Top 7 Best Solar Companies in Florida (2024 Reviews)

In this guide to Florida’s best solar companies, you’ll learn:

  • What are the best solar companies in Florida?
  • How do you find the best solar company in Florida for your home?
  • What should Floridians look out for when choosing a solar company?
  • How can you save money when choosing a solar provider in Florida?
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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.”

As the third most popular state to go solar, it should come as no surprise that Florida is home to more than 200 solar installers, all offering different products, warranty packages and customer service. While it’s great to have options for your installer, having so many can quickly make deciding which one is best a real challenge.

In this guide, we’ll discuss and review what we believe to be the best solar companies in Florida and why we think they’re a great option to hire for your home solar conversion. We’ll also explain what we recommend looking for in a Florida solar installer to make sure you have the best experience — and get the highest savings — possible.

What Are the Best Solar Companies in Florida?

We’ve spent hours researching and reviewing solar installation companies in Florida. After comparing them based on the factors we believe are most important, we’ve found that the following seven are the best solar companies in the area:

Compare Florida’s Top-Rated Solar Providers

Overall, we recommend most Floridians go solar with SunPower or ADT Solar, but we also are confident that all of the providers above can meet and even exceed your expectations. The table below provides some side-by-side facts and figures for our top providers to help you decide which might be right for your solar project.

Solar Providers Superlative Our Score Avg Cost ($–$$$$$) Warranty Financing Options Get Quote
SunPower Best National Provider 5/5 $$$$ Varies – minimum of 25 years for equipment, workmanship and production Cash, solar loan, solar lease, PPA  Get Quote
ADT Solar Best Warranty Coverage 4/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment, workmanship and production Cash or solar loan
Blue Raven Solar Best Financing Options 4.5/5 $$ 25 years for equipment and performance; 10 years for workmanship Cash and solar loans Get Quote
Momentum Solar Best Regional Provider 4.5/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment, workmanship and production Cash, solar loan, solar lease, PPA Get Quote
Elevation Solar Best Customer Service 4/5 $$ 25 years for equipment and performance; 30 years for workmanship Cash or solar loan Get Quote
Solar Source Best Local Installer 4.5/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment and performance; 1 year for and workmanship Cash and solar loans Get Quote
Solar Bear Best for Whole-Home Efficiency 4/5 $$$ 30 years for equipment and performance; 25 years for workmanship Cash and solar loan Get Quote
Badge icon

Blue Raven Solar

Best Solar Financing

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

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Pros

  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation

Cons

  • Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
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Blue Raven Solar

Best Solar Financing

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Read full review now

Pros

  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation

Cons

  • Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
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Momentum Solar

Best Regional Coverage

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Read full review now

Pros

  • Great warranty coverage
  • Concierge service ensures steady communication
  • Representatives are experts on local policies

Cons

  • Slightly limited service offerings
  • Only available in 11 states
Badge icon

Elevation

Outstanding Regional Installer

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Comprehensive service offerings
  • Outstanding customer service
  • Full-service home energy solutions

Cons

  • Limited service area
  • Quality of installation may vary by location
Badge icon

Solar Source

Most Experienced

Local Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Many years of experience
  • NABCEP-certified technicians
  • Excellent reputation

Cons

  • Limited service area
  • No leases or PPAs
Badge icon

Solar Bear

Outstanding Local Installer

Local Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Outstanding customer reviews
  • Family-owned and -operated
  • Custom system designs

Cons

  • No leases or PPAs

Watch Below: Learn Whether Solar Panels Are Worth it In Florida

How to Save Money When Hiring a Solar Company in Florida

While the installation cost of solar in Florida has dropped significantly, it’s not cheap by any means. The average Floridian will typically face a $29,000 bill for their home solar system before factoring in any solar financial incentives, tax credits or rebates.

The cost of solar per watt ($3.04) in Florida is cheaper than the national average ($3.33), but homeowners in Florida typically need bigger solar systems than the average American does because they consume more energy on average. (It’s likely from cranking that air conditioning all summer!)

The average Floridian installs a 11.5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) system to offset their energy needs compared to the average American who only needs a 9 kW solar panel system. For consistency, the table below reflects average prices for an 11.5 kW system in Florida vs. the average American price tag.

