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.”
Going solar is a worthwhile endeavor for most Virginia homeowners, as solar panels typically save residents thousands of dollars over the lifespan of the equipment. This is partially why VA is ranked 10th in the country in terms of solar adoption and why the local solar industry is booming.
However, the abundance of solar installers can be intimidating to navigate, especially since it’s wise to do extensive research before you choose an installer for your solar project. Luckily, we’ve done most of the hard work for you. In this guide, you’ll read about the best solar companies in Virginia and what sets them apart from other installers in the area.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Compare the Best Solar Companies in Virginia
The table below should help you compare our top picks for solar installers at a high level. We’ll also go into further detail about our top companies in the sections below.
Best Solar Installation Companies in Virginia
Below are our top picks for the best solar installers in VA:
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Nova Solar
Nova Solar is based in Virginia and services the entire state, and it also installs panels in Washington D.C. and Maryland. It’s a local company with a small size that helps guarantee outstanding customer service, and it provides high-quality equipment and stellar warranty coverage at affordable prices.
Pros & Cons
- Many years of experience
- Excellent customer reviews
- Several top-tier equipment brands offered
- Outstanding warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs accepted
Average Cost
Nova Solar doesn’t include specific solar panel cost information on its website, but based on consumer reports, it is around average in price. However, the value offered is above-average, as you get top-quality equipment at average prices. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay around $15,000 for your solar panels after tax credits are applied with Nova.
Warranty
Nova Solar covers all of its equipment for 25 years, and it also provides a 10-year warranty for the installation. This isn’t quite as good as some other solar panel companies, but the outstanding customer service means making warranty claims is a breeze.
Solar Services
Nova installs solar panels and solar batteries. This is not the company for you if you’re looking for solar roofs, add-on products like electric vehicle (EV) chargers, or services like ongoing solar monitoring.
Financing Options
Nova Solar accepts cash purchases and solar loans only. Solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) are not available.
In-House Vs. Contractors
Nova Solar has an in-house team of installers that perform all of its installations. Best of all, the company is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), which means you’re likely to get a professional and safe installation every time.
Solar Equiment Brands
Nova installs equipment from SolarEdge, REC, LG, QCells, and Enphase. These are considered top-tier solar panel brands for your home that deliver excellent efficiency and value.
Partnerships
Nova Solar is NABCEP-certified, and it’s also accredited by the BBB.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Blue Raven Solar is another national company that serves Virginia, and it edges out some of the other local companies mostly because its service area covers the entire state. It maintains good customer service, and it’s a top option for affordable solar in VA.
Pros & Cons
- Affordable
- Great warranty coverage
- Best-in-class financing program
- Many years of experience and success
- Only installs solar panels
Average Cost
Blue Raven doesn’t post average cost information on its website, but customer reviews and general pricing information put the company below average when it comes to cost. On average, you can expect a solar system from this company to total between $12,000 and $15,000 after credits are applied in VA.
Warranty
Blue Raven is about average in terms of warranty coverage, with a 25-year equipment warranty — from the manufacturer — and a 10-year warranty on labor.
Solar Services
Blue Raven only installs solar panels at this time, although it does also offer solar monitoring. It also notes that it has plans to expand its services to include solar batteries, but that option has not been available yet.
Financing Options
Blue Raven accepts cash purchases and solar loans only. Although it doesn’t accept leases or PPAs, its BluePower Plus+ program is one of the most appealing financing options in the industry. It provides $0-down purchase options with no payments due for the first 18 months. Plus, it offers fixed payments and no early repayment penalties after that.
Specials & Incentives
Blue Raven has an incredible referral program that offers you $1,000 for the first two customers you refer to them, plus $500 for each of those customers, and then $1,500 for every customer you refer thereafter.
In-House Vs. Contractors
Despite Blue Raven’s massive size and nationwide reach, this company completes all of its own installations, so none of the work on your solar project will be outsourced.
