Blue Raven Solar Review: Costs, Quality, Services & More (2025)

EcoWatch Reviews Methodology

This review is largely a product of my own research into Blue Raven Solar over the past four years. I analyzed the company’s offerings through the lens of my experience as a solar industry expert, as I’ve spent the better part of those four years researching installers and the industry as a whole to get a handle on who the best solar companies are and how to choose the ideal one for your budget and needs. I’m also a solar customer myself, so I have hands-on experience with choosing and moving forward with an installer. I’ll cover the facts and figures in an unbiased way, but I’ll also provide my personal opinions of Blue Raven and its competitors, which have been developed over my years of research and connecting with industry leaders.

To obtain some of the information in this review, I acted as a secret shopper to get a feel for what it’s like to interact with Blue Raven’s infrastructure and customer service. I also pored over dozens of reviews written by current Blue Raven customers to look for trends and patterns that shed light on what it’s like to deal with the company as a customer from the first contact through installation and beyond.

I’ll use EcoWatch’s methodology and scoring criteria to give Blue Raven Solar an objective rating that you can use to compare it to other solar providers. The categories EcoWatch uses to grade solar companies include core services offered, financing options available, add-on services that add value to your system, the environmental impact and sustainability practices of the company, the equipment quality and reliability, the company reputation, and customer service. I use the scores I arrive at in these categories to derive an overall score for Blue Raven Solar, which I then use to compare it to other major solar installation companies.

Blue Raven: Best Financing Options

What I Like About Blue Raven

Blue Raven Solar has done a lot of impressive work in a relatively short amount of time. The company has only been around since 2014, but in that decade of experience, it has already made a name for itself as one of the main players in the residential solar space. Blue Raven was founded in Orem, Utah, but in the past 10 years, it has grown considerably. It now operates in 19 states and has installed enough systems to offset over 3 billion pounds of coal burned.

My favorite thing about Blue Raven Solar is its financing program. The company operates its own in-house financing programs called BluePower and BluePower Plus+. The BluePower Plus program is exceptional, offering customers who qualify for the program a zero-money-down loan with no payments required for the first 18 months. I’ll cover both financing programs in more detail later, but I’ll say now that this is the best financing option in the industry right now, and it’s an outstanding alternative to less beneficial leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs).

On a related note, I really like that the company actively advises potential customers toward cash purchases and loans. Some companies, like SunRun, push solar leases and PPAs, either by incentivizing them with added warranty protection or pitching them as the better option. No-money-down options seem attractive because of their low up-front costs, but they don’t save customers nearly as much as owning their system. 

This video from Blue Raven explains how customers save money with the company.

Blue Raven was acquired by SunPower in 2021, giving it access to SunPower’s high-efficiency solar panels — from its sister company, Maxeon — as well as the manufacturer’s warranty of 40 years, which is the longest in the industry. As of 2024, Blue Raven acts as SunPower’s residential installation arm and strikes the optimal balance between autonomy and access to SunPower’s resources. Pairing Blue Raven’s outstanding financing programs with SunPower’s high-quality (but expensive) systems is a major win for customers. I’ve long maintained that SunPower’s panels are some of the best (I even installed them on my own home), but they’re expensive. Blue Raven’s financing options for Maxeon panels give you the best of both worlds.

What I Don’t Like About Blue Raven

There’s a lot I like about Blue Raven, but the company isn’t perfect. The company’s most glaring weakness, in my opinion, is its lack of customization options. Blue Raven doesn’t offer as many opportunities to tweak your system to suit your needs as companies like Trinity Solar or Momentum Solar. Blue Raven doesn’t install EV charging stations, for example. I’d love to see the company offer EV chargers since they’re becoming more popular and are helping reduce homeowners’ climate impact even further. It also doesn’t have any add-on services, like energy efficiency upgrades or roof replacement, but more on this further down.

I’m torn about whether I like or dislike the fact that Blue Raven doesn’t offer leases or PPAs. On one hand, leases and PPAs are more beneficial to the solar provider than the customer. You won’t save nearly as much money if you lease your panels or enter a PPA as you would with a cash purchase or a solar loan.

On the other hand, some people can’t afford to buy solar panels outright or get approved for a loan. Without leases or PPAs, those people will have to look to another solar provider if they want to make the switch to solar. Ideally, I like to see companies that offer leases and PPAs but still push cash purchases and solar loans to benefit their customers. With that being said, Blue Raven’s acquisition by SunPower makes me think that it will offer leases and PPAs through SunPower at some point in the future since SunPower offers those financing options. That’s pure conjecture, though, as it still remains to be seen how this relatively new partnership will play out.