Florida United States
Average Per Watt Electricity Cost  $3.04 $3.33
Average Cost for an 11.5 kW System $34,960 $38,295
Average System Cost After Federal Tax Credit $24,472 $26,807

We know these are large numbers, but don’t get scared off. Remember that your solar investment will help you save tremendously on (or even eliminate) your electric bills. Estimated energy savings in Florida range from 80% to 109% according to SunPower, which means you could pay next to nothing to keep your home cool all summer long.2 

Plus, there are plenty of ways you can save money on solar panels in Florida:

  • Take advantage of Florida’s solar financial incentives
  • Choose your solar panel company wisely
  • Get multiple quotes
  • Pay in cash if possible
  • Consider solar batteries to maximize savings after NEM 3.0 is adopted

Take Advantage of Solar Financial Incentives

Every homeowner that installs solar panels in the U.S. is entitled to the federal solar tax credit (ITC), worth 30% of your total system cost. In Florida, that brings your $29,095 system closer to $20,300 — a savings of over $9,000!

Below is a quick overview of some of the Florida solar financial incentives:

Florida Solar Incentive Program Overview
Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) The federal solar ITC is a tax credit that homeowners can claim on their federal tax returns. The credit is worth 30% of the total cost of solar panel systems that are purchased through 2032. The credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 and be phased out by 2035 unless renewed by Congress.
Florida Net Metering Programs Net energy metering (NEM) programs give credits to homeowners when their solar panels produce extra electricity and it is exported to the local power grid
Florida Tax Exemptions Florida property tax exemptions and sales tax exemptions for solar and other renewable energy equipment
Local Incentives Incentives, rebates and low-interest financing programs at the town, city, and county level that encourage local solar installations

Choose Your Solar Panel Company Wisely

If any of the above solar providers are of interest to you, make sure you click the dropdown to learn more cost information about each solar company. 

If you’re looking for the cheapest solar panels, pay attention to the dollar signs we’ve assigned each company. The good news is that Florida sunshine is abundant, so even lower-quality solar panels will still perform well in The Sunshine State.

With an average solar irradiance of 5.65 kWh per square meter per day, Floridians can often get away with smaller systems per kWh they need to produce to offset their electric bills. That means you see greater value from your panels overall.

On the other hand, choosing higher quality panels may save you money by allowing you to install a smaller solar system. For example, SunPower solar panels are more expensive upfront, but they’re the most efficient solar panels on the market, which means you can buy fewer panels and still generate enough electricity to power your home.

Get Multiple Quotes

If two or more solar companies on this list look good to you, it’s not a dilemma. In fact, we recommend reaching out to at least three solar companies.

Solar companies don’t advertise exact prices because every home is different. But nearly all of them will give you a free, no-obligation quote after assessing your household needs. Plus, if you get a lower quote from one company but prefer another, you might be able to get them to match the lower quote.

Pay In Cash (If You Can)

Most people don’t have $35,000 laying around, but the more money you can pay up front in cash, the cheaper your solar system is going to be.

Cash purchases save you the most money over time because they don’t require you to pay interest. On the other hand, solar loans may make your equipment more affordable in the short term, but you’ll pay more for your system in the end because of all the added interest you’ll pay over time.

If you do have to take out a solar loan, shop around before you sign any papers. We also recommend calling some local banks to see if they offer low-interest rate home improvement loans for solar systems.

You could consider Florida’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program, although it’s not recommended unless you plan on living in your current home for the rest of your life and there are no other options available to you.

Discounts & Referral Programs

Once you get into contact with a solar company, ask them about any discounts they’re offering that you may be eligible for. Just like retailers, solar installers sometimes offer seasonal deals as well as discounts for veterans, seniors, etc. You can save a lot on your solar panel installation by taking advantage of discounts.

Know anyone else in your neighborhood who wants to go solar? Many solar companies offer cash for referrals. For example, SunVena offers $500 for two customer referrals, and major perks — like six months of free solar — for three or more referrals.

Why Doesn’t Florida Offer Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)?

Solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) are a type of solar lease agreement. The difference between a PPA and a solar lease is that, with a PPA, your payments purchase the power that the panels create each month, rather than paying a flat monthly price to lease the solar equipment and getting the power they generate for free.

Unfortunately Florida is one of four states that doesn’t allow solar PPAs. That’s because Florida law states that anyone that sells electricity to end-users (customers like you) is a “public utility,” and therefore must follow a set of state laws for public utilities.3

The law’s wording only allows the property owner to build and sell electricity to users, which means that your solar company would not be allowed to sell you your solar electricity while the panels are located on your roof.4

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value in Florida?

Multiple studies have shown that solar panels do increase the value of a home, including a 2022 EcoWatch survey in which 63% of respondents said they would pay more for a home with solar panels than a home without.

