7 Best Solar Companies in Florida (2024 Guide)
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Florida isn’t called the Sunshine State for no reason: The state receives more than 3,400 hours of sun per year. Fortunately, there’s a way to turn all that sunlight into clean, renewable energy that helps the environment and saves you money.
We researched the best solar companies in the United States that can transform your home into a force for clean energy while helping you save on electricity bills. Our research included interviewing industry experts, surveying 1,000 homeowners, and analyzing each provider’s solar panel specifications. Below, we break down our knowledge into one easy-to-understand guide tailored to Florida’s solar requirements and tax programs.
The Top Solar Installation Companies
Here are our top picks for solar companies in the Sunshine State:
- Blue Raven Solar: Best In-House Financing
- Palmetto Solar: Most Protection
- Momentum: Best for Guided Services
- Sunrun: Best for Home Builders
- Tesla Solar: Most Aesthetic
Compare Solar Companies Across Florida
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SunPower
- Warranty Options: 25-year system and labor warranty
- Panel Options: Monocrystalline (Maxeon)
- Payment Options: Full purchase, solar loan, or solar lease
Upsides: SunPower is a pioneer in the residential solar industry with the most experience among Florida solar providers. Founded in 1985, it pioneered the solar energy market with its above-average combination system-and-labor warranty. In addition, SunPower continues to provide innovative technology to its Florida systems through its SunPower Design Studio. This software shows how SunPower designs custom solar systems for your home.
SunPower partners with Maxeon Solar Technologies, a manufacturing company that used to operate in-house. This partnership means your SunPower system fully integrates all components of your system to work together, from manufacturing to installation and active monitoring.
Downsides: SunPower’s pricing runs higher than many other Florida solar companies. In addition, we noted that the company limits its customization options to SunPower products and does not offer PPAs for residential customers.
Read More: SunPower Solar Review
Blue Raven Solar
- Warranty Options: 25-year manufacturer warranty
- Panel Options: Monocrystalline (various manufacturers)
- Payment Options: Full purchase or solar loan
Upsides: Your Florida home will require other investments and costs to help it maintain its day-to-day function, such as a home warranty. Blue Raven Solar understands that going solar is a long-term investment, so it offers in-house financing through its BluePower Plus program. With this program, Blue Raven pays for the first 18 months for eligible customers with no money down, depending on your credit score.
Blue Raven makes going solar in Florida more accessible with its user-friendly website. Its SmartStart program allows you to speak directly to an expert or calculate your savings with various supplementary materials to help you learn more about renewable energy.
Downsides: Blue Raven features mixed online customer reviews. In addition, the company requires you to commit through a full purchase or solar loan rather than providing the additional flexibility of a solar lease or PPA.
Palmetto Solar
- Warranty Options: 25-year manufacturer warranty
- Panel Options: Monocrystalline (Q-Cells)
- Payment Options: Full purchase, solar loan, solar lease, or PPA
Upsides: For Floridians looking to maximize their solar savings, we recommend Palmetto Solar. The company offers its optional Palmetto Peace of Mind Plan. This $12-per-month plan includes active monitoring of panels and discounts on panel cleaning and battery services. In addition, Palmetto provides a 25-year warranty for its high-quality Q-Cells monocrystalline solar panels.
The company supplies further convenience through its smartphone app, The Palmetto App. This mobile app lets you track your system’s performance, set spending goals, and enjoy one-click customer support.
Downsides: Palmetto requires an additional monthly charge for its active monitoring. Some competitors include active monitoring without an extra fee. In addition, the company features limited information about its financing options online.
Momentum Solar
- Warranty Options: 25-year workmanship and equipment warranty
- Panel Options: Monocrystalline (various manufacturers)
- Payment Options: Full purchase, solar loan, solar lease, or power purchase agreement (PPA)
Upsides: Since 2009, Momentum Solar has expanded its services around states with well-established net-metering programs. Through one of Florida’s net-metering programs, your local utility company tracks the surplus energy your solar panels produce and subtracts that metered amount from your power bill. Momentum’s limited availability allows it to focus more on service and quality than other solar installation companies.