Solar Equiment Brands
Blue Raven installs top-tier and mid-tier solar equipment, including brands like SolarEdge, SMA, Hyundai, Solar World, Trina, Canadian Solar, Axitec, and Enphase.
Partnerships
Blue Raven is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and it is a member of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Lumina Solar is a relatively small company that is based in Baltimore, MD, but it serves all of Virginia along with Maryland and Washington D.C. This company has limited experience in the industry, but Lumina Solar already has great reviews and a reputation for outstanding customer service.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent customer service record
- Local experience
- Affordable
- Great warranty coverage
- Not much experience
- Few add-on products and services
Average Cost
Lumina Solar’s average pricing isn’t available online, but it typically comes in around average. You can reasonably expect your system to cost around $15,000, although this can fluctuate wildly based on a few different factors.
Warranty
Lumina Solar offers a 10-year warranty on the labor and installation, but you can extend it up to 30 years, which is outstanding. Additionally, your equipment is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty for up to 25 years.
Solar Services
Lumina Solar can install panels, batteries, and EV chargers. It doesn’t offer solar monitoring or energy efficiency audits.
Financing Options
This company accepts cash purchases, solar financing, and solar leases. However, you’re out of luck if you’re looking for a PPA.
Specials & Incentives
Lumina’s referral program can net you $500 for every customer you refer that installs solar, which is a decent incentive for spreading the word about clean energy.
In-House Vs. Contractors
All of Lumina Solar’s jobs are completed by the company’s in-house installation team, which is partially why you can expect such a high level of customer service from this solar provider.
Solar Equiment Brands
Lumina stocks and installs solar equipment made by Tesla, REC, Enphase, Silfab, and Canadian Solar. These are all considered top-tier equipment brands.
Partnerships
Some of Lumina’s installers are certified by the NABCEP. The company is also accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Southern Exposure Solar
Southern Exposure Solar is a local solar panel installation company based in Ashland, VA. It serves customers throughout many parts of Virginia, offering outstanding customer service and top-of-the-line warranty coverage at an affordable price.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent customer service
- Carries tier-one panels
- Outstanding warranty coverage provided
- Relatively affordable
- Smaller service area than many other companies
- Only a few equipment brands offered
Average Cost
The company doesn’t post its prices online because system cost can fluctuate based on many factors. However, Southern Exposure Solar usually comes in around average in terms of pricing.
Warranty
Southern Exposure Solar has an outstanding warranty that covers the equipment, labor, and roof penetrations for 25 years. This rivals SunPower’s warranty, although it doesn’t guarantee solar power production.
Solar Services
Southern Exposure Solar provides panel and battery backup installations, as well as solar monitoring. It can also tackle roof repair and roof replacement if it’s required prior to installing your panels.
Financing Options
Southern Exposure Solar only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, so those looking for leases or PPAs for the benefit of putting no money down will have to turn elsewhere.
In-House Vs. Contractors
Southern Exposure Solar is a small local company that handles all of the work on your system in-house, so you don’t have to worry about poor communication or workmanship from a third party.
Solar Equiment Brands
Southern Exposure Solar installs equipment from Enphase, REC, Sonnen, and CertainTeed.
Partnerships
Several of the installers that work for Southern Exposure Solar are NABCEP-certified.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Virtue Solar
Virtue Solar is a relatively small local company with headquarters in Madison, VA. It’s known for excellent customer service and its educational approach to sales rather than aggressive sales tactics. The company provides excellent value for the money, with high-end equipment, great customer service, and years of local experience.
Pros & Cons
- Educational sales approach
- Outstanding customer service
- Great product warranty
- Relatively affordable
- Not the best workmanship warranty
- Small service area
Average Cost
Virtue Solar doesn’t post specific prices for its services on its website, although it does note that most solar energy solutions cost between $15,000 and $30,000 before the federal solar tax credit. It’s safe to assume that the prices for this company are around the national average.
