If you’re just beginning your search for the top solar panel companies in North Carolina, you may be overwhelmed by the number of choices. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are more than 213 solar power companies in the Tar Heel State. This is largely thanks to federal and state solar incentives that have made solar panels more affordable.
Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner in Charlotte or a new homebuyer in Wilmington, we’ve done the research to help you find the right solar company. We read over 100 customer reviews per provider, analyzed warranty coverage, checked reputations, and noted which features stand out about each company. See which solar providers we ranked highest for North Carolina below.
Compare Solar Companies Across NC
See how our picks compare at a glance.
Star Rating | Best For | Location Presence | Link | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SunPower | ![]() |
4.8/5
| Best High-Efficiency System | 50 States | Get Quote |
Blue Raven | ![]() |
4.4/5
| Most Reputable | 18 States | Get Quote |
ADT Solar | ![]() |
4.6/5
| Best Solar Warranty | 23 States | Get Quote |
Sunrun | ![]() |
4.4/5
| Best Solar Panel Leasing | 18 States | Get Quote |
Freedom Solar Power | ![]() |
4/5
| Most Complete Warranty | 5 States | Get Quote |
Palmetto | ![]() |
4.4/5
| Best Customer Support | 17 States | Get Quote |
SunPower | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.8/5
|
Best For | Best High-Efficiency System |
Location Presence | 50 States |
Blue Raven | |
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Logo |
![]() |
Star Rating |
4.4/5
|
Best For | Most Reputable |
Location Presence | 18 States |
Sunrun | |
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Logo |
![]() |
Star Rating |
4.4/5
|
Best For | Best Solar Panel Leasing |
Location Presence | 18 States |
Freedom Solar Power | |
---|---|
Logo |
![]() |
Star Rating |
4/5
|
Best For | Most Complete Warranty |
Location Presence | 5 States |
Star Rating | Best For | Location Presence | Link | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SunPower | ![]() |
4.8/5
| Best High-Efficiency System | 50 States | Get Quote |
Blue Raven | ![]() |
4.4/5
| Most Reputable | 18 States | Get Quote |
ADT Solar | ![]() |
4.6/5
| Best Solar Warranty | 23 States | Get Quote |
Sunrun | ![]() |
4.4/5
| Best Solar Panel Leasing | 18 States | Get Quote |
Freedom Solar Power | ![]() |
4/5
| Most Complete Warranty | 5 States | Get Quote |
Palmetto | ![]() |
4.4/5
| Best Customer Support | 17 States | Get Quote |
SunPower | |
---|---|
Logo |
![]() |
Star Rating |
4.8/5
|
Best For | Best High-Efficiency System |
Location Presence | 50 States |
Blue Raven | |
---|---|
Logo |
![]() |
Star Rating |
4.4/5
|
Best For | Most Reputable |
Location Presence | 18 States |
Sunrun | |
---|---|
Logo |
![]() |
Star Rating |
4.4/5
|
Best For | Best Solar Panel Leasing |
Location Presence | 18 States |
Freedom Solar Power | |
---|---|
Logo |
![]() |
Star Rating |
4/5
|
Best For | Most Complete Warranty |
Location Presence | 5 States |
North Carolina’s Top Solar Energy Companies
We looked at warranties, pricing, customer reviews, reputation, and more to rank these companies as our most recommended in North Carolina.
- SunPower: Best High-Efficiency System
- Blue Raven: Most Reputable
- ADT Solar: Best Solar Warranty
- Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
- Freedom Solar Power: Best Regional Off-Grid Installer
- Palmetto: Best Customer Support
Our Top Solar Companies for North Carolina
Learn more: SunPower review
SunPower’s residential solar panel systems are some of the most energy-efficient and high-performing in the industry. It’s one of the few companies that uses in-house solar components, creating a system in which each component works optimally together.
Warranty
SunPower backs its solar products with an all-inclusive 25-year warranty covering all solar system components, additional equipment add-ons, workmanship, and a 92% power output production guarantee.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA
SunPower received PV Magazine’s 2019 Sustainability Award for outstanding sustainability leadership in the solar industry. SunPower also received Good Housekeeping’s 2022 Home Renovation Award in the Biggest Energy Savers category for its innovative SunVault energy storage system.
SunPower is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently holds an A+ rating from the organization. Based on our team’s analysis, we discovered that customers were overall pleased with their SunPower system’s performance.
Learn more: Blue Raven review
Blue Raven has a great reputation for its reliability and trustworthiness. The company also stands out for its in-house loan option, which includes 18 months of free solar energy. We noted that online customer reviews praised the company’s knowledgeable staff and prompt installation.