Momentum provides high-quality solar panels from various manufacturers to fit your specific solar needs. In addition, it offers the highest warranty options with a 25-year workmanship and equipment warranty. To add further convenience to your solar installation, Momentum conducts virtual consultations via Zoom.
Downsides: We noted some customer service issues with Momentum Solar during our research. Many customer reviews mention that the company is known for spam calling and other aggressive sales tactics. In addition, Momentum only features a five-day cancellation period before its 25-year contract.
Read More: Momentum Solar Review
Sunrun
- Warranty Options: 25-year workmanship and product warranty
- Panel Options: Monocrystalline (various manufacturers)
- Payment Options: Full purchase, solar loan, or solar lease
Upsides: If you are building a new Florida home or want to install a new roof, Sunrun is one of the best solar companies for you. Through its BuilderChoice New Homes Program, Sunrun provides perks for commercial and residential home builders by offering solar PV systems for new constructions. This program is designed for code compliance credit and features a dedicated team to handle all complicated paperwork required to interconnect with local utilities. It also works with your roofers to subcontract the labor and activate the system before permission to operate (PTO).
Sunrun offers a service package that includes an additional “bumper-to-bumper” system warranty that provides free equipment replacement and system repairs for ten years, as well as proactive monitoring and a comprehensive insurance policy on your panels.
Downsides: You’ll certainly want a solar battery in Florida, but Sunrun’s solar battery availability varies according to ZIP code. You may or may not be able to receive one. The company also doesn’t provide detailed information about its products and specifications on its website.
Tesla Solar
- Warranty Options: 25-year performance guarantee
- Panel Options: Monocrystalline (Hanwha)
- Payment Options: Full purchase or solar loan
Upsides: A brand name you likely recognize, Tesla has become one of the biggest names in solar energy since its acquisition of SolarCity in 2016. Since then, Tesla’s unique solar energy products have helped it build a reputation for innovation. Namely, it offers solar shingles which create a solar roof. Solar shingles are panels that mimic the appearance of roof shingles instead of a distracting mounting system installed on your roof. In addition, solar shingles are low-profile and have more aesthetically pleasing designs.
The company is known for its solar battery backup, The Tesla Powerwall+. This device is a must-have for Floridians near common hurricane and tropical storm pathways. This device stores excess energy generated by your solar panel system for use during low sunlight hours or power grid outages.
Downsides: Tesla features highly mixed online customer service reviews. Most negative reviews highlight difficulty getting someone on the phone and frustrating communication with Tesla. Further, the company sells solar panels in standardized sizes rather than customizing your system to your home.
Read More: Tesla Solar Panels Review
Factors That Affect Solar Installation Costs in Florida
The same factors that affect the overall cost of solar panels in the United States also influence solar cost in the Sunshine State. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) estimates the average cost for a typical 6-kilowatt (6,000-watt) residential rooftop solar system is around $18,000 before any federal tax credits or local incentives.*
When determining how much solar panels in Florida could cost you, consider the factors below:
- Solar panel type: The type of solar panel you order will influence the total price. For example, the average cost for monocrystalline solar panels is $1 to $1.50 per watt. Therefore, a standard 6-kW system will cost from $6,000 to $9,000. The average cost for polycrystalline solar panels is $0.90 to $1 per watt. These cheaper solar panels come out to $5,400–$6,000 in total.
- Labor: The labor for solar installation costs between 100% and 200% of the cost of the solar panel system itself. If you purchase a 6-kW monocrystalline solar panel system for $9,000, a solar installation company will likely charge $18,000 to $27,000 for the system and the installation. Therefore, the smaller your installation project is, the lower the cost.
- Additional equipment: Florida is known to have power grid problems. When going solar, you’ll likely want a solar battery to store energy and an inverter to convert your photovoltaic (PV) solar panels’ variable direct current (DC) output into alternating current (AC). Most solar companies will include an inverter in a solar system’s design. However, specific solar battery and inverter brands typically come with a premium.
- Payment option: The payment option you choose for your solar system influences the total cost of your system over time. Purchasing the system up-front is the most cost-effective option. However, you may opt for a solar loan or other solar financing options. Getting a solar lease or entering a power purchase agreement (PPA) are less cost-effective options. You don’t own the system and pay to rent the equipment from a solar provider.
