15 Best Solar Companies in Santa Cruz, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Santa Cruz based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Santa Cruz, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Santa Cruz homeowner saves $2,742/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Santa Cruz
Looking for energy freedom in Santa Cruz? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding home project since you can take advantage of lots of perks when you go solar. Since Santa Cruz is a solar paradise, it's no wonder you're researching installing solar panels.
In this article, we’ll help you find the best options in your area.Interested in seeing how much it’d cost to install a solar system on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated Santa Cruz solar installer.
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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Santa Cruz
Allterra Solar
Reliable Customer Support- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Sandbar Solar & Electric
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Nomadic Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Solar Electric Supply, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Solar Carports
Solar Technologies Santa Cruz
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Greentech Renewables Santa Cruz
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Cinnamon Energy Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
Infinium Solar, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Solar Carports
- Battery Storage
Sunternal
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
Semper Solaris
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
TN Electrical and Solar Services
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Highlight Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Monarch Home Services (Salinas)
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Soleeva
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Clean Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Santa Cruz
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
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 Santa Cruz
Although solar panels can save you a decent chunk of change on electricity bills over time, it’s important to know the startup costs.A few key factors that determine the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- Your income and budget: This affects what type of solar panels you can get.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Santa Cruz gets lots of sunlight, your solar panel system will most likely be able to produce enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your electricity bills will be.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to lower your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and city may also have various incentives that you can take advantage of. Plus, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, before factoring in incentives.
- How much power your home consumes: Households that need a lot of energy each month may require more solar panels and, as a result, be more costly, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
There are many wonderful benefits of solar even with the upfront cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your bank account. Plus, it can boost the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Santa Cruz
In order to increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, federal and local governments – and even some utility companies – offer incentives to help make solar power more economically viable and accessible.No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will allow you to claim 0 of how much your solar project cost on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Additionally, there may be some state and city incentives that stack with the ITC too. In our article on solar incentives, you can see the incentives you qualify for in Santa Cruz.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Santa Cruz
One reason so many homeowners are considering going solar is to help reduce their environmental impact.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Santa Cruz, though. In a city like Santa Cruz where commute times can be pretty long, going solar can help offset some of your carbon dioxide emissions from driving a lot.Because solar panels don’t release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good substitute for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since energy from the sun is abundant and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help the planet.
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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Santa Cruz, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel installer in Santa Cruz?
The highest-rated local solar company in Santa Cruz is Allterra Solar, with a rating of 4.90 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main downside of solar panels.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 7.1 years, but the exact period is influenced by local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the best type of solar panel?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more costly. Polycrystalline panels cost less but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other kinds can’t, like on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, roof configuration and how much energy generation you want.
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.