Semper Solaris Review: Costs, Quality, Services & More (2024)

Semper Solaris Review: Costs, Quality, Services & More (2024)

Here’s what you need to know about Semper Solaris:

  • Is Semper Solaris a legit company?
  • What does the solar installation process look like with Semper Solaris?
  • Is Semper Solaris expensive?
  • What do customers have to say about Semper Solaris?

 

 

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A veteran-owned business, Semper Solaris derives its name from the U.S. Marine Corps motto “Semper Fidelis,” meaning “always faithful.” This review covers all the important details about the installer including pricing, services, financing options, customer experiences, and more.

Is Semper Solaris a Good Solar Company?

Semper Solaris prides itself on being a local company built on the military values of “loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.”1 Semper has installed thousands of solar power systems using premium, American-made equipment. Although the company does not offer a wide range of brands or industry-leading warranties, it shows a lot of promise when it comes to demonstrating it’s a reliable solar company.

What Should You Know About Semper Solaris?

Semper Solaris was founded in San Diego, California in 2012 and offers solar systems, battery storage, roofing and heating and air conditioning services. With a focus on military values and service in its marketing, Semper has attracted many customers. The company claims to have installed over 10,000 systems in just a decade. Semper was awarded the SunPower Residential National Top Producer of the Year award in 2016.

The company places a high value on giving back to the community, awarding home improvements to deserving veterans and first responders under its Semper Cares Initiative2, and scholarships toward alternative energy studies under its Semper Solaris Scholarship program.3

Semper Solaris Fast Facts
Year Started 2012
Service Areas Texas, California, Florida
Services Offered Solar panel and solar battery installations; roofing services; HVAC services
Types of Solar Equipment Offered Silfab, Solaria, Tesla, Enphase
Certifications North American Board of Certified American Professionals (NABCEP)-certified technicians, Tesla Powerwall certified installer; accreditation by the Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau Rating A+
Badge icon

Semper Solaris

Outstanding Regional Installer

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Competitive pricing
  • Veteran-owned company
  • Makes charitable contributions

Cons

  • Limited brands of solar equipment available
  • Limited warranty coverage

Semper Solaris Services and Installation

Semper Solaris offers solar energy systems to homeowners. It also offers battery storage to secure homes against power outages, and is a certified installer of Tesla’s Powerwall battery. Semper’s offerings also include roof replacement, repair and heating and air conditioning services. As for the solar systems, Semper states that from the date of contract signing it takes six to ten weeks to complete an installation. Below is a quick outline of what a typical solar panel installation experience with Semper would look like.

Solar Installation Experience

Contact Semper Solaris

Semper has a booking appointment form for prospective customers on its website through which you can request an appointment with a Semper rep at a date and time convenient for you. You can also chat online with or call Semper.

Solar Inspection

Once you have consulted with Semper Solaris, the company will send a rep for an inspection of your home. Your electric panel and breakers will be inspected to ensure that they can support a new solar system — or if an upgrade if necessary. You’ll also consult with the rep on the placement of the panels on the roof, which will be inspected for structural integrity to ensure it can handle the load, and your solar payment method.

Solar Permitting

Semper will work on getting the necessary permits and on your behalf and help you sign up for tax credits, rebates, and local incentives such as the SGIP (Self-Generation Incentive Program). This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Your Semper Solaris project manager will keep you updated on status.

Installation

Once the permits are received and the equipment arrives, the installation can begin. Your roof will be made secure with racking equipment for the panels and any other support measures or small repairs needed will be completed. If your project will involve net metering, this stage may include installation of an upgraded power meter to allow for bi-directional electricity metering. Wiring will be installed and connected to the solar panels and inverter/power controllers and the system will be checked to make sure it’s functioning properly.

Final inspection before powering on

The final step is interconnection and approval from the utility company and/or or local jurisdiction to ensure that the installation was done in compliance with standards. After the system has been signed off, the switch can officially be turned on and your solar panels can get to work producing electricity.

Semper Solaris Customer Service

Semper Solaris offers a virtual chat assistant and a direct phone number to speak with a member of its team. Most customers have found Semper’s customer service to be satisfactory, while some customers did complain about slow responses.

Semper Solaris Costs and Financing

Semper’s pricing is affordable — hitting at or below the U.S. average — and the company uses equipment from reputable brands. The cost for your system will depend on several factors including size, type and overall system complexity.

