the financing options available. Of course, more affordable solar is important, but we compare the cost of solar panels to the service provided to identify which companies provide the best value; cheaper isn’t always better when it comes to solar. 

We also take a look at the payment options a company has. Some companies only accept cash purchases and financed deals, while others allow solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Although we typically recommend an upfront purchase or solar loan, companies that offer all options make clean energy more accessible.

EcoWatch Preferred Partners

Here is a list of preferred partners in this area.

Solar Veteran

4/5

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Regional Service

Solar Veteran

4.5/5

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Regional Service

Outstanding Local Installer

4.5/5

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Local Service

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