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Updated: Nov 27, 2024, 3:28am
Reviewed By
| EditorFlorida ranks third in the nation for solar energy capacity, behind California and Texas. The state has enough solar installations to power over 1.5 million homes, and yet just over 6% of Florida’s electricity comes from solar. This is largely due to Florida’s current legislation that prevents power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Solar panels used to have a higher price tag, which prevented homeowners from solar ownership and encouraged homeowners to invest in solar leases. However, prices have decreased significantly over the last decade. Not to mention, homeowners who own their panels are eligible to receive a 30% federal tax credit for solar panels installed through 2032.
With lower prices in the Sunshine State, now is a great time to go solar. We’ve rounded up some of the best solar companies in Florida to help you make the transition to solar energy.
The Forbes Home team is committed to bringing you independent, unbiased ratings and information. We use data and expert advice to inform all of our content. Plus, our advisory board of licensed professionals fact-checks and reviews our content for accuracy and relevancy. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the solar companies methodology for the ratings below.
Featured Partners
1
Green Home Systems
BBB Grade
Not accredited
Financing Options
Full purchase and loan
Number of States Covered
21
2
Blue Raven Solar
BBB
A+
Financing Options
$0 upfront for 18 months
Number of States Covered
21
3
Momentum Solar
BBB Grade
A+
Financing Options
Purchase, loan
Number of States Covered
10
Key Takeaways
We recommend the following top solar panel installation companies if you’re looking to install solar panels on your home.
The solar installers Tesla and Blue Raven Solar top our best solar companies in Florida list. Tesla scored 4.6 out of 5 stars when reviewed against our methodology and comes with one of the best warranties, high-efficiency equipment and flexible financing options.
We compared the ratings and costs of the top solar companies after completing our research and analysis across criteria including warranty options, BBB ratings and more.
| COMPANY | FORBES HOME RATING | BEST FOR | WARRANTY OPTIONS | BBB RATING | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 4.6    | Best Availability | 25-year performance warranty, 10-year comprehensive warranty | F | From Participating Partners | |
| 4.3 | Best Customer Satisfaction | 25-year manufacturer warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, two-year production guarantee | NR | From Participating Partners | |
| 4.2  | Best Solar Equipment | 25-year panels, 12-year inverter, 10-year workmanship, and 5-year roof penetration warranties | A+ | From Participating Partners | |
| 4.0 | Best Whole-Home Solution | 25-year system and components warranty | A+ | From Participating Partners | |
| 3.9 | Best Product Selection | 25-year system and components warranty | A+ | From Participating Partners | |
| 3.9 | Best Local Company | 25-year system and power production guarantee | A+ | From Participating Partners |
*Coverage varies by zip code.
Best Overall
Best Overall
Tesla
(coverage varies by zip code)
We recommend Tesla because the company’s solar panels are widely used and well-known. Tesla is the best pick for anyone considering installing solar roofs or cost-effective solar panels. The company offers affordable solar panel systems through price matching. Tesla Solar panels are sold through third-party solar companies nationwide.
Tesla solar panels are sold through third-party solar installation companies throughout Florida, making it easy to choose this solar panel company for your installation. We chose Tesla Solar because the company offers affordable solar panels through price-matching.
Why We Like It
Tesla Solar has one of the most widespread availability across the country thanks to its partnerships with local solar companies. The company has competitive pricing and offers unique products like solar roofing for homeowners who want a different aesthetic.
What We Don’t Like
We don’t like how Tesla doesn’t have brick-and-mortar businesses for installing solar panels. This can make reaching customer service difficult and confusing if you have to work with a middleman. Additionally, the company’s 10-year comprehensive warranty can be a bit vague.
Who It’s Best For
Tesla Solar is ideal for anyone looking to mix and match several products or anyone who wants solar roofing installed.
Learn more: Tesla Solar review
In addition to solar panels and solar roofs, Tesla also offers a solar battery called the Powerwall, which allows you to store energy generated by your solar panels for maximum energy independence. Additionally, Tesla has a mobile app to monitor and manage your energy production and usage.
Tesla solar panels cost $26,900 for an 8.16-kW system and $55,300 for an 11.28-kW solar roof. You can pay for your Tesla solar system through a full purchase, loan or—for existing customers—solar lease.
Many customers express positive reviews working with Tesla Solar. However, other customers state they have a hard time reaching customer service and resolving issues with the system. It’s wise to seek out local customer services as experiences seem to vary by location.
Best Customer Satisfaction
Best Customer Satisfaction
Blue Raven Solar
We picked Blue Raven Solar because of its refer-a-friend reward program, high customer satisfaction and unique financing plan. Blue Raven Solar started nearly 10 years ago and is a good fit for those looking to offset the upfront cost of solar panels while still working toward solar ownership.