Warranty
Virtue Solar offers a standard 25-year warranty for the equipment, which comes from the panel manufacturers. It also has a warranty on the installation labor, but it’s only for 10 years.
Solar Services
Virtue Solar offers solar panel and solar battery installations, as well as solar monitoring. It doesn’t provide EV chargers, solar shingles, or any other add-on solar services. However, it can tackle roof repairs and replacement if they’re needed prior to installing your panels.
Financing Options
Virtue Solar only accepts cash payments and solar financing, so you won’t be able to go with a solar lease or PPA if you choose this company.
In-House Vs. Contractors
Virtue Solar handles the entire process from consultation to connection to the electric grid in-house, including the installation process.
Solar Equiment Brands
Virtue Solar doesn’t advertise the types of solar panels it installs, although there is confirmation that its product lineup includes LG batteries.
Partnerships
Virtue Solar has several installers on its team who have NABCEP certification, and the company is BBB certified
More Virginia Resources
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Virginia
- Best Virginia Roofing Companies
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Final Verdict: The Best Solar Company in Virginia
There are quite a few solar companies you can choose from in Virginia, all of which bring different levels of quality and service to the table. It’s important to choose an installer that not only fits into your budget but also one that can provide the warranty coverage and customer service that you expect. Additionally, solar panels are expensive, so choosing an installation company that can provide various financing options is wise.
Nova Solar is our pick for the best solar company in Virginia. This is a relatively small regional company that provides outstanding service and high-quality solar equipment at relatively low prices. It maintains excellent customer reviews, provides great warranty coverage on all of its equipment and service, and it is NABCEP-certified and BBB-accredited.
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Solar Company in Virginia
Going solar is usually well worth the investment in Virginia, with some organizations estimating that the average VA homeowner can save around $50,000 in energy savings over the lifespan of the equipment. However, you need to make sure you find a reputable and reliable company that installs high-quality equipment and covers it with a long-lasting warranty, as this will help ensure your system lasts and performs as intended.
Below, we’ll include some of the key things to consider when deciding on a solar company in Virginia. These tips should help you find the best company for your needs.
Read also: Solar Panel: A Good Economic Decision
Cost of Services & Installation
Solar equipment is expensive, but certain companies can be much more costly than others. As such, it’s important to have a budget in mind when deciding on solar and to consider the financing options afforded by each solar company. Installers can be more costly than others for two primary reasons: they install higher-quality equipment that naturally costs more, or they charge more for labor and installation. You should be aware of where your installer falls in terms of pricing with respect to both (explore solar panel system price).
Additionally, remember that solar power systems can fluctuate in cost due to your average monthly energy usage, the specific solar products you install, shading on your property, whether you use any of the Virginia solar incentive programs, and more.
Equipment and Damages Warranty
All of the mainstream solar brands include equipment warranties, and they can vary from 10 years to 30 years in most cases. Your installer can also offer warranties to cover issues with the installation and, in some cases, roof leaks that occur because of the roof penetration. Virginia is prone to some severe weather, including intense thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, and hurricanes, so your warranty coverage can go a long way in protecting your investment and guaranteeing that you continue to save money on your energy bills.
Solar Services Offered
All solar installers will be able to install solar panels, but other pieces of equipment aren’t guaranteed in the service offerings. For example, Blue Raven won’t install solar batteries, EV chargers, or other add-on products, while other companies tackle all of this and more. You might be able to eliminate some companies from your available options if they don’t provide the equipment or services — like solar monitoring — that you want.
Financing Options
There are four financing options for solar panel systems: cash purchase, solar loan, solar lease, and power purchase agreement (PPA). Each of these has its pros and cons, and you’ll have to choose the option that best suits your upfront and long-term budget. In some cases, you can rule out companies based on the options they offer for financing, especially if you want a solar lease or PPA, which are being slowly phased out in the industry.