Blue Raven Installation Process and Timeline

Blue Raven’s installation process and timeline are very similar to what you’ll find from most high-quality solar companies. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect throughout your installation process if you go solar with Blue Raven:

• Initial consultation: Your first step is to schedule a free quote appointment with your local Blue Raven branch. The company will send a representative to your home to assess your electricity usage, inspect your roof, and determine whether your home is well-suited to a rooftop solar system. Some less reputable companies may try to rely on satellite imaging rather than an in-person inspection to save time and energy, but this really isn’t a good idea. Satellite imaging is accurate enough in many cases for taking roof measurements, but you really need a rep on your roof to inspect it for damage and remaining life. If your installer doesn’t assess or care about your roof condition, then you could end up needlessly spending money in a few years to remove and replace the panels surrounding your inevitable roof replacement. Thankfully, Blue Raven always sends a rep to conduct an in-person inspection at this stage. You should be prepared to supply the representative with copies of recent electricity bills, as well as access to your roof to take measurements. They’ll also need access to your water meter to check for proper grounding, as well as your electrical panel and any areas where you’ll have solar batteries installed, if applicable.
• System design and contract signing: After the initial visit, Blue Raven will take the information from the inspection and design a system that fits your energy needs and spatial constraints. This step typically takes a few days, which is standard for companies around the same size as Blue Raven. Someone from the company will reach out to you with your system’s design, including the total cost of the system and a breakdown of the equipment you’ll need. If you like what you see from your system’s design and production estimates, you’ll then decide how to pay for your system and choose a financing option. Upon signing the contract, you’ll be expected to supply a down payment if your financing option calls for one. If you choose the BluePower Plus+ financing program, you won’t owe anything up-front, as it’s a $0-down financing option, another outstanding perk to Blue Raven’s financing.
• Permits and scheduling: After you sign your contract, Blue Raven will work with your local building department to obtain the permits you need to install a solar system. This is standard in the industry, and in most municipalities, a licensed solar installer must pull the permits, so you’ll almost never be responsible for permitting. This step can be lengthy, depending on how quickly your local government moves. It’s not unusual to have to wait anywhere from a week to a month or even longer for this step to be completed. Keep in mind that this delay is usually due to your building department’s processes and not Blue Raven taking things slowly. Some municipalities have expedited processes for solar permits, but those that don’t can take a few weeks if they’re backed up. Once Blue Raven has the permits you need, a representative will reach out to you to schedule your installation date, and the company will order your equipment. You could wait a few weeks for your installation, particularly if Blue Raven has a full schedule. You could also face delays if you opt for a Tesla Powerwall through Blue Raven, as these are routinely on backorder.
• Installation: Most Blue Raven installations are finished within a single day, so you only have to worry about having a construction crew at your home for a few hours in most cases. The company’s installers will install your system’s mounting rack, electrical equipment (inverters, wiring, panels, etc.), and any additional equipment you ordered, like solar batteries. Blue Raven is known for its customer service, and you can expect a level of professionalism and courtesy from your installation crew that you might not get going with a less customer-focused installer.
• Grid interconnection: Before you can start pulling power from your new panels, your utility company has to approve the installation before they connect your system to the grid. To do that, the company needs to send an electrician to your home to inspect your solar system to ensure it’s up to code. Once the electrician signs off, your system will be connected to the grid and you can start enjoying your renewable energy. Thankfully, Blue Raven isn’t known for running into issues with the installation, so the likelihood is that you’ll be good to go after a single inspection. The company is also certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), which helps avoid problems that could result in delays at this point.

The process finishes when someone from the building department comes by your home to perform a final inspection of your system. This doesn’t have to happen before your system is turned on, but it’s something to know so that you’re not surprised by an additional inspection after your panels are operational. If you just have panels installed, your inspector might just do a drive-by inspection. If you have batteries installed, they’ll likely need access to the batteries, which means you’ll have to meet with the inspector to provide access.

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Blue Raven Standard Services & Financing

20/25

Blue Raven Solar performs well in this section, especially given that it’s a large-scale national provider. The company loses five points for not offering leases or PPAs but otherwise offers all of the basic services and financing options I expect to see from a high-quality solar installer. It also scores well in the financing department, backed by its excellent in-house financing programs.

Let’s start with the basics. Blue Raven gets full points for using in-house installation teams, which means that you’ll most likely have a smooth, uneventful installation. Not all companies use their own installers; instead, they opt to contract their installations out to third-party companies. While that isn’t inherently a bad thing, it does increase the odds of problems during your installation. Blue Raven uses its own teams, so you don’t have to worry about dealing with installation-day problems. This is particularly impressive given the size of the company; it’s the only national provider I know of that tackles everything in-house.