Warranty
A Blue Raven Solar system comes with a 25-year warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty, and a two-year production guarantee.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
Blue Raven has won several awards from Comparably, a site known for its comprehensive company culture and reputation reviews. Comparably recognized Blue Raven for Best Operations Team 2022, Best Sales Team 2022, Best Product and Design Team 2022, Best Places to Work in Salt Lake City 2022, and Best Company Outlook 2022. Its 2021 wins include Best Company for Diversity 2021, Best CEO 2021, Best Company Work-Life Balance, and Best Career Growth 2021. Blue Raven Solar ranked No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA in 2021.
Learn more: ADT Solar review
ADT Solar offers comprehensive warranties and system monitoring to support customers after their solar system installation. Its transparent purchasing options and A+ rating from the BBB make ADT Solar a trusted provider.
Warranty
ADT Solar backs its installations with a 25-year comprehensive warranty covering power production, panels, inverters, and labor.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
ADT Solar is accredited by the BBB and holds a top rating. We read hundreds of customer reviews and found many homeowners praising the company’s efficient installations.
Learn more: Sunrun review
We like that Sunrun prioritizes code compliance through its BuilderChoice New Homes Program. This program gives customers a dedicated team to handle their project’s building and permitting paperwork, ensuring all equipment is installed to code. We also like customers’ ability to select equipment damage and theft insurance.
Warranty
Sunrun offers a 10-year comprehensive warranty that includes product, roof penetration, and workmanship coverage. Leasing customers receive an extended 25-year warranty that includes insurance protection for theft and damage.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ Power purchase agreement (PPA)
Sunrun has an A+ rating with BBB and is accredited. The provider earned DroneDeploy’s 2022 Guardian of Safety Award for using drone technology with its site assessments. In 2021 and 2022, Sunrun received 14 awards from Comparably, including Best Company Culture, Best CEOs for Diversity, and Best Company for Women. One concern with Sunrun is its push for customers to finance their system through a solar lease without explaining the drawbacks. Leases and PPAs prevent homeowners from ever owning their system or qualifying for solar incentives.
Learn more: Freedom Solar review
Freedom Solar offers grid-tied options but specializes in off-grid systems, so it’s a helpful option for people who want to go that route. The company has over 15 years of experience and sells solar solutions from well-respected brands such as SunPower and Tesla. Products include high-efficiency Maxeon solar panels, solar batteries, and home generators.
Warranty
Freedom Solar offers its comprehensive Complete Freedom Warranty with every solar project. This includes 25 years of product, workmanship, and performance coverage. This is higher than the industry standard of only a 25-year product warranty with a 10-year labor warranty.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
The company made Solar Power World’s Top Solar Contractors list in 2023 and is one of SunPower’s Master Dealers, a partnership that displays its commitment to quality and record-setting technology. It’s won numerous awards for environmental responsibility and being a top residential installer.
Freedom Solar has an A+ rating with BBB and 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews.
Learn more: Palmetto review
Palmetto offers a wide range of solar services, from comprehensive protection plans to pest abatement. It has some of the solar market’s most efficient residential panels. It also includes a 25-year system performance warranty and ongoing customer support via its app. We like the company’s commitment to customer service, which includes phone, email, and online chat options, plus an online service request portal and library of troubleshooting resources.
Warranty
Palmetto provides a 25-year panel warranty, 12-year inverter warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, and five-year roof penetration warranty.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
Palmetto received Solar Power World’s Most Forward-Thinking Contractor award in 2022. Inc. Magazine recognized the company with a Power Partner Award the same year. Palmetto also aims to provide solar energy to underserved communities with its Get Solar, Give Solar program.
Palmetto Solar holds accreditation with the BBB and has an A+ rating. When reading online reviews, we noticed homeowners praising Palmetto for its dedicated installation managers and quality systems.
Solar Incentives in North Carolina
Several states have solar incentive or rebate programs to encourage residents to convert to solar energy. North Carolinians have two statewide incentives designed to make solar panels worth the investment.
The first is North Carolina’s revolving loan program, which stipulates that loans cannot exceed 8% interest rates or be longer than a 20-year term. The second is the Property Tax Abatement for Solar Electric Systems, which exempts you from paying property taxes for the added value of your solar system.
Local governments and utility companies offer additional incentives to certain North Carolina residents. Asheville’s Building Permit Fee Rebates give homeowners a $50 rebate for building permits and plan reviews associated with their solar system.
Duke Energy customers can apply for the NC Solar Rebate Program, which offers a $0.40/watt rebate for systems up to 10 kilowatts. For example, if you own an 8 kilowatt (kW) system, you’ll be eligible for a rebate of $3,200. There’s a waitlist for new applications due to the program’s popularity. However, interested residents can still apply and check their updated status on the first Friday of every month.
North Carolina residents can also take advantage of the federal solar tax credit, which provides a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of a new solar system. This rate is available from 2022 to 2032. The tax credit will decrease to 26% in 2033.
Learn which solar incentives are available in each state below.
