15 Best Solar Companies in San Jose, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in San Jose based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for San Jose, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average San Jose homeowner saves $2,717/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in San Jose
When choosing between the best solar installers, San Jose homeowners have more options to choose from than ever before, which can be a lot to take in, but we’re here to make adopting solar energy less confusing. Since the cost of energy is getting higher and higher each year, many homeowners are planning on switching to solar to save money on electricity for their homes.
If you want to start making use of the great number of benefits of solar, we’ll help you narrow down your options to find the San Jose solar installer that’s the right price for you.To get free quotes from the leading solar companies in San Jose, click the "get quote" button below.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in San Jose
SunPower
Reliable Customer Support- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SunPower by The Solar Quote
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
TN Electrical and Solar Services
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Highlight Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
Infinium Solar, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- System Decommissioning
- Solar Carports
Cinnamon Energy Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Consultation
Soleeva
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Sunternal
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Clean Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Semper Solaris
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Bright World
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Shadowfax Roofing and Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Simply Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
NRG Clean Power
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
SunWork Renewable Energy Projects
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in San Jose
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in San Jose 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 San Jose
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California 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 San Jose
We get that for many homeowners, the choice to invest in solar highly depends on installation costs.Some important factors that influence the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much it could save you over time include:
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your federal taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $32,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Your income and budget: This determines what type of solar panels you can buy.
- The amount of sunlight your home gets: Due to San Jose’s very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your energy bills.
- Your household's power bills: Due to fairly high monthly energy bills in San Jose, you could save about $1,500 a year with solar.
Solar is a worthwhile investment for most homeowners. You can make your own electricity instead of paying for it from a utility company and make use of solar incentives and rebates, all while helping preserve the planet.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
Adopting green energy can significantly impact both the environment and your monthly expenses. To see how much, check out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for San Jose, CA.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years.
Solar Incentives in San Jose
One of the benefits of installing a solar panel system is receiving incentives from the government.There are a lot of federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn some money back after buying solar panels. For more information about incentives that apply to you, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in San Jose
Swapping traditional energy for solar is a great way to do what you can for a more environmentally-friendly future.Something many people might be wondering about is how much can they really help preserve the environment by going solar anyway? An important thing to be mindful of is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you have a long commute, your footprint may be greater, so switching to solar energy for your home can help offset that.If you go solar, your carbon emissions can be reduced by about 50 pounds each year. For homeowners who want to help the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for the offset carbon emissions.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's San Jose, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
The best local solar company in San Jose is SunPower, with a rating of 4.50 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing requires 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 typically pay for themselves in about 7.2 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will pay for itself.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is how much energy the panels can create under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household needs between 20 and 35 panels to account for their typical energy usage.
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.