Blue Raven also scores well in this section because it installs a variety of high-quality panels. The company installs panels from REC, Qcells, Maxeon, and other tier 1 manufacturers. These companies offer a range of efficiencies and price points, which means you’ll probably be able to find something that suits your needs and fits your budget. I’d personally recommend the Maxeon panels for the efficiency and industry-leading warranty, as I believe these are likely to deliver the highest return on investment and the greatest peace of mind. Coupled with Blue Raven’s affordable financing option, these premium panels make even more sense.

The company gets additional points for installing three different solar battery options: FranklinWH, Enphase, and Tesla. Solar batteries allow you to store any excess electricity your panels produce to use later, which helps smooth out your savings in variable weather and across seasons. They also serve as an emergency backup power source during blackouts. If you size solar batteries correctly, you can run your home’s essential appliances like refrigerators and water heaters for one to two weeks in an emergency.

Plus, solar batteries are becoming more than just a nice-to-have option as state governments are downgrading and even doing away with net metering programs. Net metering allows you to export the extra energy your panels generate to the grid for a credit you can use later at no cost, which means you can overproduce in sunny weather and then still have a $0 bill during cloudy days or low-production winter months. In the past, these programs provided one-to-one credit for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) you sold back to the grid, so your utility company would effectively “pay you” at the same rate they charge you for electricity.

Unfortunately, the current trend is for states to reduce the benefits of net metering programs or eliminate them altogether in some cases. California, for example, recently moved to net metering 3.0 (NEM 3.0), which pays solar panel owners 75% less for their electricity than the preceding NEM 2.0 program. I expect this to become the norm throughout the country, much like NEM 2.0 did after it was rolled out in California.

As more states move to less beneficial net metering programs, the value of exported electricity decreases, and the value of solar batteries increases. Storing your own energy instead of selling it to the grid at a discount keeps your savings at one-to-one since every kWh you pull from your batteries is one kWh you produced and one kWh you don’t have to pay your electric company to use. If your local government still has a good net metering program, I recommend forgoing a battery, as it will add an average of $11,000 to your total, based on our research, and it won’t add anything in the way of savings.

Last on the list of standard services, Blue Raven gets points for its system monitoring. Most solar companies allow you to monitor your system’s production via a mobile app, Blue Raven included. You can track your system’s health and production statistics through the Enphase app (offered by the manufacturer of the inverters Blue Raven installs) or the MySunPower or Tesla apps, depending on your equipment. All of these are available for both iOS and Android. Most Blue Raven systems use Enphase inverters, which is why monitoring is provided through the Enphase app. Your team will be able to tell you if your system uses different inverters and what app to use during your installation. 

Cost and Financing Options

Blue Raven’s bread and butter — and what sets it apart from most other solar companies — is its excellent selection of in-house financing options. As I mentioned above, leasing your panels or purchasing the power they generate through a PPA doesn’t offer you as much savings as purchasing your panels with cash or a solar loan. Blue Raven doesn’t offer leases or PPAs, which closes the door to some aspiring solar customers with a tight budget. However, the company’s loan programs are second to none and put owning a solar system within reach of most homeowners.

Blue Raven has two in-house loan programs: BluePower and BluePower Plus+. Both loan options are handled through Blue Raven itself, which cuts down on the complexity of going solar by eliminating the need for you to set up financing through another company. Many solar installers work with financing partners and handle the application for you, but the simplicity of dealing with the same company for your system design, installation, and financing is a nice perk of going with Blue Raven.

The BluePower program offers a fixed monthly payment at a competitive rate, so you don’t have to worry about dealing with variable rates over the lifetime of your loan. It also doesn’t have a prepayment penalty, so you can pay off your system as quickly as you like. I’d recommend using the savings you’ll see on your electric bills to pay down your loan as quickly as possible, as doing so will reduce the interest you pay, speed up your panel payback period, and boost your long-term savings. This program comes with a downpayment, though, which determines the rate you’ll get and the term of your loan.

The BluePower Plus+ program is a no-money-down loan and requires no payments for the first 18 months. This is an extremely generous offer that eliminates the number one barrier that prevents most people from going solar: the high up-front cost. The 18-month grace period gives you a year and a half to pay down your system’s cost without being subject to an interest rate, which, again, you can do using the money you’d otherwise spend on your electric bill. The program also doesn’t have a prepayment penalty, so the progress you make during the first 18 months won’t work against you in the long run.

Blue Raven also accepts cash purchases, so you don’t have to take out a loan if you have enough cash on hand to purchase your system in full up-front. As I’ll discuss in a minute, a cash purchase is the best option from a pure savings standpoint, but it’s the least accessible option overall because it requires an average of $29,970 up-front, based on our research.

The reason that Blue Raven’s financing options are such an advantage is that they have low up-front costs and lead to panel ownership. Owning your panels — even if you can’t purchase them outright in cash — will save you much more money in the long run. Let me explain why.

