4 Best Solar Companies in Birmingham, AL (2024 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 4 in Birmingham based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for Birmingham, AL
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average Birmingham homeowner saves $1,767/year with solar panels

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated February 01, 2024

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best Solar Companies in Birmingham

Looking to go solar but want to know which solar company would be best for your needs? Although it can be difficult to settle on a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many good benefits. What's especially making many homeowners consider installing solar panels is their very high energy bills that keep increasing each year.


In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top Birmingham solar installers so you can make the best choice for your home’s green energy needs.To help you figure out if solar panels are something you should get for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Birmingham by clicking the button below.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • Most efficient panels on the market
  • National coverage
  • Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Expensive
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Best Technology

Tesla Energy

★★★★★
3.2

  • Price-match guarantee
  • Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
  • Best solar battery on the market
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Birmingham

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Eagle Solar & Light

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Roof Assessment
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Commercial Panels
  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Solar Panel Upgrades

Website: https://eaglesolarandlight.com/
Address: 4005 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 8009820808
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Vulcan Solar Power, LLC

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Commercial Panels
  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Consultation

Website: https://www.vulcansolarpower.com/
Address: 3433 Lorna Ln, Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: 2056798666
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Small Tech Solar

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Battery Storage

Website: https://smalltechsolar.com/
Address: 2534 Mountain Cove, Hoover, AL 35226
Phone: 2058629610
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Solar Technology Alabama

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Panels
  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Off-Grid Solar Systems

Website: http://solartechnologyalabama.com/
Address: 1206 Eva Rd, Eva, AL 35621
Phone: 2564822063

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Birmingham

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Birmingham based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Birmingham


Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Alabama solar companies

  • Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
  • Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
  • Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
  • Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
  • Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
  • Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
  • Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
  • Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Birmingham

For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar company to go with comes down to how much it’ll cost.Some main factors that dictate how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time are:

  • Your location: This affects how much sunlight your roof receives, which helps determine how many panels you need.
  • The type and model of solar panels you want to get: More efficient models cost more, so that will determine your budget for your solar project.
  • Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your energy bills, which can result in an average of $21,000 of savings over 20 years.
  • Electricity consumption: The average home in Birmingham uses a lot of energy, and therefore may see more savings on electricity bills than other places.

Solar is a profitable investment for most homeowners. You can produce your own electricity instead of paying for it from a utility company and benefit from solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping the environment.

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For an idea of both how much you could save and help the Earth by switching to solar power, you can test out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Birmingham, AL.

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Solar Incentives in Birmingham

To increase the adoption of solar power, incentives are offered by the government – and even some utility companies – to help make solar more economical and accessible.When you install solar panels on your home, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Plus, there may often be some local incentives that you can take advantage of to further save. Our article on solar incentives has more detailed information on the incentives you can find in Birmingham.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Birmingham

Lots of people want to do what they can to help the environment, which for many is the primary motivation to install solar panels.You may be wondering – how much do solar panels help the environment anyway? One thing to consider is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you have a long commute time and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions.Even though solar panel production emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by considerably lowering the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In Birmingham, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. Since energy from the sun is renewable and makes electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help preserve the planet.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • Most efficient panels on the market
  • National coverage
  • Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Expensive
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Best Technology

Tesla Energy

★★★★★
3.2

  • Price-match guarantee
  • Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
  • Best solar battery on the market
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

EcoWatch's Birmingham, AL Solar Company Rankings FAQs

Which solar company is the best in Birmingham?

In Birmingham, Eagle Solar & Light is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your house.

Are solar panels actually good for the environment?

Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they’re made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.

How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?

Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 11.1 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The higher your typical energy bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.

How long do solar panels last?

Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can opt to replace them once you've had them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency after that time.

Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.

Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.