Top 7 Best Solar Companies in Washington (2024 Reviews)

Blue Raven Solar has one of the best solar loan programs in the industry, with $0 down payment requirements and 18 months of interest-free financing.

Blue Raven has severely limited services available, so it’s really only ideal for those who just want panels installed and don’t need add-on products.

Why We Chose Blue Raven Solar as the Company With the Best Financing Program

Blue Raven Solar revolutionized solar financing with its BluePower Plus+ loan program. While many companies partner with third-party financiers to get loans for customers, Blue Raven’s in-house loan program requires no down payment to make solar as affordable upfront as possible.

More importantly, the loans include 18 months of interest-free financing. That means you can enjoy savings on your energy bills for a year and a half before making payments. The savings accrued in that time can be used to pay down a significant chunk of your system costs once you do start paying.

Although Blue Raven is a large national installer, it still puts a lot of effort into providing above-average customer service. The company is one of the few of its size that maintains 4.5-star customer ratings and an A+ score on the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest downside to choosing Blue Raven Solar is that you’ll only have access to solar panels. The company is one of the few that doesn’t install solar batteries, EV chargers or other solar equipment. As such, you have very limited customization options with Blue Raven Solar.

Additionally, while Blue Raven’s loan program is outstanding, the company doesn’t accept leases or PPAs. That does mean accessibility is slightly limited, although the financing program is more accessible than most.

Read our full review of Blue Raven Solar for more information.

Solar Products

Blue Raven Solar installs panels from Hyundai, Canadian Solar, Trina and SolarEdge. These are all considered high-quality residential PV panel brands, but they do bring different things to the table.

If you want to make the most of the minimal sunlight in Washington, we recommend the Trina panels. These have the highest efficiency and are most likely to offset your electric bills. The SolarEdge panels have the lowest per-watt cost and are likely best if you want to minimize your system price.

Aside from these solar panel brands, Blue Raven only offers Enphase inverters, which give you access to the Enphase solar monitoring app. The company doesn’t handle solar battery or EV charger installations, nor does it offer any energy efficiency home improvements.

Financing Options

Blue Raven only accepts cash payments and loans. The BluePower Plus+ loan program is a highly accessible solar payment option that requires no upfront payment and lets you put 18 months of energy savings toward your system cost, totally interest-free.

Cash will still be a better option, as it leads to a faster panel payback period and higher long-term savings on your electric bills. Both options give you access to the federal solar tax credit, though, so we feel comfortable recommending either of them based on what works for you.

Warranty Information

Blue Raven Solar includes a 25-year warranty for its equipment and the panel production. These come from the manufacturer and are about what you’d expect from most other installers and panel manufacturers.

The installer does, however, offer its own ten-year workmanship warranty. This is average, but we ideally like to see longer labor coverage. The frequent rainfall in Washington puts panels at an elevated risk of damage and leaking, so an above-average workmanship warranty is preferred for peace of mind and panel longevity.

Click here for a free quote from Blue Raven Solar.

Tesla’s solar products work seamlessly with one another to provide you with a pleasant post-installation experience and boosted energy savings.

Tesla outsources its installations to third parties, which can create some issues with customer service. Still, we think it’s a good option, especially if you want add-on products.

Why We Chose Tesla as the Company With the Best Technology

Tesla is a tech company, so, of course, it focuses on the user experience of its products. While it doesn’t manufacture its own panels anymore, the integration its QCells panels has with its solar batteries and EV chargers is outstanding.

The Tesla Powerwall includes convenient features like StormWatch, which will automatically prepare your system to store excess energy when there’s a risk of a local power outage. The Tesla app also gives you total control over how your energy is allocated, so you can set up your system to maximize energy savings or provide lengthy off-grid power.

Tesla also offers price matching for its panels, so it’s the most affordable option for getting QCells equipment. Plus, its prices are below average, and it accepts a variety of payment options. This all means its products and services are more accessible than those from many other providers.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest downside to Tesla, in our opinion, is that it outsources its installations. The work will be assigned to a certified third-party installer, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it means Tesla isn’t able to guarantee a positive customer experience.

Additionally, Tesla only installs a single brand for each product: QCells panels and Tesla-branded batteries and EV chargers. We prefer companies that have a few options that might appeal to homeowners in different financial situations or with different energy demands. Still, the equipment that is offered is high-quality.

Read our full review of Tesla for more information.