Based on our data, the average U.S. homeowner who pays cash saves $31,513 over 25 years from going solar, which is the average life span of solar panels. Keep in mind that that’s after the panels pay for themselves, which means the average system savings $29,970 in the first 11 years (the average solar panel payback period) and then an additional $31,500+ in the remaining 14 years of panel operation. Those savings come from lower utility bills each month and, in some cases, eliminated electric bills.

If you decide to lease your solar panels instead, you’ll only save around $5,000 total over the same 25 years, according to our research. You also won’t own the panels when your lease is up, so the money you’ll make from a higher home value will be missing. Entering a PPA is even worse, saving you as little as $4,000 over 25 years for the average system.

The $31,513 number I gave above assumes that you purchase your panels in cash. If you finance your panels with a loan instead, you’ll save an average of around $26,513 over 25 years because you’ll pay about $5,000 in interest. Savings with a loan aren’t as much as with a cash purchase, but they’re leaps and bounds better than the $4,000 to $5,000 you’d save with a lease or PPA.

In reality, the BluePower Plus+ loan option from Blue Raven should lead to even higher savings than traditional solar loans because you save on 18 months’ worth of interest.

It gets even better. Cash purchases and solar loan purchases make you eligible for the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you claim 30% of your system’s total cost as a credit to reduce your federal income tax burden for the year that you install your solar panels. Since the average 9-kilowatt system costs $29,970 based on our data, the ITC can effectively save the average solar customer $8,991. That’s almost $9,000 you potentially lose when you lease your panels or enter into a PPA.

Blue Raven Extra Services Offered

0/5

Blue Raven doesn’t offer any of the additional services that I deem most useful. This category is only worth five points, but it still highlights Blue Raven’s biggest weaknesses. While I include this section’s points in the company’s overall score, you might want to think about it as extra credit. Companies that offer these services go above and beyond what I expect to see from a solar company.

For starters, Blue Raven doesn’t install EV charging stations. If you have an electric vehicle and want to charge it at home, you’ll have to add a charging station yourself after installation. That might not be a dealbreaker for you, but it’s less convenient than just having one installed along with the rest of your system. Plus, you can roll the cost of the EV charger into the ITC if you have it installed alongside your panels. With an average EV charger cost of around $2,000, that’s about $600 in potential savings if you choose an installer that offers them alongside your panels and batteries.

As I mentioned before, electric vehicles are becoming more popular and mainstream, so I’d like to see Blue Raven keep up with the changing times and start offering EV charger installations.

A less important point is that the company doesn’t offer energy efficiency upgrades or energy usage audits. Some solar companies like Trinity Solar offer energy audits and efficiency upgrades that can help you decrease your energy usage. These services include smart thermostat installation and even replacement of insulation, doors, and windows to boost efficiency and make the most of your solar array. They aren’t directly related to solar panels, but they can help save you money and further reduce your carbon footprint.

Having more energy-efficient appliances and well-sealed doors and windows can reduce your energy usage, which saves you money on electricity and HVAC bills whether you have solar panels or not. But if you are considering installing solar panels, having a more energy-efficient home means you might be able to get away with a smaller system, which could potentially save you hundreds or thousands of dollars up-front.

Some solar companies also perform roofing work, which makes it more convenient for customers who want to go solar but first need to replace or repair their roofs. As I mentioned earlier, you need your roof to be in good condition with at least a decade of life left to ensure you don’t waste money down the road on removing and reinstalling panels surrounding a roof replacement. If you choose a company that handles roof work, they can complete everything at the same time and often save you time and frustration having to coordinate between multiple companies.

Blue Raven doesn’t have a roofing department, so you’ll have to hire an independent roofing company if you need any roof upgrades or repairs before installing panels.

Finally, Blue Raven doesn’t offer company monitoring of your system after it’s installed. Some companies monitor your system for you to look for performance issues that could be a sign of damaged or malfunctioning equipment. You can monitor your system yourself through the included mobile app with Blue Raven equipment, but it’s up to you to discover any anomalies and contact the company if you think something is wrong with your system.

Company-side monitoring is not terribly common in the industry, but it is gaining popularity as a nice-to-have. I docked points from Blue Raven for not offering this service, but I really think you should think about remote monitoring as bonus points for companies that do offer it.

Blue Raven Environmental Impact & Sustainability Practices

7.5/10

Blue Raven’s commitment to making solar affordable for a larger percentage of the population has had a significant impact on quickening the adoption of renewable energy at the residential level. The company has installed over 10,000 rooftop solar systems for residential customers throughout the country, many of whom likely wouldn’t be able to switch to solar energy without Blue Raven’s excellent financing options.

I can’t give Blue Raven full points in this category because the panels it installs are manufactured overseas. Companies that make their photovoltaic (PV) panels overseas are more difficult to audit and, unfortunately, more likely to cut corners when it comes to their environmental impact.

