Alabama’s electricity rates are below the national average, but residents use more energy than typical American households, resulting in higher energy bills in the state. Switching to solar energy can help homeowners access more affordable renewable power and lower their monthly utility expenses. Additionally, solar panels paired with batteries offer reliable backup power during Alabama’s active hurricane and tornado seasons.
Our team dedicated over 60 hours to researching the top solar installers at national, regional, and local levels. This guide highlights the best solar companies in Alabama, available solar incentives, and expert tips for choosing the right installer for your home.
Compare Solar Energy Companies in Alabama
| Company | Logo | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Warranties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Raven SolarGet Quote | | A+ | 25-year panels, 10-year workmanship | |
Venture SolarRead Our Review |  | A+ | 25 years | |
Solar Energy WorldRead Our Review |  | A+ | 25–30 years | |
SunrunGet Quote |  | A+ | 25-year panels, 10-year workmanship |
Alabama’s Top Solar Energy Companies
- Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
- Venture Solar: Best Northeast Regional Installer
- Solar Energy World: Best East Coast Installer
- Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
Our Picks for Solar Panel Installers in AL
Blue Raven Solar has one of the best reputations for reliability and trustworthiness. It has won awards for its team and CEO, and customer reviews report great customer service and prompt installations. The company also stands out for its in-house financing, which includes 18 months of free solar energy.
Out of all solar brands in the market, 6.5% of our survey respondents chose Blue Raven.
How We Scored Blue Raven Solar
Blue Raven received 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our rating system. The company scored the most points for its customer service reputation and warranty coverage. It also earned points for providing all standard solar panel services but lost some due to its limited financing options and lack of roof leak coverage.
- Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): Blue Raven offers solar panel and battery installation, active monitoring services, and energy audits. However, it doesn’t offer solar roofs, EV chargers, or additional roofing services.
- Warranty and Performance Guarantees (22 out of 25 points): The company offers top-of-the-line warranties, including a 25-year workmanship warranty. The company earned points fo providing a performance guarantee, but its guarantee is shorter than many other providers. However, it doesn’t provide any roof leak coverage.
- Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Blue Raven has high customer review ratings on its BBB profile and other popular review sites. The company uses in-house installers but doesn’t ensure they’re NABCEP-certified, which made it lose some points in this category.
- Financing Options (12 out of 15 points): Blue Raven offers some of the best in-house financing of the companies this list, but it limits this financing to solar loans. You may want to consider a different provider, such as Sunrun, if you’re looking for a lease or PPA.
- Industry Experience (7 out of 10 points): Blue Raven has less experience than other providers, with only 10 years in the industry.
- State Availability (7 out of 10 points): The company limits its service area to 19 states.
Warranty and Financing
Warranty
A Blue Raven system has a 25-year product warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty, and a two-year production guarantee.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
State Availability
Available in: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington
Reputation and Reviews
Blue Raven has won numerous awards from Comparably, a site known for its company culture and reputation reviews. It also ranked No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA in 2021.
Blue Raven is accredited by the BBB and currently holds an A+ rating. We noted that customers praised the knowledgeable staff and prompt installation but cited poor communication after completing projects. We analyzed several consumer reviews and found that some of these issues stem from the company’s financing department and third-party installers.
Read our review of Blue Raven Solar for more information.
Venture Solar specializes in installing systems that are perfectly symmetrical and have no visible wiring or mounting devices. This design provides a simple, stylish look tailored to your roof’s appearance. Additionally, Venture offers comprehensive financing options similar to Sunrun, making solar energy more accessible to homeowners.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Provides transparent information about its financing options online
- Includes remote monitoring
- Includes a 25-year roof and system warranty with all panel systems
Cons
- Requires your phone number to submit an online quote
- Reviews mention mixed experiences with customer support
- Doesn’t work with power purchase agreement
How We Scored Venture Solar
Venture earned 4.2 out of 5 stars. It gained most of its points due to its flexible financing options paired with an in-house financing department. It also provides plenty of solar services to match most customers’ wants and needs, though it lost points for lacking roofing services, energy audits, and EV charger installations.
- Solar Equipment and Services (16 out of 25 points): Venture offers solar panel and battery installation with active monitoring. The company lost points in this category because it doesn’t provide EV chargers, solar roof installation services, energy audits, and roof repairs.
- Warranty and Performance Guarantees (25 out of 25 points): The company features excellent warranty perks with 25 years on labor, products, and performance. It also includes roof leak protection.
- Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Venture has a great reputation. It features high ratings on its BBB profile with an accreditation and no active issues like lawsuits.