Solar Tax Incentives in Florida
In addition to the federal solar tax credit offered by the U.S. government, the following tax incentives and rebates are available to Florida residents:
- Florida Net-Metering Programs: Florida is one of the top states for solar energy and offers many net-metering programs. Net-metering programs allow you to sell excess solar energy generated by your solar panels back to the power grid. Your utility company applies this amount of energy as a credit to your future energy bills or as an annual payout. Depending on your local utility company and city, net-metering programs may have different criteria and rates. For example, a program in Tampa has different needs than a program in Jacksonville.
- Florida PACE Loan Program: This program uses the property-assessed clean energy (PACE) model to provide loans to fund the cost of solar in certain areas. You can get a loan to pay for solar in full, depending on your financial situation.
- Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property: This incentive provides a 100% tax exemption for the property value added by residential solar panel systems.
- Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption: Florida’s solar energy systems have been exempt from sales and use tax since 1997.
What to Expect From Your Solar Installation Inspection
Each solar installation requires a home inspection. This step helps the installer know what rigging system is required and what kind of panels, inverters, energy storage systems, and other vital components your home needs. Overall, the purpose of the solar inspection is to ensure all the details are correct for your home’s solar panels to work for the next 25 to 30 years.
One extra step you can take to streamline the solar inspection process is to reach out to your local government to vet an installer. “Your county government can tell you if a solar installer is licensed and is in good standing with the local government,” says Tyler Adams, Astrawatt Solar’s marketing director.
He also recommends contacting your local utility company about going solar. “Many local utility companies will provide homeowners with a list of questions to ask a solar installer,” Adams says. “Any good solar installer will be able to answer those questions and can use those as a guide for what to expect as you convert your home to using solar energy.”
Solar inspections typically follow the steps below:
- Roof inspection: The company takes roof measurements to check the fit and dimensions of the solar system. The installer identifies existing roof obstructions and discusses modifications to the proposed layout based on these findings. In addition, roof damage, including broken tiles and worn shingles, is photographed.
- Attic inspection: A solar installer checks your attic for accessibility and the truss layout.
- Electrical inspection: The solar company evaluates your home’s current electrical system. Using these findings, the company creates a utility interconnection plan. It also notes the locations of electrical conduits and disconnecting means.
- Internet inspection: An installer may ask about your internet access to determine if they should install performance monitoring hardware.
Our Recommendation
Florida features plenty of sunlight, helpful solar tax incentives, and reputable solar installation companies. Each solar company fulfills different needs for different homeowners. For example, Momentum Solar offers Florida homeowners a strong combination of solar products and installation services. Momentum provides excellent services integrated with established net-metering programs, high-quality solar systems, and a comprehensive warranty.
SunPower’s long history and close partnership with Maxeon make it an excellent option for high-efficiency Florida solar panel systems. Blue Raven Solar is the best choice if you want a clear and established financing program.
Use our tool below to start gathering free quotes from solar providers that service your address. We recommend getting at least three quotes before making a final decision.
Solar Companies in Florida FAQ
How much do solar panels cost for a 2,000-square-foot house in Florida?
Solar panels for a 2,000-square-foot house in Florida will likely require a 6-kilowatt (kW) solar energy system. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), this system size costs $18,000 before any tax credits or local incentives.
How long do solar panels last in Florida?
Solar panels in Florida last approximately 25–30 years, which is comparable to solar panels in any other state.
Do solar panels increase home value in Florida?
Yes, solar panels will increase your home value in Florida. A 2019 Zillow report reveals that homes with solar installations sell for about 4.1% more than homes without panels.
How We Chose the Top Solar Companies
We researched and analyzed dozens of solar panels and solar installation companies. We then formulated a rating system based on each solar installer or manufacturer’s services and products. We weighed several significant factors, including the quality and type of solar panels offered, the customer support network, warranty lengths and limitations, and additional benefits such as mobile apps for monitoring and customer service.
Speaking directly to representatives, we determined how each solar company personalizes its solar panel installation for each home. We also analyzed each company’s warranty options to ensure their product and performance guarantees match or exceed industry standards.
We evaluated each provider based on their rating and history with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to determine reputation. In addition, we analyzed the 100 most recent Google Reviews for each provider across various locations and branches.
