15 Best Solar Companies in Albany, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Albany based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Albany, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Albany homeowner saves $2,798/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Albany
If you’re looking for the best solar companies in Albany, going through all the options can be intimidating, but it can pay off since switching to solar energy can offer so many good benefits. With very high levels of average daily sunlight in Albany, the solar industry is booming. An underrated driver of this has been national programs that help with residential and commercial solar projects.
Here, we’ll list out some of the top solar companies in Albany to make your decision a bit easier.To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Albany, you can click "get quote" below.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Albany
SunPower
Free Quotes- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Battery Storage- Panel Installation
- Consultation
SunPower by The Solar Quote
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Solar Works
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Community Solar Projects
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
CivicSolar, Inc
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SolarUnion
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
Source Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
GRID Alternatives
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Got Watts?
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Save a Lot Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
Pac Solar Corporation
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Bay Valley Solar Roofing
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
solarXperts
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Green Air and Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
Certified Solar, Heating & Air Conditioning
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
High Definition Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Albany
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Albany based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Albany
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Albany
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you must first pay to set up your system.Some main factors that determine the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you buy will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, allows you to deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Your household's power bills: Due to fairly high monthly energy bills in Albany, you could save about $1,500 a year with solar.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, along with your roof configuration, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can generate.
So are solar panels worth it? Whether you want to reduce your electric bills, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a solid investment for many Albany homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Albany
If you’re planning on making the switch to solar energy, various government incentives and state programs can greatly lower your project costs and expedite the return on your investment.No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which allows you to claim 0 of how much you paid for your solar installation when you file taxes, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Additionally, there may be some local incentives that stack with the ITC too. For detailed information about incentives that apply to you, visit our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Albany
An important reason so many homeowners are thinking of adopting solar energy is to help lower their environmental impact.But how much can switching to solar actually affect the environment? In Albany, where the energy generation could be cleaner, going solar can have a significant effect on the Earth since solar power is a renewable source of energy.In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since energy from the sun is plentiful and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help protect the environment.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Albany, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
In Albany, SunPower is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.50 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it reduces your power bills, it’s a sustainable source of energy, and it can give you a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, the installation cost is pricey and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a great investment for most homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your power bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
When should I put up solar panels?
You can install solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when the demand is less. With fewer homeowners going solar, you could potentially see quicker installation times and more savings.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.