- Financing Options (14 out of 15 points): Venture provides financing options through an in-house financing team and works with every payment method except PPAs.
- Industry Experience (7 out of 10 points): The company holds only eight years of experience in the solar industry.
- State Availability (7 out of 10 points): Venture has a limited service area of only three states.
Warranty and Financing
Warranty
Venture offers a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers workmanship, products, and power output.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
State Availability
Available in: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Reputation and Reviews
Venture has an A+ rating and accreditation on its BBB profile. According to customer reviews, the company provides high-quality workmanship on its solar panel systems and good customer support. However, some customers have raised concerns about the pricing and quoting process. They found it confusing to determine the total cost of their system and experienced frequent back-and-forth over pricing.
Some customers also noted that Venture focuses on premium products, leading to higher pricing even when unnecessary. We found several Reddit threads discussing Venture where other solar customers and installers mentioned similar experiences.
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.
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
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.
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.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Provides system monitoring that signals issues with your system
- Offers diverse financing options to suit various budgets
- Provides EV and solar battery solutions
Cons
- Limited online information on solar incentive disqualification with leases
- Requires added costs for the same coverage plans as leased and prepaid customers
- Varies solar battery availability by state
Why We Chose Sunrun
Sunrun offers four financing options, including a monthly lease, full (prepaid) lease, monthly loan, and full-system purchase. The company’s unique full lease option allows you to prepay for 25 years of service, locking in savings for the rest of your contract.
Leasing contracts have full-service coverage, including protection from damage, theft, and degradation. Sunrun will fix your system at no cost if its efficiency decreases. These services are included for loan and full purchase through an added Protection Plus service. While reviewing the warranty details, we discovered that full-payment and loan customers don’t receive the same benefits and must add the Protection Plus Service for an undisclosed fee.
Its solar systems include panels from leading manufacturers, such as LG, Trina, and LONGi. Its signature Brightbox home battery includes either the Tesla Powerwall or LG Chem. Homeowners can pair an EV charger with their system for added benefits.
Warranty and Financing
Warranty
Sunrun backs its systems with a 10-year comprehensive warranty which includes product, roof penetration, and workmanship coverage.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA
Reputation and Reviews
Since 2007, Sunrun has served over 100,000 customers across the country. It has retail partnerships with national brands such as Best Buy, Comcast, and Costco. The company earned DroneDeploy’s 2022 Guardian of Safety Award for incorporating drone technology in its site assessments. In 2021 and 2022, Sunrun was recognized by Comparably with 14 awards. Its accolades include Best CEOs for Diversity 2022, Best Company Culture 2021, and Best Company for Women two years in a row.
Sunrun currently holds an NR rating with BBB. The company profile is being updated. Customers praised the comprehensive coverage for leased systems but complained about delayed installations and poor customer service.
State Availability
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
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.
Are There Solar Incentives in Alabama?
Alabama isn’t known for its solar incentives, but you can still tap into a few programs to cut costs. Let’s break down what’s available.
Federal Incentives
This incentive gives you a 30% tax credit on costs for installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. The federal solar tax credit covers equipment, installation, and even standalone solar battery installations. It’s available until 2034 but starts ramping down after 2032. If you pay federal taxes and own your solar system, this credit is a huge help for upfront costs.
State Incentives
Here are two popular state-level incentives in Alabama:
- Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Facilities: Typically, home improvements boost property taxes—but not solar. This statewide benefit exempts your system from taxing increases in home value, meaning that installing a solar energy system won’t spike your taxes.
- Net Metering: Although Alabama doesn’t mandate net-metering, some utility companies offer their own buyback programs. Companies like Alabama Power and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) offer small payments for any excess power your system produces and sends back to the grid. These credited payments can lower future energy bills. Check with your local utility provider on specifics.
Local Incentives
Some municipalities offer additional incentives or rebates that can help offset solar or energy efficiency upgrades, such as energy-efficient appliance rebates or discounts on air sealing. Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) for more details about all efficiency and solar rebates in your area.
What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?
As you shop for solar installation companies, look for the following key features and benefits to find the best options.
Solar Services
Solar providers will use either in-house installers or third-party contractors for their projects. In-house installers work directly for the company, offering better communication and maintaining better quality solar panel installation. Results with third-party contractors vary by area, with fewer checks and balances for installation quality. We recommend using companies with in-house installers.