Solar Products

As mentioned above, Tesla only installs QCells panels now that it no longer manufactures its own panels. QCells doesn’t have the highest efficiency rating, but the 21.4% rating is well above average, and it should be enough to offset energy needs in the area despite the lack of sunlight.

The QCells panels have a below-average degradation rate in the first year — 2% as compared to 2.5% — but the degradation in subsequent years is slightly above average, which isn’t ideal.

We’ll include a list of other products and services Tesla provides to customers below:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Tesla EV chargers
• Tesla solar roofing shingles
• The Tesla solar monitoring app

Financing Options

Tesla as a whole accepts cash purchases, solar loans, leases and PPAs. Cash is going to be your best option, as it leads to the greatest long-term savings. Loans come with fewer energy savings but don’t preclude you from taking the federal credit, as leases and PPAs do.

Solar leases can be beneficial if you can’t qualify for a loan, but they save much less than cash and loans. Leases have been a point of contention in Washington State, so it’s unclear if they will actually be available from Tesla.

Warranty Information

Tesla provides a 25-year warranty that covers the performance of the panels — which is above average — and manufacturer defects — which is average.

In Washington, we also look for workmanship warranties since the weather patterns in the area put rooftop solar arrays at an elevated risk of damage and leaking. Tesla includes a ten-year labor warranty, which is in line with the industry average but shorter than we’d ideally like to see in the area.

Keep in mind, also, that Tesla’s spotty customer service can mean delays in responding to warranty claims.

Click here for a free quote from Tesla.

A&R Solar provides outstanding customer service and decades of localized experience to provide one of the best solar experiences available in Washington.

The installer is a little on the expensive side and doesn’t accept leases, but we feel the cost is more than worth it for your Washington solar conversion.

Why We Chose A&R Solar as the Best Regional Provider

A&R Solar has been serving Washington and Oregon since 2007, meaning it has over 15 years of experience, specifically in the Evergreen State. Its representatives are highly trained and hold certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Along with the local expertise, this should instill confidence in customers and provide the ultimate peace of mind that your system is being installed properly.

As a small company, A&R is able to give customers the care and attention they want and deserve. Your system will be custom-designed for your specific home and energy needs, and the hands-on representatives will be able to help you file for local incentives and rebates that larger companies might miss.

A&R also installs a nice variety of panel brands, one of which is Maxeon, which is the best suited to produce sufficient energy in the low-sunlight conditions in Washington.

What We Don’t Like

A&R Solar’s pricing is a little above the state average, so you’ll likely pay more for a system overall than you would from competitors. However, we do feel that the quality and service are worth the extra cost, as is evidenced by the many positive reviews this company has amassed.

Additionally, A&R includes a ten-year workmanship warranty, which is in line with the average. However, in a high-risk state like Washington, where rainfall is frequent and puts systems at greater risk, we’d love to see a lengthier warranty term.

Solar Products

A&R Solar installs panels manufactured by Maxeon (formerly SunPower), QCells and SolarEdge. These are all high-quality brands that should suit most homeowners, even in Washington, where sunlight is comparatively scarce.

We strongly recommend the Maxeon brand for peak efficiency and energy savings, but the SolarEdge panels could be a better option if you prefer to prioritize a lower installation total.

We’ll include a list below of all of the additional products and services you can get access to via A&R:

• Tesla Powerwalls — keep in mind that the installer has a minimum in place of two batteries, which we’d recommend anyway
• New construction solar projects
• The MySunPower and Tesla solar monitoring apps
• Commercial solar projects

Financing Options

A&R Solar only accepts cash purchases and solar loans. These are the only two options we recommend to most homeowners, as they let you take the federal credit — an average value of over $8,000 in Washington — and they lead to panel ownership, which is to say higher savings down the road.

We do prefer companies that also provide access to leases, mostly because they help keep PV equipment accessible to those who can’t pay upfront for a system or qualify for a loan.

Warranty Information

A&R installs equipment that comes with 25 years of protection for the equipment and production. That means you don’t have to worry about manufacturer defects or unexpected dips in efficiency, both of which can cut into your solar savings.

The company also offers a ten-year workmanship warranty, which is the average in the industry. We would prefer longer coverage, given the excessive rainfall in Washington, but we do believe that the company’s expertise naturally reduces your risk of any issues.

Click here for a free quote from A&R Solar.