- Arizona Solar Incentives
- California Solar Incentives
- Colorado Solar Incentives
- Florida Solar Incentives
- Illinois Solar Incentives
- Maryland Solar Incentives
- Massachusetts Solar Incentives
- Nevada Solar Incentives
- New Jersey Solar Incentives
- New York Solar Incentives
- Pennsylvania Solar Incentives
- Texas Solar Incentives
What To Look For in a Solar Company
Going solar is a big investment that starts with hiring a top-quality company. We recommend honing in on these key factors to see how companies stand apart.
- Available services
- Coverage
- Financing options
- Support
Solar Services
Most companies sell and install panels using their in-house crew, but some only do the selling and outsource installations. Some providers sell additional solar equipment, such as solar batteries, inverters, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and other accessories. You can find companies that provide remote system monitoring or have a mobile app to monitor system performance. Review a provider’s website carefully or speak with a representative to see which services you can get and if there are any bundles.
Warranties
Warranties usually fall into these categories:
- Manufacturer’s warranty (or product warranty): This protects the solar panel system’s components in case of defects.
- Workmanship warranty: This covers installation in case of poor workmanship or faulty installation materials.
- Performance (or power production) guarantee: This guarantees the system’s output functions as outlined in your contract.
The best companies offer 25-year warranties, though some limit their workmanship warranty to 10 years. We recommend finding a company that provides at least 20 years for each warranty type. It’s also worth noting that most home warranty companies in North Carolina do not cover solar panels, so picking a company with a good manufacturers warranty is critical.
Payment Options
Most providers offer a combination of these solar financing options:
- Full purchase: Fully purchasing your system gives you immediate ownership and qualifies you for all incentives.
- Solar loan: A solar loan allows you to make monthly payments on your system and still makes you its owner.
- Solar lease: You’ll make set monthly solar system payments with a lease, but you won’t be able to own the system, disqualifying you from most solar incentives.
- Power purchase agreement (PPA): A PPA allows you to make monthly payments with no money down, but you don’t own the system.
We recommend purchasing your system outright or financing through a solar loan if it’s in your budget. While solar leases and PPAs help you save money up-front, they disqualify you from some solar incentives that could help you lower your solar panel cost.
Customer Support
The best companies give customers multiple ways to reach them and reasonable support hours. Check providers’ websites to see the days and times customer service reps are reachable and by which means.
Ideally, a company will offer at least a couple of these contact points:
- Mobile app
- Online chat
- Online portal
- Phone
- Website service request form
How To Get a Solar Quote in North Carolina
You can get a solar quote using these steps:
- Locate the Get a Quote button or page on the provider’s website.
- Fill out the required information. When we went through the quote process with top providers, most asked for basic contact information, location, property type, roof size and slope.
- Check your email or remain on the website for your free quote.
You can also call the company to get a quick estimate. When we went through the process online, getting a quote took less than 15 minutes. By phone, it took an average of 20 minutes.
- Asheville Solar Companies
- Cary Solar Companies
- Charlotte Solar Companies
- Concord Solar Companies
- Durham Solar Companies
- Fayetteville Solar Companies
- Greensboro Solar Companies
- Greenville" Solar Companies
- High Point Solar Companies
- Raleigh Solar Companies
- Wilmington Solar Companies
- Winston Salem Solar Companies
Our Conclusion
We recommend SunPower as our top pick for North Carolina homeowners due to its positive customer reviews, high-efficiency panels, financing options, and many years of experience. We also like SunPower’s 25-year warranty coverage and that it also provides batteries and electric vehicle chargers.
We suggest reading customer reviews and getting at least three quotes to compare prices before deciding on a solar company.
Other North Carolina Home Service Resources
FAQ About Solar Companies in North Carolina
Yes, net-metering is available in North Carolina. This program rewards solar customers who generate more energy than their home consumes. The excess energy is sold back into the power grid in exchange for credits. If enough credits are accumulated, you may receive a payout at the end of the year.
Whether or not a move to solar energy will help you save on energy bills in North Carolina depends on a few factors. For example, a resident in Greensboro might be a great candidate for solar if their home gets a lot of sunlight each day and requires a lot of energy to run. However, a homeowner in Charlotte, surrounded by many trees and with relatively low electric bills, might not find energy savings with a solar system.
According to the SEIA, there are 213 solar companies in North Carolina.
The 2007 Senate Bill 670 says that North Carolina homeowners associations can’t ban solar panel installation on residential roofs but can deny certain placements. Some HOA covenants prohibit panels from facing the street.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, NC ranks fourth in the country for solar power investment. The below-average solar costs and multiple solar incentives combined with year-round sunny weather mean residents can see a big return on investment.
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:
- Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
- Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
- Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
- Financing options (15%)
- Experience (10%)
- Availability (10%)
Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.