Some solar panel companies offer additional services and benefits beyond solar power. This may include solar performance maintenance or a home energy efficiency audit. We’ve included more service examples below:
- Dedicated mobile app or web portal
- Electrical, plumbing, or roofing services
- Energy efficiency audits
- Home energy monitoring equipment
- Smart-home device installation
- Solar water heaters and other equipment
- Solar system monitoring
Warranties
Your included warranties should align with the average panel lifespan of 25 years. Solar contracts typically offer two or more coverage plans to protect your solar energy system. Here’s an overview of some typical solar system warranties:
- Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: This plan covers your panel for any manufacturer defects.
- Workmanship (or labor) warranty: This warranty covers issues caused by a faulty system installation.
- Power performance guarantees: This coverage outlines and guarantees your expected panel performance through a certain timeframe. If they fall short, companies typically offer panel replacement or repair.
Based on our research, we found that best reviewed home solar panels usually have the best long-term coverage compared to the top affordable solar panel options.
Payment Options
Most solar providers offer two or more financing options for solar power systems, allowing homeowners to find the best choice for their budgets. Below are the most common payment options offered:
- Up-front (or cash) payment: Homeowners pay the full up-front system cost. They become the system’s legal owners, qualifying them for federal, state, and local solar incentives.
- Solar loans: Homeowners make a smaller down payment and continue monthly payments for a set payment period. This option also qualifies you for solar incentives and credits.
- Solar leases: Customers pay little to no money down and make monthly payments to lease the system. Since the provider retains ownership rights, you won’t qualify for added incentive savings.
- Power purchase agreements (PPAs): This leasing option lets customers pay for their solar energy usage on a monthly basis. System ownership remains with the solar provider, so you receive no added financial benefits.
If you’re looking for the best return on investment and financial savings, we recommend cash payments or solar loans.
Customer Support
Solar contractors should offer multiple customer support channels. Typical methods include email, online forms, or phone. Additional methods include online chat and text messaging. If the company offers a dedicated app, there may be a direct channel to tech support for troubleshooting assistance. We also recommend checking online reviews for any ongoing answered queries or unfriendly representatives.
How To Get a Solar Quote in Alabama
If you’re considering solar power in Alabama, start by getting quotes from multiple installers. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process and find the right provider:
- Contact solar providers: Visit each company’s website to request a quote. You’ll typically fill out an online form or call a number. Some providers offer online consultations to help estimate savings and see if you’re a good fit for solar.
- Schedule a consultation: Choose a virtual or in-person consultation. Many consultations take at least two hours, so pick a time that’s convenient. The consultant will review your roof and nearby trees or buildings to ensure optimal sunlight exposure.
- Review your energy bills: Have your latest utility bills ready. The consultant will analyze your energy usage to build a system that meets your needs. Some companies may ask for multiple bills to get a clearer picture of your energy consumption.
- Design the system: The consultant will design a custom solar system based on your energy needs, roof space, and preferences. You’ll discuss solar panel types and any additional components like batteries or electric vehicle (EV) chargers. They will choose the most shade-free spot for your solar array since solar panels work best with direct sunlight.
- Receive the quote: After the consultation, you’ll receive a detailed quote that outlines system size, costs, financing options, and warranties. This analysis should also include an estimated payback period outlining how long it will take to break even on your investment.
Our Conclusion
We chose LGCY as our top choice for Alabama residents thanks to its easy-to-understand guided solar setup process. The company ensures that you understand the installation process and get the right solar setup for your needs.
We recommend getting at least three free quotes from solar providers to find the best deals in your area.
Other Alabama Home Service Resources
FAQs About Solar Companies in Alabama
Is Alabama a good state for solar power?
Yes, Alabama is a good state for solar power thanks to its abundant annual sunny days and incentives like the federal solar tax credit. Homeowners also benefit from property tax exemption for solar panels, helping residents avoid increased taxes for their home upgrade. These perks make solar worth the investment in Alabama.
Does Alabama charge tax on solar panel purchases?
Yes, Alabama does charge sales tax on solar panels. The state does not offer any sales tax exemptions for solar systems. However, Alabama does offer a property tax exemption for installation, allowing homeowners to boost property value without added taxation.
Can an HOA block solar panels in Alabama?
Yes, an HOA can block solar panel installation in Alabama. It’s one of the few states that doesn’t have solar access laws. These laws typically prevent HOAs from stopping residents from installing solar panels. Without this protection, Alabama HOAs have control over your solar system installation.
What is the best direction for solar panels in AL?
The best direction for solar panels in Alabama is true south. This rule holds true for any homes located in the Northern Hemisphere.
Our Rating Methodology
We are 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.