However, the primary panel brands that Blue Raven installs, like Maxeon, REC, and QCells, all focus on recycling or using recycled materials in their manufacturing processes. They all have end-of-life programs that recycle old solar panels to repurpose materials to use in the next generation of solar tech, with QCells, in particular, leading the charge with a 95% recovery rate for its recycled panels. Both of these practices are of utmost importance in reducing the solar industry’s environmental impact and eliminating one of the primary drawbacks of residential-scale solar installations.

You can learn more about recycling solar panels in the video below.

The bottom line is that Blue Raven does its part to reduce the waste associated with small-scale solar systems by choosing manufacturers that emphasize sustainability. The company uses panels that are manufactured outside the U.S., which makes it more likely that parts of the supply chain aren’t as sustainable as they would be if the panels were made in the U.S. Still, most tier 1 panels are manufactured outside of the U.S., according to our research, so Blue Raven doesn’t stand out as being any less environmentally friendly than other solar installers based on the equipment it offers.                                                                                                    

Blue Raven Equipment Quality & Reliability

21/25 

Blue Raven scores well in this category but loses three points for not offering a roof-leak warranty and another three points for having a subpar workmanship warranty. However, the panel options Blue Raven offers cover a wide range of preferences you might have, from high-efficiency panels from Maxeon to more affordable options from QCells and REC.

Before we discuss how Blue Raven’s panels perform, I want to explain the categories I use to rank solar panels:

• Average efficiency rating: Solar panels aren’t perfect at converting sunlight to electricity, and a panel’s efficiency rating measures how efficient it is at turning sunlight into usable power. A typical efficiency rating for a tier-one residential solar panel is between 20% and 22%. A solar manufacturer’s average efficiency rating is the average efficiency of all of the panel options it makes. The higher a manufacturer’s average efficiency rating, the more likely you are to get outstanding performance regardless of the specific panel model you choose from that company. Manufacturers that offer panels with average efficiency ratings above 22% receive a perfect score in this section.
• Maximum efficiency rating: This criterion is the maximum efficiency rating of any single panel a company installs. It’s useful for comparing companies if you’re looking for a high-efficiency panel for maximum power output since it quickly tells you which company offers the panel with the highest efficiency rating and production capacity. To obtain a perfect score in this category, a company must offer at least one panel with an efficiency rating of at least 22.8% or higher.
• Negative/positive power tolerance: These tolerance ratings tell you how much lower or higher a solar panel’s power output may be compared to its listed power-production value. The average tolerance rating across the solar industry is -0%/+5%, which means that a panel will produce at least as much power as the manufacturer states (-0%) and up to 5% more (+5%). To get a perfect score in this category, a panel must have a negative tolerance of -0% and a positive tolerance of over +5%.
• First-year degradation: Solar panels degrade over time and become less efficient as they age. They lose efficiency over their entire life span but lose the most in the first year of operation. You should look for panels with low degradation rates since they’ll maintain their performance for longer than panels with higher degradation rates. In some cases, panels with a higher efficiency rating will actually save you less than panels with a lower efficiency rating if they degrade much more quickly. We give panels with first-year degradation rates of 1% or lower the highest score possible in this category.
• Subsequent year degradation: After their first year in operation, solar panels typically lose around 0.33% efficiency each year. Panels that lose less than 0.25% per year are considered excellent, and we give them the most points. Panels with degradation rates between 0.26% and 0.35% are still considered good and will produce enough power after 25 years to be worth buying. Panels with degradation rates above 0.35% can still be great options, but depending on the starting efficiency, you might be better off upgrading to a panel with a lower degradation rate.
• Max wind load: This category should be important to you if you live somewhere that regularly experiences high winds. A panel’s max wind load rating measures how resilient a panel is to pressure on the rear of the system, specifically from high winds. It is usually measured in units of pressure (Pascals), but you can convert Pascals to an effective wind speed using this wind load calculator. Solar panels with a max wind load of 3,000 Pascals (Pa) or greater are the most durable and can withstand wind speeds up to 156 mph. A wind load rating of 2,000 indicates that a panel can withstand wind speeds up to 127 mph, which should be enough for all but the most extreme wind storms. You can get away with lower max wind loads if you don’t live somewhere that gets hit by hurricanes, tornadoes, or extreme wind storms. Panels with a rating of 3,000 Pa or higher get top marks here in our ratings.
• Max snow load: This rating is similar to the max wind load rating, but it tells you the maximum pressure above your panels that’s safe, specifically for snow loads. A panel’s max snow load is also measured in Pascals. A max snow load rating of 7,000 Pa or greater is considered excellent and means that a panel can withstand between 9.5 to 10 feet of snow before incurring damage. If you don’t live somewhere that gets major snow storms, you should be fine with panels with a max snow load rating of between 2,000 and 3,000 Pa, although somewhere around 5,800 Pa is considered average among tier-one panels.
• Equipment warranty: Most solar companies pass the manufacturer’s warranty to you when you buy panels, so the coverage you get for your equipment depends on the panels you choose. Companies with longer warranties score better in this category, but we use 25 years as a benchmark since that’s the average length of equipment warranties throughout the industry. In general, an equipment warranty of at least 25 years is considered good.
• Efficiency warranty: Solar companies also offer efficiency warranties that guarantee a certain level of energy production after a certain time period, usually in line with the first-year and subsequent-year degradation rates. Most companies offer efficiency warranties that last for 25 years because that’s the average life span of a residential solar panel. Again, longer is better, but you need to take into account the panel’s initial efficiency and degradation rates to get the full picture. A longer efficiency warranty that guarantees low performance may not matter as much as a shorter warranty that has a higher efficiency guarantee.

