Best Solar Installers in North Carolina

heshphoto/Image Source/Getty images

Solar installers in North Carolina

North Carolinaranks fourth in installed solar capacity in the U.S., with more than 200 solar companies operating in the state. SaveOnEnergy.com® examined the best solar installers in North Carolina to help you in your research. While some companies listed here are active nationally, others are specific to North Carolina. Before signing a contract with a solar installer, we recommend getting at least five quotes from different companies to compare prices, services, customer support, customer reviews, and years of experience.

Best solar installers in North Carolina

• 8MSolar
• Covenant Solar & Roofing
• NC Solar Now
• Palmetto
• SunPower

Due to testing limitations, our team does not have firsthand experience with every solar company. However, the facts and reviews explained on SaveOnEnergy.com come from proprietary data, solar pricing from Berkeley Lab, and extensive research by our in-house team. We are confident in our product reviews and guidelines for our valued readers through analysis from these sources.

Compare North Carolina solar installers

Get your free solar savings estimate

You can significantly lower your energy costs by investing in solar panels. Enter some basic information below and we’ll provide an instant, free estimate of solar cost and savings for your home.

8MSolar

• Warranty: 25-year product and performance warranties
• Year founded: 8MSolar was founded in 2015
• Service area: North Carolina
• Services provided: Residential and commercial solar panels, solar batteries, removal and reinstallation, EV chargers, and solar monitoring

8MSolar is a leading solar company in North Carolina. So far, its operations are limited to that state. Since 2015, the company has provided solar power installation services for residential, commercial, and non-profit sectors, including solar batteries and EV chargers. 8MSolar partners with manufacturers like SunPower, Schneider Electric, Enphase Energy, Panasonic, and SolarEdge Technologies. This installer also partners with financial institutions like Home Loan Investment Bank and Sunlight Financial to help clients receive financing for solar projects.

What we like: Customer satisfaction, excellent warranties, and an in-house roof, electrical, and customer service team.

What to consider: Some issues with financing partners, and the company has no mention of a workmanship warranty.

Covenant Solar & Roofing

• Warranty: 25-year product, performance, and labor warranties
• Year founded: 2013
• Service area: North Carolina
• Services provided: Residential and commercial solar panels, solar batteries, and EV chargers

Covenant Solar & Roofing provides roofing, clean energy, and energy efficiency services to residential, commercial, and non-profit customers. The company is based in North Carolina and has Colorado, Kentucky, and Virginia offices. In 2020, the company acquired Sun Dollar Energy, LLC, a residential solar installation company in North Carolina. Covenant partners with manufacturers like Enphase Energy, SolarWorld, Tesla, Kyocera Solar, Inc, and others. The installer also partners with financial institutions like Sunlight Financial, EnerBank USA, and Solar Connect.

What we like: Great customer service.

What to consider: The company doesn’t offer solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs).

NC Solar Now

• Warranty: 25-year product warranty and 10-year quality-of-work warranty 
• Year founded: 2009
• Service area: North Carolina
• Services provided: Residential and commercial solar panels, solar water heating, solar pool heating, solar attic fans, and thermal shield

NC Solar Now is a Raleigh-based solar installer serving customers in North Carolina. The company installs solar panels, water heaters, pool heating systems, solar-operated attic fans, and thermal shields for residential and commercial clients. NC Solar Now also provides home energy audit services to determine the client’s energy needs and spending. The company partners with manufacturers like SolarEdge, Enel X, and Tesla.

What we like: 25-year warranty for solar panels and inverters.

What to consider: The installer provides no leasing or PPA options and offers no solar monitoring mobile application.

Palmetto

• Warranty: Minimum 12-year product warranty and 25-year performance warranty
• Year founded: 2010
• Service area: 24 states, including North Carolina
• Services provided: Residential solar panels, system monitoring, and solar batteries

With a geographic coverage of 24 states, Palmetto is one of the leading solar companies in the U.S. It provides solar leasing and PPA options. All solar panels installed by Palmetto must meet our minimum manufacturer warranty standards: a 12-year product warranty and a 25-year linear performance guarantee. As a Palmetto customer, you can use the company’s solar monitoring servicePalmetto Protect to track your system’s performance, troubleshoot any issues, and detect any damages.