Research from Zillow shows that, on average, homes with solar panels typically sell for 4% more compared to homes without. However, that amount was even higher in Florida, with homes in Orlando selling for 4.6% more, according to the study.5

The average Florida home sold for roughly $315,000 in 2022. Adding solar panels would increase this home value by about $12,600.

Should Florida Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer or DIY?

If you consider yourself a YouTuber extraordinaire, you might be wondering if you could watch some videos and complete a DIY solar panel installation to save yourself some money on labor costs.

Be aware that installing solar panels is a much trickier home improvement task than fixing a leaky sink or replacing a roof shingle. It involves electrical work, permitting, grid interconnection and many other tasks you may not be up for.

Let’s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of DIY solar panel installation.

Advantages of DIY Solar Installation in Florida

You Can Save Money

To state the obvious, when you hire a solar contractor, you’re paying them for their time and services, like solar panel design and installation labor. You can save some money by eliminating these two expenses and doing it yourself.

You Can Start Small

Want to try out solar without installing an entire solar panel system? A DIY solar panel kit is a great way to “test drive” the solar lifestyle.

Winter Weather Isn’t an Issue

Aside from hurricane season, Florida weather stays pretty mild, which means you won’t have to navigate weather challenges if you’re trying to install solar panels during the fall or winter.

Disadvantages of DIY Solar Installation in Florida

You Face Safety and Structural Risks

If you’re not confident in what you’re doing, the dollars you’ll save by installing your own solar panels will just turn into more money spent on repairing or replacing equipment, and potentially your roof as well. Worst case scenario: you’re also facing medical bills for treating injuries you incurred climbing up on a roof with heavy solar equipment.

You Won’t Have Strong Warranty Coverage

Solar panels are typically covered under 25-year manufacturer warranties, and inverters and batteries will have warranties ranging from 10 to 25 years as well. However, many of these manufacturers only honor those warranties under the condition the equipment was installed by a professional, licensed contractor. Therefore you may not have warranty protection with a DIY solar system setup.

You Have to Take Care of Permitting, Inspections and Interconnection

Depending on where you live, you may need to be a certified electrician to install your solar panel system. Even if that’s not the case, you’ll still need permits and to figure out grid interconnection, which requires specialized knowledge and expertise in the State of Florida.

The smallest things can go wrong and lead to rejection of permits by your local government, or worse, a major electrical mishap. Plus, professional solar installers have years of experience with solar energy in Florida, so they’ll be able to get you set up with better incentives or solar equipment rebates that you may not know about if you’re going solar on your own.

Bottom line: If you’re considering a DIY solar installation, we still recommend talking with a few certified solar installers first. They’ll survey your house to make sure you’re even a good candidate for solar panels, and most solar installation companies offer consultations for free. That way, even if you do decide to take on solar panel installation on your own, you’ll have more insight on what the process of going solar looks like.

What Should Floridians Look For in a Solar Installer?

best rooftop solar installers in floridaIf you want to go solar in Florida, picking the best solar installer for your needs is a top priority. These are the most important solar company qualities for Florida homeowners specifically:

  • Strong warranty coverage
  • Years of experience
  • Favorable customer reviews
  • Cost and financing options
  • Industry affiliations

Strong Warranty Coverage

After shelling out thousands of dollars, you want to protect your solar investment as best you can especially living in a state like Florida where you see quite a few severe storms.

Unfortunately solar warranties don’t always cover weather-related damage (although your homeowner’s insurance should). But if your panels are underperforming or need repair, you can likely still have them fixed under your solar installer’s workmanship warranty.

Company Years of Experience

Solar is getting more and more popular in Florida, which means there are too many fly-by-night solar companies trying to cash-grab, often burning their customers in the process.

Florida installers are competing against 200-some other companies. So if a company — especially a local Florida solar company — has been able to stay relevant and retain customers for 10-plus years, it says a lot about its customer care and satisfaction.

Customer Reviews

Solar companies often have shiny websites talking about how much they love and value their customers, but how much of it is true? Check third-party sites for customer reviews and make sure you read the good and the bad so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

However, it’s important to remember that not everyone is going to have the best experience, even when working with one of the best solar companies in Florida.

Cost and Financing Options

Money isn’t everything, but it’s definitely something. Floridians have higher energy needs compared to other Americans, so it’s important to choose a solar installer that’s going to offer you the best cost value for your system.

That said, the cheapest solar company isn’t always the best solar company, which is why solar financing options are crucial. If you had a great experience with a solar company but can’t afford to pay them $35,000 for their system this year, see if they’ll be willing to work on different financing options.