Since Blue Raven installs panels from Maxeon, QCells, and REC, you need to look at each manufacturer’s panel specs to understand your options.

Here are Maxeon’s panel specs:

• Average efficiency rating: 22.35%
• Maximum efficiency rating: 22.8%
• Negative/positive power tolerance: -0%/+5%
• First-year degradation: 2.0%
• Subsequent-year degradation: 0.25%
• Max wind load: 5,400 Pa
• Max snow load: 5,400 Pa
• Equipment warranty: 40 years
• Efficiency warranty: 40 years

Below are QCells’ panel specs:

• Average efficiency rating: 21.23%
• Maximum efficiency rating: 22%
• Negative/positive power tolerance: -0%/+5%
• First-year degradation: 1.5%
• Subsequent-year degradation: 0.33%
• Max wind load: 3,600 Pa
• Max snow load: 8,100 Pa
• Equipment warranty: 25 years
• Efficiency warranty: 25 years

And, finally, REC’s panel specs:

• Average efficiency rating: 21.62%
• Maximum efficiency rating: 22.6%
• Negative/positive power tolerance: -0%/+10%
• First-year degradation: 2.0%
• Subsequent-year degradation: 0.25%
• Max wind load: 4,000 Pa
• Max snow load: 7,000 Pa
• Equipment warranty: 25 years
• Efficiency warranty: 25 years

There’s a lot to unpack from those specs, but the first thing you need to realize is that Blue Raven gives you a lot of options, which is ideal. This way, you can choose a panel that’s optimized for your specific needs. If you want the lowest possible cost, QCells is available, and if you want the highest possible production to maximize your long-term savings, Maxeon is an option.

Maxeon panels have a sizable efficiency edge over Qcells’ panels and squeak out a win over REC’s options. Another advantage of going with Maxeon is the outstanding warranty support. Maxeon’s equipment and efficiency warranties each last for 40 years — 15 years longer than the industry average — and its panels’ low degradation rates mean you get more for your money for a longer period of time. The downside of choosing Maxeon is the price, which is about $4.00 per watt, while the average price per watt in the U.S. is $3.33.

QCells’ panels are much more affordable than Maxeon’s. The going price for QCells’ panels is around $3.47 per watt, which really adds up in a nine or ten-kilowatt system (with a 9kW system being the national average, based on our research). You sacrifice some efficiency by going with QCells, and the company’s panels lose more efficiency per year than Maxeon’s panels, but the lower cost makes them a great budget option.

If you can’t stomach Maxeon’s prices but want to get more bang for your buck than you get from QCells, REC offers a middle-of-the-road option. REC’s panels are slightly less efficient than Maxeon’s, but they only cost about $3.67 per watt, based on our research. They’re also more durable than Maxeon’s panels, so they’re a solid choice if you want a higher-efficiency panel but live somewhere prone to high winds.

The take-home point for this section is this: Blue Raven gives you choices. If you value efficiency above all else, I recommend you go with Maxeon. Sure, you’ll pay more up-front, but you might find the financial burden to be less of a problem than you might initially think, thanks to Blue Raven’s excellent financing options. REC and QCells are also good choices if you want to avoid Maxeon’s elevated prices. Going with REC is a good choice if you need durability — especially against high winds — and QCells is an affordable option that won’t break the bank.

Warranties and Guarantees

Maxeon’s panels come with the longest warranties, including 40 years of coverage for both the equipment and efficiency. That’s 1.5 times longer than the industry average warranty period of 25 years. The efficiency warranty is especially good, guaranteeing at least 92% of the initial efficiency after 25 years and 87.2% after 40 years.

Both QCells and REC offer industry-standard 25-year warranties for both equipment and production. While it’s hard to fault manufacturers for aligning with common practices, their warranties pale in comparison to Maxeon’s.