Blue Raven Solar is a top solar company in Orlando, Florida. We picked this company because it offers a creative financing option for those looking for the best parts of a third-party solar lease and still want solar ownership.
Why We Like It
We like that Blue Raven Solar is a high-rated solar company that offers an out-of-the-box financing plan to make it easier for homeowners to afford to go solar. The company sports an impressive 4.37 out of five stars through the BBB as of this writing. We also like that the company has a generous Refer Your Friend program, where homeowners can receive $500 for their first referral, $1,000 for the second and $1,500 for third referrals and any additional ones.
What We Don’t Like
We don’t like that Blue Raven Solar only operates in Orlando for Florida customers. This can greatly limit availability to anyone outside of their installation area, so be sure to inquire if you live far away in Florida but are still interested.
Additionally, Blue Raven Solar doesn’t offer any form of tracking for managing your energy usage and production.
Who It’s Best For
If you want a company that has a solid reputation with customer reviews to match, then Blue Raven Solar could be the best solar company for you.
Learn more: Blue Raven Solar review
Blue Raven Solar offers unique financing options through its own plan called BluePower Plus+, allowing you to benefit from the best of a third-party solar lease and solar financing. Additionally, you can also choose the BluePower plan, which allows you to pay a low, fixed-rate monthly payment.
Most people are happy with their experience while using Blue Raven Solar for their panels. Reviews on the BBB show a solid 4.39 out of 5 stars as of this writing, indicating high customer satisfaction. Lower reviews suggest issues regarding the installation process for some Blue Raven Solar locations.
Best Solar Equipment
Best Solar Equipment
Palmetto Solar
Palmetto Solar is our pick for the best solar equipment. The company was founded in 2010 and offers installations in Florida and 18 other states. Palmetto is best for homeowners who want customized solar panel systems. You can purchase solar panels, inverters and microinverters through the company.
Palmetto Solar also offers additional services in Florida, such as roof leak investigation, cleaning, pest abatement, inspection reports, replacement and removal, troubleshooting, and transparent solar panel maintenance and repair.
Why We Like It
We like that Palmetto Solar is a full-service solar company that designs, installs and maintains solar systems for homeowners. Palmetto Solar offers an energy management system for homes called LightReach, which makes it easier for you to take financial control over your home’s energy production and consumption.
What We Don’t Like
The company seems to change its state availability often and puts starting costs for solar repairs at $350, which is a high upfront cost compared to companies with longer workmanship warranties.
Who It’s Best For
Palmetto Solar is a good option for homeowners who want more flexibility in designing the perfect solar panel system for their home.
Learn more: Palmetto Solar review
You have the option of choosing between many high-efficiency solar modules through Palmetto Solar. The company offers solar panels from six top manufacturers to give you the best selection for your home’s system. You can track your solar panels’ performance through the Palmetto app, and for $8 a month, you’ll receive 24/7 professional monitoring, monthly reviews and better support for your solar panels. Payment options include cash, loans and leases.
Palmetto Solar scores a middling to positive score of 3.76 stars out of 5 through the BBB as of this writing. Complaints typically mention it taking a long time for a technician to resolve equipment issues, finicky monitoring through the app and communication issues with representatives. Positive reviews praise the fair quotes and helpful customer service.
Best Whole-Home Solution
Best Whole-Home Solution
Elevation Solar
Elevation Solar is one of our top solar panel companies in Florida thanks to its whole-home energy approach, which helps homeowners manage their energy production and usage for maximum efficiency and energy savings. Founded in 2014 as strictly a solar installation company, Elevation quickly expanded its services. Today, Elevation offers solar roofs, solar batteries and an easy-to-use app for tracking and monitoring energy usage.
We picked Elevation Solar as one of the best solar companies in Florida because it sports a comprehensive, whole-home automation system for solar owners in the state and is quickly expanding.
Why We Like It
We like that Elevation Solar is on a mission to turn homes into smart homes by increasing energy efficiency. You can go beyond your solar panel installation by combining energy monitoring services and energy audits for maximum savings.
What We Don’t Like
Elevation Solar doesn’t seem as widespread as some of the other solar companies in Florida. The company also doesn’t offer solar leases, which can be a downside for those looking to avoid outright ownership of their solar panel system.
Who It’s Best For
Elevation Solar is best for anyone looking to see their real-time energy usage and modify their home’s energy management for maximum savings. Homeowners who want all the bells and whistles of a smart home on top of their solar panel system will enjoy it.
Learn more: Elevation Solar review
Elevation Solar allows customers to pay in full with cash or take out a solar loan. The company is not very upfront with pricing—however, since Elevation uses high-end solar panels, expect to pay more for your solar panel system.