Semper offers a $500 reward when you refer a new customer who proceeds with an install. The company also offers discounts to veterans and first responders.

Financing Options Through Semper Solaris

Semper Solaris offers a range of purchasing options to make going solar easy. The table below gives a clear idea of what to expect with each of the available purchasing options.

Cash Purchase Solar Loan Solar Lease Solar PPA
System Ownership
Maintenance Included
Upfront Cost
Added Property Value
Eligible for Tax Credit
Payment Due to Solar Installer Loan Provider Solar Installer Solar Installer

Going solar is a big decision and choosing the right purchasing model can be confusing. While a cash purchase offers maximum value, a loan, lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) takes away the stress of paying a large sum up-front. Check out our solar financing guide to learn about all the options in more detail.

Semper Solaris Solar Panel Warranty

One of the cons of choosing Semper Solaris for your home solar system is its unimpressive warranty. While the company cleverly markets the equipment warranties, touting the 25-year panel warranty passed on from the manufacturer, it doesn’t offer a warranty on its own workmanship. Many installers offer a 25-year warranty on labor, so Semper’s warranty is definitely one of the less remarkable ones in the industry.

Semper Solaris Reviews

Customer reviews are one of the best ways to truly judge a solar installer’s quality, and Semper has received hundreds of reviews from customers over the years. While the majority of these are positive and laud Semper’s knowledge and follow-up, there are plenty of negative reviews that cite slow or disappointing service/support. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Positive Semper Solaris Reviews

“Excellent! My solar ground-mount looks great and although it took awhile to be completed because the County of SD is very slow we are happy. The crew was gentle when working around my wife’s plants and garden which we very much appreciated. We worked with Rhami during the sales process and he was informative and always available to us which made us feel in good hands.” 

– Peter D. via Trustpilot

Excellent service. The technicians who installed the panels as well as the technicians who installed the battery back up were all very professional, friendly, and did a wonderful job cleaning up after their work. They work long hard days until the whole installation in two days. They were exceedingly professional and a joy to have worked for us.”

 – Solomon F. via BBB

Negative Semper Solaris Reviews

“My project for solar batteries is 2 years in the making and still no work has been started. The salespeople are very good at making you believe they have superior service but don’t be fooled. Their communication is poor at best [and] nonexistent frequently. My rebate from PG&E has had to be extended because this is taking so long and the extension is expiring again.”

 – Quo E. via Yelp

“I engaged Semper to install batteries and hook up existing solar panels I already had on my roof. This took them 2.5 years. I spoke to literally 30+ people over the course of the project, none of whom had any idea what was going on at any point. They failed inspection 3 [times]. They installed a safety bollard in the middle of my garage, turning it into a 1-car garage, which obviously doesn’t work.”

 – Adam via Best Company

Solar Energy Provider Comparison

Here’s a snapshot of how Semper Solaris compares to a acouple of other companies:

Semper Solaris Freedom Solar Power Momentum Solar
EcoWatch Rating 3.5 4.0
Year Started 2012 2007
Services Offered Solar panel and solar battery installations; roofing services; HVAC services Solar panel and battery installations
Service Areas TX, CA, FL TX, CO, FL, NC, VA
BBB Rating A+ A
Payment Options Cash, loan, lease, PPA Cash, loan, lease (commercial only), PPA (commercial only)

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.

Blog author image
Article author
Aniket Bhor is a solar engineer who has spent nearly a decade studying and working in the solar power sector in the European, Asian and North American markets. He recieved his Master’s degree in Renewable Energies from Germany at Technische Fachhochschule Wildau. He has since worked in the industry in a variety of capacities including Solar Energy Consultant, Business Development Head, Solar Entrepreneurship Trainer, and more recently writing for solar organizations including Venuiti Solutions, Green Integrations, Solengy, Ecotality.com. Overall, he is a climate enthusiast and avid cyclist, and he also loves to lose himself in books and cooking.
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Expert reviewer
Andrew Dunn is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years of experience reporting and editing for local and national publications, including The Charlotte Observer and Business North Carolina magazine. His work has been recognized numerous times by the N.C. Press Association and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Andrew earned a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a certificate in business journalism and a minor in Spanish. He's also an avid outdoorsman, an Eagle Scout and volunteer leader in the Boy Scouts of America. He lives in Charlotte, N.C.