REC’s warranty guarantees 98.0% power after one year and 92.0% power production capacity after 25 years. QCells’ performance warranty offers a slightly lower 90.58% production guarantee after 25 years.

If you want the most peace of mind, go with Maxeon’s panels. The warranties offered by REC and QCells are solid but not as good as what you get from Maxeon.

Blue Raven also offers a completely separate workmanship warranty that covers the work it does for 10 years, which is the industry average labor warranty. Personally, I’d like to see a longer workmanship warranty. Companies like SunPower offer a 25-year workmanship warranty, which signals more confidence in its solar panel installation teams. A 10-year labor warranty isn’t bad, but it doesn’t stand out either. With that being said, Blue Raven has a history of solid, professional installation work and helpful customer service, so you’re unlikely to have issues within that time period, and if you do, the company will almost certainly fix the problem.

Blue Raven Company Reputation

21.5/25

Blue Raven has a stellar company reputation but loses points in this section for being just a touch on the young side and only operating in 19 states. Otherwise, the company’s reviews are excellent, far surpassing the average solar installer’s rating on several review sites.

Blue Raven maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an average customer rating of 4.37 stars out of 5.0 over 1,309 customer reviews. This is almost unheard of in the solar industry. Competitors like Trinity Solar, for example, maintain a 2.63 out of 5, and even other providers known for their customer service fall short of Blue Raven’s scores. For example, Momentum Solar has just 3.12 stars out of 5.

Blue Raven scores similarly well on Trustpilot, with an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5.0 across 62 reviews. Blue Raven’s reputation is impressive, to say the least.

Blue Raven’s in-house installation teams are certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), which establishes standards and best practices for solar installers and provides training for solar techs. I dock one point from Blue Raven for not being a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which is the national trade association for solar in the U.S. However, this doesn’t mean your installation won’t still be rock solid. Industry associations just help establish companies a bit better.

Blue Raven operates in 19 states, which means there’s roughly a 50-50 chance that the company works in your state. While that’s a decent chunk of the country, its absence from other regions may pose a concern for some potential customers. It’s unclear whether the company intends to expand to service the entire country at some point. The solar industry moves incredibly quickly, and any company that’s not growing risks being left behind.

Finally, Blue Raven loses a point here because it was founded in 2014. A decade of experience is enough, in my opinion, to show that a company is here to stay and won’t just unexpectedly go out of business and void your warranties in the process (an issue that many new solar installers face). However, we give maximum points in this category to companies that have over 10 years of experience, like SunPower, which has been around since 1985.

Consumer Reviews and Testimonials

I’ve analyzed countless reviews of Blue Raven Solar to detect patterns and themes that reveal insights into how the company treats its existing customers. The following sections cover the most significant points I’ve uncovered in my analysis, starting with the positive reviews.

Positive Reviews

Here are the common points I found repeated throughout Blue Raven’s positive reviews:

• Smooth installation process from start to finish
• Excellent communication and responsiveness
• Friendly, knowledgeable representatives and techs
• Competitive pricing
• Strong customer support and service after installation

The following selection of reviews is a representative sample of positive reviews that illustrate some of the themes I mentioned above:

“From start to finish, Blue Raven Solar took care of everything. Our sales associate walked us through every step; from installation, city inspection, and [local utility company name redacted] inspection to actually getting our panels turned on, we were kept in the loop. The installation team was professional, courteous, and efficient. The support Team has been great. We are now enjoying Solar Power!” – Jeff B. via BBB

“From the first contact with Blue Raven, I was impressed by the customer service. All of my questions were answered, I was kept apprised at all steps, and on the day of installation the team was remarkable. It was the best service I have had in many years.” – Mary R. via BBB

“Blue Raven was absolutely amazing to work with. Our Solar Energy Consultant walked us through every step of the journey. Did an outstanding job explaining everything. The installation was done very quickly and professionally. We couldn’t be happier with doing business with Blue Raven Solar.” – Lawrence C. via BBB

Negative Reviews

The patterns I spotted throughout the negative reviews include the following:

• Pushy salespeople
• Delays in permitting, installation, and activation
• Solar systems underperforming claims made by salespeople
• Installations that failed inspections

The following reviews provide examples of some of those recurring themes:

“We compared several solar companies ([company name]) and went with BR because of their experience and competitive price. Sometimes the automated corporate messaging felt a little “pushy” but our salesperson [name] was nothing but responsive, kind, and helpful. Panels were installed as expected and I appreciated that BR handled approval arrangements with PGE, the county, etc.” – Katie M on 1/9/2024 via BBB

