10 Best Solar Companies in Charleston, SC (2025 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
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Charleston
As a homeowner in Charleston, you may be interested in switching to solar power and curious about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a good choice since it comes with many benefits. Solar panels can be expensive, but adopting solar will save you money on your utility bills in the long term. In fact, you can potentially save about $25,000 over 20 years.
As you begin your search for the best solar companies in Charleston, you might notice that there are a large number of providers to choose between. So, we’ve accumulated a curated list of the top solar companies in the area.To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Charleston, 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
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Charleston
Second Sunrise Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Battery Storage- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
SCSP Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
Live Oak Energy Systems
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
LGCY Power
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Palmetto Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
RayWell Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Flowertown Solar Systems
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
SC Solar Energy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
SolarAIR and Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
180 Degrees Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
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
For most homeowners, whether or not to invest in solar panels depends the most on the cost.There are several factors you should consider when trying to determine how much it will cost and how much you can save, including:
- The amount of sunlight your city gets: Due to Charleston’s very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your electricity bills.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which can save you some money, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $25,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- The kind of solar panels you’re thinking of getting: More efficient models are more costly, so that will shape your budget for your solar project.
- How much power your household needs: If your family regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from going solar.
Though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, like the kind of solar panels you get and incentives.
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Solar Incentives in Charleston
There are many reasons why adopting solar power is beneficial. One of them consists of some government incentives that can save you money.When you install a solar panel system on your house, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there may often be some state and city incentives that you can use to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. You can find out about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Charleston
One of the most compelling reasons to adopt solar energy is to minimize your reliance on nonrenewable energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are destructive for the environment.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Charleston, though. One thing to keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the car and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions.Once you go solar, your carbon footprint can be lowered by about 20 pounds a year. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other benefits beyond saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the environment too.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Charleston, SC Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
The highest-rated local solar company in Charleston is Second Sunrise Solar, with a rating of 4.90 stars.
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 eco-friendly, and it can provide a good return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for lots of homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your electricity bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do solar panels have 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 decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher 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.