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3 Best Solar Companies in Virginia (2024 Guide)

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Author Image Written by Tamara Jude Updated 11/07/2024

Virginia’s sunny conditions make it a great place to use solar energy. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), it’s one of the top 10 states for solar energy and has invested $4.8 million in solar power as of December 2022. The Colonial Trail West solar farm in Surry County is so large it could power more than 24,000 homes alone. 

We researched more than 30 solar providers available in Virginia, evaluating their product selection, services, and other important factors to homeowners. See which of the best solar panel installers we recommend below.


Compare Solar Companies Across VA

Company Star Rating Warranties Payment Options Link
4.4
10–25 years Full purchase, loan GET QUOTE
4.4
25–30 years Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA GET QUOTE
4.2
Varies Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA GET QUOTE
No results were found.

*All BBB ratings are current as of March 2024.


Virginia’s Top Solar Energy Companies


Our Top Picks for Solar Panels in Virginia

Blue Raven Solar Most Reputable
4.4

Blue Raven is a well-respected solar provider in the industry. It has an A+ rating from the BBB and 4.46 out of 5 star customer rating as of May 2023.

Learn more: Blue Raven Solar review

Pros and Cons
Pros Provides a unique financing option that includes 18 months of free solar energy Sells SunPowers’s high-efficiency solar products Has won multiple awards for its in-house team Cons Offers one of the shortest guarantees among companies we reviewed Doesn’t have solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) financing options Some customer reviews mention aggressive sales tactics
Why We Chose Blue Raven

Blue Raven has one of the best reputations for 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 customers praised the company’s knowledgeable staff and prompt installation in online reviews.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

A Blue Raven Solar system comes with a 25-year warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, and two-year production guarantee. 

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

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.

Solar Energy World

4.4

Solar Energy World (SEW) is one of the most robust and well-regarded solar installation companies. It boasts several impressive features, such as its 30-year manufacturer’s warranty. Its service area is limited, and it doesn’t offer energy auditing services. We like that SEW discloses what solar panels it primarily works with and that the panels are from trusted, quality brands such as Qcells and Silfab.

Roughly 11% of our surveyed solar users purchased their system from Solar Energy World.

How We Scored Solar Energy World

SEW scored 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our methodology. The company received many points because of its warranty, which is longer than most other solar companies’ warranties. SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all its solar panels and inverters, whereas many providers only offer 25-year warranties.

  • Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): The company is an ideal option for many basic solar products and services, such as solar panels and battery installation. It lost points because it doesn’t install EV chargers or perform energy audits.
  • Warranty and Performance Guarantees (19 out of 25 points): SEW’s manufacturer and labor warranties are standout features, but the company doesn’t include any production guarantees with its work. 
  • Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (15 out of 15 points): The company’s reputation is one of the best, with high BBB and Google Reviews ratings. We also found no active alerts or lawsuits.
  • Financing Options (13.5 out of 15 points): SEW offers all possible solar payment options but doesn’t provide an in-house financing department. 
  • Industry Experience (8 out of 10 points): The company has been in business since 2009, so it received most of the points in this category.
  • State Availability (6 out of 10 points): SEW limits its service area to eight East Coast states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Features an extensive solar product catalog with trusted brands Includes free active monitoring Hires NABCEP-certified installers and designers Cons Reviews mention communication issues with staff Warranty coverage varies by solar panel brand Doesn’t offer a power production guarantee

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all purchased solar panels and inverters. However, coverage varies by brand, and the company doesn’t guarantee them with every panel option. 

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA

State Availability

Available in: Washington, D.C, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia

Reputation and Reviews

The company landed on Solar Power World’s 2023 Top Solar Contractors List in the No. 10 spot.

The BBB accredits SEW, and the company holds an A+ rating. Former customers praise the company for its professionalism, assistance with applying for financial incentives, and smooth installation process. However, some reported discrepancies in finances and scheduling.

LGCY Power Best Solar Consultation
4.2
Pros and Cons: What Makes Them Different?
Pros Certified partner of Sunrun, one of the largest U.S. solar companies Hands-on, guided installation process from start to finish Library of informative blogs and solar power guides Cons Limited website details on offered solar products Some customer reviews noted customer support communication issues Varying product warranty lengths, depending on equipment
Why We Chose LGCY Power

LGCY Power offers a thorough solar consultation process, helping customers build the best custom system for their home. Customers receive a dedicated energy consultation that guides them through the solar panel installation. Its team also assists with applying for solar incentives, helping homeowners lower their solar panels costs. Its website includes guides and blogs on solar energy systems, financing options, and other solar-related topics.

The company works with Sunrun as a certified partner, offering its catalog of high-quality solar panels, inverters, and solar batteries. LGCY includes manufacturer and workmanship warranties. However, warranty length varies between products. LGCY also offers its customers ongoing system maintenance and 24-hour monitoring.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
LGCY offers product, inverter, and workmanship warranties. However, warranty length varies between its products.

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPAs

Reputation and Awards

LGCY ranked 17th on the 2023 Inc. 5000 for the Rocky Mountain region. The company also ranked in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Utah Business chose LGCY for its 2019 Fast 50 list, recognized as one of the state’s fastest-growing companies.

The company maintains an A rating with the BBB* and is accredited by the organization. When checking online reviews, we found customers praised LGCY Power for its dedicated project managers and informed consultants but experienced communication issues with customer support.

Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.


What Are the Available Solar Incentives in Virginia?

Homeowners can take advantage of several solar incentives offered in Virginia to save money. The first is Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). Virginia solar owners earn one SREC for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy their panels produce. You can sell these SRECs to your utility company to make money back.