Industry Affiliations

We like to see solar companies that are members of a national solar organization (like SEIA), boast NABCEP-certified technicians and have badges from top solar panel brands on their website. It’s a good sign of credibility and expertise.

We also recommend choosing installers that are affiliated with local organizations. For example, Solar-Ray scored well with EcoWatch Reviews because it’s a preferred solar service provider of Duke Energy, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando Utility Commission and University of Central Florida.

Our Top Solar Installer in Florida

These seven solar companies are the best solar installers in Florida, but SunPower reigns supreme for our EcoWatch rankings.

SunPower has the most efficient panels, which allows Floridians to save money on solar installations because they can install smaller systems and still get maximum energy production. On top of that, every element of your system is protected under a 25-year warranty that protects equipment, power production and workmanship.

Although Florida doesn’t allow PPAs, SunPower offers all of the other available solar financing options — cash purchase, loans and leases — which makes going solar more accessible to more Floridians. As such, we think it’s the best solar company in Florida.

However, just because SunPower is the best solar installer in Florida doesn’t mean it’s the best solar company for your needs. That’s why we recommend you reach out to multiple installers and compare quotes and offerings.

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The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.

Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best Solar Companies in Florida

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Florida is home to around 230 solar companies, so we had our work cut out for us in finding the best of the bunch. We assessed dozens of providers based on six primary criteria, which we weighted and used to score each company overall. We’ll explain the criteria we used below.

  • Local reputation and reviews (20%): Since Florida has such a high demand, we’ve seen lots of fly-by-night companies crop up throughout the state that don’t put enough emphasis on customer service, installer experience, or sustainability. To help you avoid these companies, we look at each provider’s local reputation via customer reviews. We look at what the company is doing correctly and how it could improve.
  • Pricing and financing (20%): Next, we look at each company’s relative pricing and financing options. Installers that have average or below-average prices are always preferable, but they’re especially valuable in an area like Florida, where the system installation cost is already a few thousand dollars above the national average. Companies with multiple payment options will also appeal to more customers, so we rank them higher.
  • Services offered (20%): The baseline services we typically look for are solar panels and batteries. Companies like Blue Raven that only install panels lose points here. We rank companies like Solar Bear even higher because they include a wealth of other services to help customers maximize their energy savings and make their homes more efficient, both of which are important in Florida, where electric bills and consumption rates are well above average.
  • Warranty coverage (20%): When you’re investing tens of thousands into a solar array, you naturally want lengthy warranty coverage. Since Florida sees a lot of extreme weather and above-average rainfall, we put particular emphasis on a solid workmanship warranty, which helps ensure your home and system are protected from excessive rain and strong winds. We also like to see a lengthy performance warranty, as panels will need to maintain efficiency to provide long-term savings in areas like Florida with high energy needs.
  • Company experience (10%): Since the solar industry is booming in Florida, and new companies pop up all the time, we do our best not to recommend installers with fewer than five years of experience, and, ideally, we like to see ten. Companies with longevity are less likely to go out of business and void your warranties in the process. Installers with more experience are also more likely to be able to install a system customized for the climate and energy needs in Florida.
  • Brand quality (10%): Finally, we look at the solar panel brands each company installs. We like to see a variety of panel brands so that customers can optimize for efficiency, budget or other factors, like aesthetics.

Read More About Going Solar in Florida

FAQs: Best Solar Companies in Florida

Blog author image
Article author
Kristina Zagame is a journalist, editor and content writer with expertise in solar and other energy-related topics. Before joining EcoWatch, Kristina was a TV news reporter and producer, covering a wide variety of topics including West Coast wildfires and hurricane relief efforts. Kristina’s reporting has taken her all over the U.S., as well as to Puerto Rico and Chile.
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Expert reviewer
Tom Peters is a commercial renewable energy developer and financial planner. He was a successful commercial real estate developer for 30 years before starting a solar development subsidiary for a Northeast regional roofing company in 2010. He has written white papers for the USDA on the creative use of renewable energy tax incentives and participated on the Steering Committee of the White House Rural Council to introduce Cross Laminated Timber manufacturing to the U.S. Tom enjoys sculpting, reading and writing on the subjects of environmental justice and spiritual evolution.

Comparing authorized solar partners

EcoWatch rating
Average cost
Pros
Cons
BBB Rating
Year founded
Service Area
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Warranty Coverage
  • 4.5
    • Industry-leading in-house financing
    • Competitive pricing
    • Excellent reputation
    • Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
    A+
    Best Solar Financing
    2014
    Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, SunPower
    25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty, 2-year production guarantee

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