Elevation Solar generally has high customer ratings, with customers sharing positive experiences and speedy help from the company. However, there are some patterns in its critical reviews:. Customers seem to complain about sales tactics and difficulties communicating with customer representatives.
Best Product Selection
Best Product Selection
Momentum Solar
Momentum Solar is on our list because of its variety of payment options, useful information on incentives and good reputation through the BBB. Momentum is best for homeowners who want to find the best ways to save on solar panel installations. The company was founded in 2009 and started in New Jersey, where it continued to expand to 12 major states.
We chose Momentum Solar because it has the best product selection and a dedicated page for Florida residents looking for more information on how the company can help power their homes.
Why We Like It
Momentum Solar is a full-service solar company that offers high-quality solar panels and microinverters. It also partners with Enphase to provide solar batteries and monitoring services.
What We Don’t Like
We don’t like how vague Momentum Solar is about which manufacturers it partners with—especially since it is so transparent about the type of solar battery equipment it carries.
Who It’s Best For
Momentum Solar could be the right solar company for your home if you want the flexibility to choose from several high-efficiency manufacturers. The company also has mobile app features for those looking for smartphone services for their solar panel system.
Learn more: Momentum Solar review
Momentum Solar offers several financing options, including solar loans and solar leases.
Though Momentum Solar offers a variety of high-quality equipment and payment options, mixed customer reviews hinder the company’s overall rating. Several customer reviews on the BBB show difficult experiences with salespeople and solar representatives.
Best Local Company
Best Local Company
SunVena Solar
We picked SunVena Solar for its dedication to installing solar systems in Florida. This company is best for homeowners who enjoy working with a local solar company. SunVena Solar was founded in 2018, and though relatively new to the solar industry, the company has high customer reviews that helped it to stand out.
SunVena is one of the most widespread solar companies in Florida, with 56 offices across the state. The company takes pride in offering solar installations to all Florida residents—even if your city isn’t listed on the website.
Why We Like It
We like that SunVena is Florida’s top-rated solar company, with stellar Google and BBB reviews from customers. The company offers solar leases and loans and even installs solar pergolas for homes.
What We Don’t Like
It may be a drawback that SunVena is only located in Florida. Some homeowners who own multiple homes may want to work with the same company only to find that their other residence is out of network. The company is also vague about the brands of solar equipment that it carries, as it only lists Tesla on its site.
Who It’s Best For
SunVena is best for homeowners in rural areas of Florida who may not be otherwise serviced by solar companies and those who value high customer reviews
SunVena Solar offers several financing agreement plans to make going solar in Florida affordable. You can choose to pay in full or use financing to pay for your solar panels.
SunVena Solar easily takes the cake when it comes to solid customer reviews. It boasts a 4.9-star rating from over 1,000 reviews on Google and a 4.99-star rating from nearly 1,000 reviews on the BBB. The company prides itself in maintaining an impressive reputation for customer service, and the many raving reviews back its dedication to providing excellent services.
Even though electricity is cheaper per kilowatt-hour (kWh) than the average state, Florida residents spend more per month on electricity than the average state due to the higher electricity demand. It’s important to look for a Florida solar company that understands the specific energy requirements in Florida so that you have the right solar panel system for your home. Here’s what to keep in mind:
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Select a State To Get Started With Your No Commitment, Free Estimate
Since installing the best solar panel comes with many factors, you need to know what you want in a solar panel installation. Here are some tips on what to consider:
Compare Quotes From Top-rated Solar Panel Installers
Free, No-commitment Estimates
The average Florida solar installation costs $16,840 for a standard 6-kilowatt (kW) solar system, which is slightly lower than the average solar panel cost. But don’t let the high upfront cost stop you from switching to solar energy. You can cut costs significantly by taking advantage of the federal solar tax credit, local incentives and net metering.
| SOLAR SYSTEM SIZE | AVERAGE ANNUAL SYSTEM OUTPUT* (KWH) | AVERAGE COST BEFORE FEDERAL TAX CREDIT | AVERAGE COST AFTER FEDERAL TAX CREDIT (30%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6kW | 8,000 – 10,000 | $16,840 | $11,788 |
| 8kW | 10,500 – 13,300 | $18,599 | $13,019 |
| 10kW | 13,300 – 16,700 | $23,248 | $16,274 |
| 12kW | 16,000 – 20,000 | $27,893 | $19,529 |
Utilizing Florida solar incentives is one way you can offset the high cost of going solar. Though there aren’t many statewide solar panel incentives available in Florida, you can take advantage of the federal solar tax credit and net metering.
| INCENTIVE | DESCRIPTION | TYPE | OCCURRENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan program | Can finance solar installations and pay it back with annual property taxes | Loan | Once |
| Federal Solar Tax Credit | 30% tax credit on the price of solar panel system | Tax credit | Once |
| Property tax exemption | Don’t have to pay property tax when house value goes up when adding solar | Tax exemption | Once |
| Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption program | Don’t have to pay a 6% sales tax on solar installation | Tax savings | Once |
One of the biggest ways to save on the cost of solar panels is through the federal solar tax credit. This nationwide credit allows you to receive a one-time 30% tax credit on the cost of your solar panel system. The credit is good through 2032 when it will decrease to 26%. The credit reduces to 22% in 2034 before ending in 2035.