Virginia solar customers who purchase their systems in full or take out a loan also qualify for the federal solar tax credit, referred to as the Residential Clean Energy Credit. This federal credit provides a federal tax deduction equal to 30% of your solar panel installation costs. The credit will drop to 26% in 2033 before reducing to 22% in 2034. It will end in 2035 unless Congress renews it.

You can also participate in net metering in Virginia. Signing up for net metering allows you to earn credits on your electricity bill for every extra kilowatt-hour of solar electricity you send back to the grid.


What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?

Solar panels are an investment that requires thorough research and vetting. We recommend considering the following factors when choosing a solar company.

Solar Services

Not all companies have the same offerings. Some only install panels, while others also install solar batteries, inverters, EV chargers, and other accessories. Some have an in-house installation team, while others outsource labor to third parties.

You can also find companies that partner with third parties for services such as roof repair and pest control to make your installation smoother. Additionally, some companies have mobile apps and active system monitoring for continued support after installation. Make your investment go further by getting as much as you can from a company. 

Warranties and Power Production Guarantees

Solar warranties usually fall into the below categories. Top companies offer 25-year warranties in each of these cases, though some limit their workmanship warranty to 10 years. We recommend finding a company that provides 25-year warranties for each warranty type to cover the lifetime of your solar investment.

  • Manufacturer’s warranty (or product warranty): This protects the individual solar system components in case of defects.
  • Workmanship warranty: A workmanship warranty covers installation in case of poor workmanship or faulty installation.
  • Performance (or power production) guarantee: A power production guarantee refers to the promised power output for your panels for the duration of their life span. This should be outlined in your contract. These guarantees can be 10–15 years for cheap solar panels or 25 years for premium options.

Payment Options

There are four primary solar financing options:

  • Full purchase: You’ll pay for your system in full up-front and own it immediately. 
  • Loan: A solar loan allows you to make monthly payments on your system and eventually own it. Note that you’ll pay more in the long-term due to interest rates.
  • Lease: Leases also allow you to pay monthly to rent your system. You won’t own your system or qualify for solar incentives, but you also won’t have to put any money down. 
  • Power purchase agreement: PPAs allow you to pay monthly for the energy your system generates, similar to an electricity bill. This option also disqualifies you from solar incentives.

We generally don’t recommend solar leases or PPAs. However, they’re worth considering if you don’t want to make a big financial commitment and are primarily concerned with being more eco-friendly or generating short-term savings on your energy bills. A reputable installer should be able to give you an idea of your estimated savings with any payment option.

Customer Support

Visit a provider’s site to see which customer support options it offers. Try calling the company and speaking with a representative to see how helpful and friendly the support team is. Read customer reviews on the BBB, Trustpilot, and other respected review sites. Look for patterns in complaints about product performance, service, and surprise fees. 


How To Get a Solar Quote in Virginia

Getting a solar quote is simple. You can do this online with most companies by following these steps:

  • Visit the provider’s website and look for the Get a Quote button, often in the top right corner of the home page.
  • Fill out the requested information, which typically includes your location, home size, and contact information. 
  • Review your estimate and select the products you want, such as panel type and solar accessories. 

You can also call to get a free quote. When we called SunPower, we were asked about our location to gauge the sun exposure in our area. We were also asked about our roof to determine what size and style of solar panels could be installed. From there, we were given estimates based on which type and size of panels we wanted. The call took less than 15 minutes.


Our Conclusion

All of the providers on this list are reputable and trustworthy. We particularly recommend Freedom Solar and Blue Raven Solar for their products and services. Both companies have positive customer reviews and a history of being leaders in the solar industry. They also offer some of the most energy-efficient panels available.

Whichever solar provider you choose, carefully review its site and policies, read customer reviews, and get an online quote. We suggest getting a quote from at least three solar installation companies to compare pricing.


Other Virginia Home Service Resources


FAQ About Solar Companies in VA

Is solar worth it in Virginia?

Yes, it’s worth it to go solar in Virginia. The state has invested more than $4 billion in solar energy as of early 2023. It also has regularly sunny weather, making it ideal for generating solar energy. Major companies such as Amazon and Microsoft have installed systems in the state to power their facilities. 

What is the average cost of solar in VA?

According to EnergySage, the average cost of solar panels in Virginia is $15,050 for a standard 5-kilowatt system. This is before applying any solar incentives to reduce costs.

Does Virginia have a solar tax credit?

Virginia does not have a solar state tax credit, but residents can access other incentives and rebates as well as the federal tax credit. 

What is the best solar company brand?

Many solar customers express positive experiences with solar panel companies such as Freedom Solar and Blue Raven. 


Our Methodology

We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparent reviews and data to back up our ratings and recommendations. Our rating system for solar providers is on a 100-point system based on five factors:

  • Payment options (40 points): Options include purchase, loan, lease, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Companies receive points for each of the four options they provide.
  • Solar services (30 points): Does the company provide in-house installation of solar panels and battery backups? Can the company also monitor energy production and perform energy-efficiency audits to ensure system performance? The more options available, the higher the score. 
  • Warranty options (10 points): The success of a residential solar system depends on the workmanship, performance guarantees, and length of product coverage. The more warranties a company offers, the higher the score it receives. 
  • State availability (10 points): We award the most points to companies with the broadest service area and state availability.
  • Reputation (10 points): We factor in how the Business Better Bureau (BBB) scores each company. We deduct points for any alerts or pending lawsuits.

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.