Best 5 Solar Companies in Alameda, CA

The Alameda community is committed to conserving resources and living sustainably. That's why many homeowners are purchasing panels from the top solar professionals for their homes. With all the options to choose from in this concrete jungle, you might feel overwhelmed searching for a great contractor. In this guide, we'll showcase Alameda's best solar companies and offer advice for your company choice, so you can find the ideal one for your home.

Ranking Methodology

Our team used the following criteria to determine the best Alameda solar companies.

• Service offerings and warranties: Solar contractors should stand behind their products and services with warranties. We evaluated how each company responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer satisfaction.
• Educational approach and support: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should use their years of experience address your questions on how to maintain your system and optimize its performance.
• Feedback and reviews from customers: Most Alameda solar contractors have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio reflects a company's trustworthiness and responsiveness to issues.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The best solar companies remain current on new technology, offering equipment from cutting-edge and trustworthy manufacturers.
• Professional licensure and experience: Each company on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Alameda community for over 15 years.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy offers multiple advantages. Let's look at a few of them.

• Reduced energy costs: Producing some or all of your own energy will spend less on electricity long-term. Plus, some states provide net metering programs that enable you to sell your surplus energy back to the grid, generating additional credits toward your energy bill.
• Better energy independence: Solar panel systems with energy storage systems work through power outages and emergencies, and you won't have to rely on your power company for your safety and comfort.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Using clean solar power means you're less dependent on fossil fuels, which emit harmful greenhouse gasses.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Alameda Homeowners?

Governments and power companies often incentivize homeowners for going solar. Here are some of the rebates, tax credits or other programs you could qualify for.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Alameda

The cost and efficiency of solar panels often hinge on the provider that installed them. Consider all of these criteria in your company search.

Licensing and Training

California requires solar companies to hold licenses for each type of equipment they install, which can include solar pool heaters, water heaters, HVAC, boilers, and photovoltaic (PV) systems. Contractors must take a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of field experience, and pass written exams to earn a license. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private accreditations. Two of the most respected are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, backed by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Some companies don't publish this information online, so you should also ask your estimator about them.

Cost of Solar Panels in Alameda

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels offer the best energy production but cost more than other options and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but start at a more budget-friendly price point. Thin-film panels work well for small projects like RVs and sheds, but they're not ideal for larger installations due to their low performance.

If you'd like to charge an electric car or use your solar power in cloudy weather, you can pay extra for add-ons. By selecting the right components, you can make your panel array more effective and convenient to use. Not every solar provider includes these optional components, so look for a company that installs them if it's essential for you.

You can expect to pay about $17,350 on average for a five-kilowatt solar energy system in Alameda. Check the table in this section to get an idea of what amount Alameda solar companies might quote for your specific solar system's price.

Financing Solar Energy in Alameda

Solar providers offer multiple different financing options to increase your savings and lower your costs. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are cash payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs), solar loans and solar leases. We recommend making a cash payment or using a solar loan for the best return on investment (ROI). Cash payments require a hefty sum up-front, but you’ll pay the least long-term by avoiding interest. You’ll also have full ownership of your system and can apply for solar panel incentives to reduce your total costs. Solar loans are another good option if you don’t want to make a big initial investment. You can pay for your system in monthly installments while still enjoying energy bill savings and solar incentives. However, you’ll pay more in total due to accruing interest. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) lets you pay a monthly rate based only on the energy you use, as with an electric bill. We generally don’t recommend these two choices because you won't own the solar system and are disqualified from using solar incentives. Look for companies that offer several payment plans to find the right fit for your budget.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Alameda.

The IRS allows you to claim a 26% federal tax credit for solar panels on total system costs, so long as you purchase it before 2032. City and state governments and utilities might also offer their own incentives, rebates, and financing programs that could save you more money.

Sources

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• U.S. Department of Energy