Currently, Florida has a net metering program that allows you to send solar energy generated from your panels back to the grid for a lower monthly energy bill. However, a Florida net metering bill could eventually eliminate net metering for new solar panel systems in 2029.
Despite receiving an average of 237 days of sunshine annually, Florida doesn’t offer many state-specific incentives to encourage homeowners to install solar panels. At the same time, there are two Florida-specific incentives worth considering:
Floridians can get assistance with financing their solar panel installation through the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan program to finance solar installations and pay it back with your annual property taxes. Floridians may also qualify for more localized loans, such as the:
There are also incentives for Florida solar power to be found at the local level, based on city and utility companies, such as the Boynton Beach Energy Edge rebate program. If you qualify for this program, you get a $1,500 rebate for installing a solar photovoltaic system 5 kW or larger that is greater than or equal to 17.5% efficiency. Utility company rebates are also available when installing solar water heaters or attic fans.
Even though the state doesn’t offer many incentives for going solar, installing solar panels in Florida is still worth it for the long-term savings. Here are the benefits of going solar in Florida:
Florida residents spend on average about $174 per month on electricity or $3,088 per year. Floridians can reduce their electric bill by installing a solar system. When you factor in the cost of a solar panel system in Florida with the tax credit, it will take you just under eight years to break even.
| FLORIDA SOLAR SAVINGS | |
|---|---|
| Average Cost of 6kW Solar System w/Installation | $16,840 |
| Florida Incentives (30%) | $5,052 |
| Estimated System Cost (inc. Incentives) | $11,788 |
| Break Even Period | 10.35 years |
| 20-Year Savings | $22,776 |
| 25-Year Savings | $28,470 |
In Forbes Home’s recent solar panel survey, 1,000 Americans participated and we gained some important insight about the state of solar in across the country. Here are some key solar trends to consider:
In addition, here are some Florida-specific solar trends, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):
Local Solar Companies By City
To determine the best solar company ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 26 major companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including years in business, equipment options, app and customer reviews and support, nationwide availability, price and warranty, product specifications and features.
All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.
You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates solar companies in our detailed methodology page.
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While our research shows SunPower as the best overall solar company in Florida for its high-quality solar panels, long-standing reputation and availability, every home is different. You may find that the best solar company near you could be a local company or one that offers other add-ons and services.
Since you’ll break even after just over 10 years when you invest in solar in Florida, going solar is worth the investment for many homeowners. The updated federal tax credit also makes solar panels more affordable than ever before.
The average cost for a typical 6kW solar panel system in Florida is $15,600. Not everyone’s home has the same energy needs, so it’s important to factor in your energy consumption to determine the size of your system. Smaller homes may get by with a smaller system, while larger homes may require a system with more kilowatts.
No, the Florida government won’t pay for solar panels in the state. However, through 2032, Floridians can receive a 30% tax credit through the national government for switching to solar panels.
With nearly seven years of experience writing about home improvement and four years of experience writing solar, Allie knows the ins and outs of all things home. She has written for several major online websites, including Angi, HomeAdvisor, SaveOnEnergy, CNN Underscored, Hearst Bay Area and more.
Ana has 20+ years of experience covering home improvement and business topics for U.S. and international media. She’s been published in U.S. News & World Report, The American Scholar Magazine, California Lawyer Magazine, Plaintiff Magazine, Military Officer Magazine, Hotels Magazine, PracticeLink Magazine, EB-5 Investors Magazine and more. Internationally, she’s been published in Egypt’s Al-Ahram Weekly, Lebanon’s The Daily Star, Iran’s Tehran Times, Sri Lanka’s Serendib in-flight magazine, France's Arabies Trends Magazine, Bahrain’s Woman This Month magazine and more.
Kristin is a deputy editor at Forbes Home and has nearly a decade of professional experience as a writer and editor. She's previously worked at sites like Talking Points Memo, Insider, Delish, Angi and HomeAdvisor. She has a passion for lifestyle topics and has extensive experience researching and reporting on topics that will help make your house a home.
