10 Best Solar Companies in Charleston, SC (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 10 in Charleston based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Charleston, SC
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Charleston homeowner saves $1,992/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Charleston
Looking for energy freedom in Charleston? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding home project since you can take advantage of many benefits when you go solar. On average, you can save $25,000 over 20 years with solar panels. And since solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, your total savings will be well above that overall.
Here, we’ll give you a list of some of the top solar companies in Charleston to make your decision a little easier.To help you figure out if solar panels are worth it for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Charleston by clicking the button below.
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
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 Charleston
Palmetto Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Second Sunrise Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
Live Oak Energy Systems
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SCSP Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
LGCY Power
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
RayWell Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
SolarAIR and Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
SC Solar Energy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
180 Degrees Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Flowertown Solar Systems
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Charleston
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Charleston 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 Charleston
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for South Carolina 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 Charleston
Even though solar panels can help save you a decent chunk of change on energy over time, it’s important to take into consideration the upfront costs.Some important things that influence the cost and possible savings include:
- Your location: This influences how much sunlight your roof receives, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $25,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- The type of solar panel system you can buy: This depends on what your budget is.
- How much power your household needs: If your family uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from installing solar panels.
Although a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the angle of your roof and your local electricity rates.
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Solar Incentives in Charleston
To increase the adoption of solar power, federal, state and local governments – and even some utility companies – offer incentives to help make going solar more economically viable and accessible.There are a lot of federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you some money in return after paying for solar panels. For more information about incentives that apply to you, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Charleston
There are a few big reasons why homeowners want to invest in solar energy: for the financial and environmental benefits.You may be curious – how much does going solar help the environment anyway? Something that can drastically affect your carbon footprint is how long your commute is and how much you drive in general. If you go solar and drive an electric car, you can significantly lower your carbon dioxide emissions by charging your car at home.Even though making solar panels releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by significantly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used traditional energy. In Charleston, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 20 pounds a year with solar panels. Since solar power is renewable and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help the planet.
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
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Charleston, SC Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
In Charleston, Palmetto Solar is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.10 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your roof.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your power bills, it’s environmentally friendly, and it provides 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.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels call for 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 the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger level of energy production.
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.