Northwest Renewables couples standard solar services with add-on products and energy efficiency upgrades for a full-service energy experience.

The company most notably doesn’t have a formal workmanship warranty, which is an important thing to consider before hiring the installer to handle your Washington solar project.

Why We Chose Northwest Renewables as the Best for System Customization

Northwest Renewables brings a lot of things to the table, but we feel the most impressive is its line-up of services.

Not only does this provider install solar panels, solar batteries and EV chargers for solar system customization, but it also installs generators and ductless heating and cooling systems. That means you can get the solar system you want and convert your heating/cooling system to electric to take full advantage of your solar array.

As a relatively small company that only serves the Pacific Northwest, this provider is able to maintain an outstanding customer service record. It has an A+ rating with the BBB, as well as an outstanding 4.8-star rating on Google Reviews. Most customers rave about the communication and professionalism of this provider.

Plus, since its technicians and salespeople are locals, they have a healthy understanding of Washington solar incentives and can help maximize your savings by taking advantage of them.

What We Don’t Like

The first and most significant downside to Northwest Renewables (NWR) is that it doesn’t offer a formal workmanship warranty. We really like to see companies with at least the industry standard of ten years, and although the company’s experience should help you avoid issues, this is a pretty major downside to consider.

Additionally, NWR is less accessible than many competitors. Its services are more expensive than most, and it doesn’t accept leases, which can help maintain accessibility for providers with high installation costs. This is especially important because Washingtonians already pay above-average prices for solar.

Solar Products

Northwest Renewables installs panels from Canadian Solar and SolarEdge, so the options are limited. These are both great brands with above-average production capability and longevity, but we would prefer to see more options. Canadian Solar is our recommendation if you want to maximize production, but SolarEdge panels are more affordable.

We’ll include a list of other products that NWR installs alongside its panels:

• Blue Frog microinverters; these are made by a local company and maximize production in partial shade — a huge benefit in Washington, given the frequent cloudy weather
• Solar batteries — the company doesn’t specify the brands offered
• Generators
• Mitsubishi mini-splits for heating and cooling
• Electric vehicle chargers
• Commercial solar projects

Financing Options

Like most regional companies, Northwest Renewables only accepts cash purchases and loans. If you can make a cash purchase work, we recommend it. It’s less accessible in Washington than average, given the already high installation costs, but paying upfront means you maximize your savings over time.

A solar loan is a better option if you want to minimize your initial costs, but it does mean you’ll pay interest, which will drive up your all-in system costs over time.

Warranty Information

Northwest Renewables installs solar equipment that comes with a 25-year warranty for the equipment itself and the production. The efficiency warranty is a little longer than average — with the industry average sitting at 20 years — and the panel warranty is right in line with the average.

Unfortunately, NWR doesn’t offer any workmanship warranty, which pales in comparison to the industry standard of ten years. This is a pretty big downside in Washington, where panels are at an above-average risk of issues, given the frequent precipitation.

Click here for a free quote from Northwest Renewables.

Puget Sound Solar is a small company that delivers hyper-localized experience and expertise coupled with incredible customer service.

The company doesn’t accept leases, so it’s not quite as accessible as some competitors, but customers who can go solar with this provider shouldn’t be disappointed.

Why We Chose Puget Sound Solar as the Best Local Installer

Puget Sound Solar has been serving the Puget Sound area since 2001, so it has over two decades of local experience. With that experience, its representatives are able to provide a solar array that is customized to your unique needs and that can stand up to the frequent inclement weather in the area.

As a small company, Puget Sound Solar (PSS) is also able to provide outstanding customer service. Customer reviews for this company commonly mention how hands-on and communicative the technicians are and how helpful they can be in filing for local solar incentives to boost savings. This kind of customer service is, unfortunately, less common in Washington, as lots of companies have popped up just to take advantage of the high demand.

PSS couples its customer service during the installation with equal service after. It has lengthy warranty coverages, including a stellar 25-year workmanship warranty that is ideal in rainy states like Washington.

What We Don’t Like

There isn’t much we can say about Puget Sound Solar that isn’t overwhelmingly positive. The only significant downside is that the company doesn’t accept leases, so its services aren’t going to be quite as accessible to Washington homeowners as those from some competitors.

Another thing to consider — which is more of a product of PSS being a small local company — is that it has a limited service area. As the name suggests, it only operates in cities around the Puget Sound, so customers outside of this area might need to find a different installer.

