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Written By Todays Homeowner Local Pros
Last Updated February 2024
With its sunny summer climate and growing economy, Alabama is a great place to use home solar panels. While the state's utility companies and Montgomery policymakers are still launching incentive opportunities, the Yellowhammer State comes fifth in the country for energy affordability, lowering your upfront costs and giving you a faster return on investment.
If you're ready to go solar in Alabama, these top solar companies can answer your questions and offer expert solutions.
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Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on solar companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
These 3 residential solar companies embody the highest level of professional achievement and responsibility in Alabama. You can trust they'll provide you with honest opinions, reasonable prices and estimates, and a safe, professional work environment. Our mission at Today's Homeowner is to empower you with the advice and techniques you need to keep your home in good shape. For jobs beyond the "DIY" scope, our contractor recommendations come from our combined years of home improvement experience. Click here for more information on how we rate local companies.
72°F
54°F
60%
88lbs CO2e/yr
4.54"
$1,100/yr
Today's solar panels can accommodate different roof shapes, budgets and energy needs. Many of the companies on our list use all three of the fundamental types of solar panels, and they'll guide you toward the best option during the estimate process.
Monocrystalline panels use a single silicon crystal per cell, making them ideal for high efficiency in a small footprint. You can identify them by their black hue and rounded-looking cells. While they cost more upfront due to their more intricate manufacturing process, their efficiency means you'll save more money over the longer term.
If you're not concerned about efficiency as much as you are about cost, consider a polycrystalline array. These dark blue panels use a composite of multiple different silicon fragments in each cell, with less material wasted at the factory.
Despite the fact that you can design a fairly efficient system with polycrystalline panels, it'll have a greater physical footprint than a monocrystalline array at the same capacity.
Thin-film arrays are a great choice for value in more "partly sunny" areas of Alabama. They maintain efficiency as temperatures fluctuate and work with many different roof shapes. Thin-film solar panels use different metal alloys instead of silicon crystals. Some homeowners select them for their lower weight or ability to fit on non-rectangular roofs. Others pick them for their greater heat resistance and low-light performance.
However, they're less space-efficient than monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels, and you could have better-performing options if your property has high solar potential.
Adopting solar energy is a big investment. Once you and your installer agree on which type and model of panels to use, you can choose from a range of purchase options:
You might be eligible for financial incentives for installing home solar panels, like the following:
With each day full of sun, the solar energy market in Alabama has a perpetually bright outlook. Discover some key statistics about solar in your state:
Want more information on Alabama's solar opportunities, incentives, and regulations? Visit these online pages and reference guides:
A solar water heating system might be the best place to start if you don't have much roof space or want to install fewer panels. However, if you have the space and budget for a photovoltaic array that can power your entire home, you'll have the best possible versatility and value.
When it comes to your energy options, solar is the most flexible. You can rely on it to power your appliances and light fixtures, or use it as you need it to support your HVAC system or water heater. It's easy to expand a solar array if you need more capacity, and you'll usually be able to send energy back to the local grid for credit.
There are three available types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Each type has different characteristics and disadvantages that make it ideal for certain applications. Monocrystalline panels are best for efficiency, while other types may be better if you're on a tight budget or are dealing with a uniquely-shaped roof.
Before hiring any contractor, you should verify their credentials and experience to ensure they're qualified for your project. A quality contractor will keep an unobtrusive and safe work environment, find ways to minimize your costs without compromising on safety or efficiency, and practice clear and regular communication.
In Alabama, homeowners with a 5 kW solar system can expect to cut $1,121.12 from their bills per year. Based on the capacity and efficiency of your solar array, you could save thousands of dollars on your energy bills over the life of the panels.
With progress and innovations, solar energy has become viable in many more places. However, the amount of sunlight your area gets is still the most impactful factor determining solar viability. In Alabama, the number of hours of direct sunlight per day is above the national average, meaning your system can perform at its best with less effort.
Net metering is the system that rewards homeowners for selling excess solar energy back to the grid. When you install solar panels, you'll typically have two meters — one that tracks the power generated by your panels and another that tracks how much energy you are using from or sending to the grid. Your utility will credit you at the avoided-cost, wholesale and retail rate for power you route back to the grid.
It likely will. Many insurance companies provide benefits to their customers if something happens to their solar array, so long as it was added to the policy before the accident. Before purchasing your new system, you should contact your insurer for the specifics about what your policy will cover. It's crucial to note that since solar panels add value to your home, your premium will increase.