What we like: Top-quality solar products and great post-purchase customer support.

What to consider: Product warranty may be shorter relative to other major installers.

SunPower

• Warranty: 25-year product, performance, and labor warranties
• Year founded: 1985
• Service area: All 50 states, including North Carolina. Coverage varies by ZIP code
• Services provided: Residential and commercial solar panels, solar system monitoring, EV chargers, and solar batteries

With 30 years of experience in solar panel manufacturing, SunPower provides some of the highest-efficiency solar panels. Over the years, the company has established a vast network of certified installers across the U.S., including in North Carolina. Solar installers affiliated with SunPower manage the entire solar panel installation process, such as design, permitting, incentive processing, and maintenance. The company’s SunVault™ solar battery pairs well with its SunPower Equinox® solar system and proprietary performance monitoring mobile app.The company provides a 25-year Complete Confidence product warranty, a 25-year performance warranty, and a 25-year quality-of-work warranty. With SunPower, you can lease solar panels, enter a PPA, purchase a system with cash, or finance it with a loan. In 2021, SunPower establishedSunPower Financial — an in-house financing institution providing solar loans for underserved communities at attractive rates.

What we like: Top-notch warranties, increasing service areas, and some of the best solar panels on the market.

What to consider: SunPower’s installation services are more expensive than its competitors. Customer service complaints about unreturned and delayed phone calls.

Other North Carolina solar companies to consider:

• Tayco Electric & Solar: This installer serves North Carolina and South Carolina. It offers a full suite of solar services, including design, permitting, installation, interconnection, panel maintenance, and repairs. It also provides solar financing, roofing, and electrical contracting services. The company partners with manufacturers like SunPower, Enphase Energy, sonnen, and Tesla. Its financing partners include EnerBank USA, Sunlight Financial, and others.
• ReNu Energy Solutions: This Charlotte-basedinstaller offers solar energy services to businesses and homeowners in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Founded in 2010, ReNu Energy Solutions handles solar panel, solar battery and EV charger installations, as well as post-installation repairs and maintenance. The company provides 25-year performance, product, and quality-of-work warranties on all solar panels.

What to look for when choosing a solar company

There is a lot to consider when searching for a solar installer. Keep in mind a few key factors before you decide on one.

• Price. Get quotes from a minimum of five companies to compare their prices, warranties, and timeframes. This allows you to also leverage prices to ensure you get the best deal.
• Customer testimonials and reviews. Taking the time to read through customer reviews and testimonials from various sources can determine the pros and cons of installers. It’s essential to look for information on complaints, lawsuits, problems with the quality of work, and delayed installations to narrow down your options.
• Experience. Look up an installer’s years of experience. While a new installer isn’t necessarily the wrong choice, an installer with more years of experience can navigate the installation process better, help you with paperwork, and guide you through the applications for the federal tax credit and any state-based incentives. 
• Financing options. Going solar is a significant financial decision. Some installers provide more financing choices than others. The most common options include solar loans, leases, or PPAs. 
• Location. Certain solar companies have a national presence, while others are specific to their state or city. Ensure that a solar installer you like operates in your area to avoid picking one with no local coverage. The advantage of picking a local installer is that they know the area and laws well, can assist with the process and are more hands-on compared to a major national installer who is likely to subcontract out the work.
• Warranty terms and conditions. Warranties are some of the most important factors when choosing a solar installation company. Read through the terms of all product warranties to ensure their coverage after installation.
• Average installation time. It’s important to discuss and agree on an expected installation timeframe with a solar company to ensure the work is completed on schedule.
• Knowing solar brokers vs.solar installers. There are different types of solar companies. Solar brokers manage the sales, while solar installers mount the panels on rooftops. Often, brokers have no in-house installers. Brokers can’t help a customer once they complete the sales process as they pass the installation work to contractors. It’s important to know if you are working with solar brokers and installers with the same company or not to ensure that any contract or installation issues are addressed without confusion and misunderstanding.