Do They Contract Installation
Some solar installers outsource the installation services for your system to third-party companies. This is usually the case with larger national companies that prefer to hire an installer with local experience and resources. In-house and outsourced installations both have their upsides and downsides, so, again, you’ll need to choose which is right for you before ruling out companies accordingly. In-house installations tend to lead to better customer service and accountability, while outsourced installations tend to be more affordable.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Solar installation companies don’t all offer the same brands of panels and inverters, so you might want to choose a brand of solar panel you want based on efficiency, average cost, warranty, and durability, and then choose an installer that offers that brand. The brand you select can have a major impact on your total system cost, as well as your overall experience with your system and your long-term solar savings. Explore how solar energy helps you save.
Average Online Rating and Customer Reviews
We always recommend looking into a company’s online ratings and reviews before signing anything. You can check sites like Yelp and Google Reviews for both positive and negative reviews. Reading through both should provide you with a good idea of the service you should expect, as well as the performance of the system after installation is completed.
Industry Partnerships
The solar industry is continuously growing and improving, which is why it’s a good idea to check for industry affiliations that set certain companies apart from others. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a good one to look for, as this non-profit organization helps ensure that installers are completing work responsibly and in accordance with best practices. Looking for a company with BBB accreditation is also a good idea, as this distinction is given to those with positive customer service and a commitment to quality.
Size of Company
Finally, you should consider the size of the company you’re considering, and what it means in terms of the experience you’ll have with it. Larger, national companies usually have more affordable equipment and installation services, but smaller, local companies are often a better solution for excellent customer service and warranty coverage. You’ll have to decide which is best for you when searching for an installer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, Virginia does not offer a statewide solar tax credit like some other states do. However, all homeowners in the Old Dominion are eligible for the federal investment tax credit (ITC), which, in 2022, promises a credit to your federal income tax in the amount of 26% of your entire system cost.
In addition to the federal tax credit mentioned above, Virginia also mandates net metering from utility companies, which helps homeowners eliminate energy bills by getting rebates for all overproduction of energy. Virginia also has a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) market that provides a cash incentive for producing more energy with your solar panels than your home uses. Finally, VA offers a property tax exemption for solar systems, which means your panels won’t cause your property taxes to go up.
In our opinion, Nova Solar is the most reputable solar installer in Virginia. This company is a relatively small regional installer that maintains outstanding customer reviews and offers high-quality equipment for affordable prices. It serves all of VA with a heavier presence in the eastern regions of the state. It also provides great warranty coverage and has many years of experience behind it.
There’s never any guarantee in any area that solar panels will end up being worth it, but for most Virginia residents, solar is a great investment. The state receives around the average amount of sunny days per year, has outstanding solar incentives to reduce costs and increase the value of panels overall, and ranks 10th overall in terms of solar adoption. Additionally, photovoltaic systems in VA tend to bump up your home value.
Yes, for most homeowners in Virginia, solar is an excellent investment. The average Virginian will pay off their solar system using energy savings in around 12 years, and the expected 8 years of remaining system life should produce plenty of savings to make the long-term investment a valuable one. Many systems — especially the higher-quality ones — will last even longer and can increase the return on investment.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are 179 solar companies in Virginia, 72 of which dedicate their time and effort to installing solar panel systems.
The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking to get out of your system. If you’re looking for a balance of affordability and durability, brands like LG, Panasonic, REC, Silfab, and Canadian Solar can be outstanding options.
There are companies that advertise free panels in Virginia, but panels aren’t actually free. In most cases, these offers mean that there is no upfront cost, and they usually turn out to be solar leases or PPAs in disguise. If you’re looking for long-term savings, these options are not advisable, especially since companies like Blue Raven offer panels at no cost for 18 months and then fixed payments thereafter with its BluePower Plus+ financing program.
Some of the best solar companies in Fairfax, Virginia, include Nova Solar — which is our top pick overall — ,Blue Raven Solar, Freedom Solar, and Solar Energy World.