Solar Products

Puget Sound Solar installs a wealth of panel brands to choose from, as it takes a more customized approach to solar systems. The provider can work with a variety of brands to suit your needs, which we love to see. That means you can opt for a high-efficiency brand to increase your chances of eliminating your energy bills despite the minimal sunlight availability, or you can choose a more affordable brand to keep installation costs low.

In addition to panels, Puget Sound Solar works with the following products and services:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• EV charging station installation
• Enphase and Tesla solar monitoring apps
• Several energy efficiency upgrades for your home
• Commercial solar projects

Financing Options

Puget Sound Solar only accepts cash purchases and loans. A cash purchase is the least accessible payment option because it requires that you pay for your system in full — an average of nearly $27,000 in Washington before incentives. However, cash payments mean greater utility bill savings over time, so they’re our recommended option.

Solar loans are a great alternative because they reduce your upfront payment — often to $0 — and still let you take the federal credit. We would prefer to see PSS accept leases as well for accessibility, even though we don’t generally recommend them.

Warranty Information

The warranty coverage is another area where Puget Sound Solar shines compared to the competition. It offers a comprehensive warranty that covers the panels, efficiency and workmanship for 25 years. The efficiency and labor coverage are longer than most companies will offer.

In our opinion, the labor warranty — which is 2.5x the industry average — is the best of the three. Rooftop solar arrays in Washington State see a lot of rain, and having robust warranty protection provides peace of mind that your system will persist without any issues.

Click here for a free quote from Puget Sound Solar.

Solara Solar is a local company with lots of experience, specifically in Washington. It couples a great range of products and services with outstanding customer service.

Solara doesn’t accept leases and doesn’t have the best workmanship warranty, but overall it’s a great option for Washington homeowners, in our opinion.

Why We Chose Solara Solar as the Best for Customer Service

Solara Solar is a small company that operates in Bellevue, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Yakima and the Tri-Cities area. With such a small footprint, it’s able to provide unparalleled customer service to customers throughout its service area. The company has an A+ rating with the BBB and an incredible 4.6-star rating on Google Reviews, which is evidence that it has provided great customer care for the past 10+ years.

The company also provides hyper-local experience and expertise to bring peace of mind and reassurance to Washingtonians, which can be hard to come by given the high demand and the large number of young installers in the state. Not only does the company have over a decade of experience, but its techs are NABCEP certified and licensed in the state.

Additionally, the company provides access to a wide range of panel brands, equipment and services, so customers can get a truly customized system.

What We Don’t Like

Solara Solar mostly brings positive things to the table. However, we do wish its workmanship warranty was longer. It offers ten years of coverage for the labor, which is standard, but in an area like Washington, we’d love to see more to ensure its systems stand up to the excessive rain for multiple decades.

Additionally, Solara is another company that doesn’t accept leases, so you’ll either have to pay in cash or with a loan. This means it won’t be accessible to some customers who can’t afford an upfront purchase and don’t have the credit required for loan approval.

Solar Products

Solara Solar works with a variety of solar panel brands, including Trina, SolarWorld and SolarEdge. It also notes on its website that it can get access to other brands, which allows you to customize your system based on your particular needs.

The Trina panels deliver some of the highest efficiency available from Solara, so they’re best for pushing up your rate of production. The other two options mentioned above can be suitable for reducing your system costs.

Below, we’ll include a list of other products and services Solara provides to customers:

• SolarEdge batteries
• LG Chem solar batteries
• Enphase Ensemble batteries
• Off-grid solar installations

Financing Options

Like most other local companies, Solara Solar doesn’t accept leases or PPAs, so your options will be limited to cash and solar loans. Paying in cash will yield the highest saving possible, but it will require that you pay for your entire system upfront. This is less realistic in WA than in most states, given the above-average cost of solar conversion in the state.

Solar loans are more affordable upfront, although they do lead to reduced savings over time. Solara Solar partners with Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union, Tri-Cu Credit Union and Umpqua Bank to bring loan options to customers.

Warranty Information

Solara Solar systems include 25 years of coverage for the equipment, which most companies offer, and a 25-year production guarantee, which is a few years above the industry average.

There’s also a workmanship warranty included that lasts for ten years. As mentioned with other installers, this is in line with the industry average, but we do wish it was a bit longer, as systems in Washington are at greater risk of damage from constant exposure to rain and moisture.

Click here for a free quote from Solara Solar.