“Blue Raven Solar did a horrible job managing my expectations for my solar project. They were terrible at communicating with me throughout the entire installation process. Nothing was done on time. Large mistakes were made and ultimately my solar panels were torn out from my metal roof/shingles because there were zero lag bolts or screws that penetrated through to the wooden trusses of my home or even to the plywood roof below my corrugated metal roof and shingles. When all of this happened they continued to do a terrible job getting back to me for fixing the issues. I asked over and over for reports and inspections they said that they had completed and they provided us with nothing.” – Aaron M on 11/8/2023 via BBB

“I purchased panels from Blue Raven Solar in Oct. 2020. They were installed on Jan 11, 2021. Just getting the install to pass inspection was a nightmare; it was late March before the panels passed and began working. In July, I noticed water stains on my ceiling. I called Blue Raven and asked them to come out and check if the installation of the panels had caused this. The supervisor said it did and that he would be back to seal the holes. Afterward, the leaking continued and got worse so I called customer service. They said they had reached out to their roofing guy in my area and would call to let me know when they would be able to check my roof.” – Linda W on 12/29/2023 via BBB

Blue Raven Customer Service

10/10

Overall, Blue Raven’s customer service is top-notch. It’s impossible to find a solar installer that doesn’t have negative reviews, and Blue Raven has far fewer negative reviews than most other solar installers. I don’t think it’s wise to discount negative reviews entirely, and Blue Raven certainly has some unhappy customers, but the overall impression I get from customer reviews is that the company is responsive, communicative, and eager to sort out problems as quickly as possible.

My own personal experience with Blue Raven’s customer service only comes as a potential customer since I ultimately went with a SunPower system from a local installer for my own home. My interactions with Blue Raven as a potential customer were nothing but professional, and I didn’t personally experience any of the pushiness or aggressive sales tactics that some reviews mention.

Blue Raven Comparison

Here’s a table that compares Blue Raven with two other solar providers of similar size serving in the same areas.

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Who Is Blue Raven Best For?

In my opinion, Blue Raven is the best choice for you if you want to own your panels but can’t make an up-front cash purchase work with your budget. The company’s BluePower and BluePower Plus+ financing programs are the best financing options I’ve seen in the solar industry, and they lower the barrier to owning your own solar system. The BluePower Plus+ program allows you to put no money down and defer payments on your loan interest-free for 18 months, giving you a huge head start in paying down the principal. It also doesn’t have a prepayment penalty, so if you wind up paying off your loan sooner than you expected, you won’t have to pay anything extra over a cash purchase.

It’s important to remember that buying your solar panels, in cash or through a loan, is a much better idea than leasing panels or purchasing energy from a solar company through a PPA. Blue Raven doesn’t offer leases or PPAs, but its no-money-down loan options make it easy to go solar even if you don’t have tons of cash to spare all at once.

Blue Raven also excels at giving you options. While it doesn’t offer much in the way of extra services — it doesn’t install EV chargers, for example — it installs a solid selection of panels at a variety of price points. The company offers high-efficiency panels from REC and Maxeon but also installs more affordable panels from QCells if you’re more budget-conscious. As such, Blue Raven is also a solid choice for people who only want panels or panels and batteries, as there are no add-on services right now.

It’s worth mentioning again that Blue Raven was acquired by SunPower in 2021 and is essentially becoming SunPower’s installation arm. I think that the best way to get a high-efficiency system powered by Maxeon solar panels in 2024 is to purchase it through Blue Raven.

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What’s Next? 

Your next step is to schedule an appointment with your local Blue Raven branch. The company offers no-commitment free quotes, so there’s no harm in hearing what the company has to say. Even if you think you want to go with Blue Raven, I still recommend getting multiple quotes from other companies. Understanding your options is key to getting a good deal on a solar system, and the options available to you depend heavily on where you live.

If you’re not sure what other companies to research, I recommend checking out our reviews of other major solar companies. Our review of SunPower is worth a look, as is our review of Trinity Solar. You might also want to check out our head-to-head comparison articles like SunPower vs. Tesla Solar and Sunrun vs. SunPower to see how other national companies compare to one another.

I also recommend using our solar savings calculator to make sure you understand how much you stand to save by switching to solar before you meet with solar companies. Going into your initial consultation appointments well-informed will help you ask the right questions and detect when a company is being disingenuous or is overpromising on the long-term savings of your system.

Don’t forget to make copies of recent electric bills to give to the representatives during your appointments. It’s a good idea to have energy bills dating back about a year to cover seasonal variations in usage to give solar companies an idea of your average year-round energy needs.

I’ll leave you with this final idea: Take your time. There’s no rush to install a solar system as soon as possible. Taking your time and doing your own research will ensure you choose the best system for your home. Rushing for the sake of getting a system installed ASAP could lead to buyer’s remorse down the road if you realize that your system doesn’t meet your needs or is overkill for your energy usage.