With so many solar companies to choose from, we know how daunting it can be to find an installer you can trust with your home’s solar system. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best solar companies in Richmond, VA, as rated by our SolarReviews experts and Richmond residents who’ve already gone solar.
We look for solar companies with owners who understand that when they sell you a solar system, you expect them to be there for the next 25 years to fix any issues that may arise. Here are the top companies we recommend for solar in Richmond:
Company Description
ION Solar is a premium, full-service solar provider. ION offers affordable solar solutions that give customers the benefits of solar with little or no up-front costs. Full-service includes a custom-designed system using premium equipment and they handle all of...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Elite
Rating breakdown
Positives:
9 / 10
Time in business
10 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
10 / 10
Profitability of installer
5 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
4 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
10 / 10
Quality of brands sold
5 / 5
Vertical integration
3 / 5
Transparency about reputation
10 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
4 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
5 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
Negatives:
1 / 5
Company size and location
2 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
2 / 10
Litigation and background
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
William Bryant | 03-07-2025
Awesome job!
AJ, Sean, and Megan were wonderful! Very Professional and took great care me and answered all my questions. The installation team was just wonderful. They were prompt, professional, and responsive. They installed the solar panels and connected me to the grid in less than four hours. Great job guys!
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
C. Courtright | Virginia Beach, VA | 03-07-2025
BEWARE
We signed up for roof replacement and solar panel in September 2024. they came out yesterday (6 months later) and replaced our shingled roof, but did not do anything to the flat roof. I was assured this was a complete roof replacement. Now, the job coordination said they have to check the pictures to see what was in the contract. The sales agent sat here and assured us the entire roof was being replaced. They left old flashing and only replaced the shingles and caps. the flat roof was not touched. I have left messages, sent emails , spoke to a job coordinator, and left messages for the sales agent. We are being ghosted. What was promised is not being delivered. This job is stopped immediately until we get answers and clarifications and what was promised is being delivered. If the sales agent did not include the flat roof, he sat here and lied to our faces. We have been scammed. We were rushed through the sales process and what was promised is not what is being delivered. The job coordinator said he quoted the job from the pictures. No pictures were taken on day one when we were quoted a price., or the sales agent was unclear on what areas were included. He assured us they had experts that were very knowledgeable in all aspects of roof replacement and could also do flat roofs.The fact that no one can post on your Facebook page or do a Google review is very telling. BEWARE of this company.
See full reviewCompany Description
We are the Richmond, Virginia locals that would love to give you a free quote. All installers are local employees, mostly comprised of crew leads from their former companies – so you can expect to receive top notch expertise. When you work with our team, rece...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Elite
Rating breakdown
Positives:
8 / 10
Time in business
10 / 10
Litigation and background
10 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
8 / 10
Profitability of installer
4 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
4 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
5 / 5
Company size and location
6 / 10
Quality of brands sold
5 / 5
Vertical integration
3 / 5
Transparency about reputation
10 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
5 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
3 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
5 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
Negatives:
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Tom N | Ashland, VA | 01-31-2024
Excellent work and customer service
We had a phenomenal experience with Southern Exposure, from beginning to end. I found them through EnergySage, and was delighted to land on a local company with such great expertise and people. Their pricing was competitive with other offers we solicited, but what set them apart was their level of service. They were the only company willing to do a site visit prior to signing an agreement, which gave me a higher level of confidence in their estimates and projections (given some concerns I had about the impact of the treeline behind our home). When he visited, Jason didn't put on the hard sell, but walked through all of my questions and concerns, talked candidly about pros and cons, and captured drone imagery to improve the accuracy of the model. Throughout the process, he was extremely patient with my (many) questions and always highly responsive. We ended up having some plumbing vents rerouted to make more space for panels; SES doesn't do that type of work themselves, but recommended a great contractor and provided models/estimates both ways so I could evaluate the ROI and make an informed decision. When it came to the installation, Tyler and the team were professional, impressively quick, communicative, and easy to work with. SES prides themselves on keeping the visual impact of the system as minimal as possible -- and they didn't disappoint. It wasn't our highest priority, since everything is on the back of our home; but a few days after install I asked my wife how much she was noticing the changes, and her response was, "Oh, I haven't noticed at all. I keep meaning to look but forgetting it's there." Other selling points/positive aspects of the experience include how seamlessly Britney handled all the paperwork on our behalf; how well the SES team communicated internally (I never felt like I was being bounced around from sales to install or anything like that); and the CertainTeed warranty, which was superior to any other offer I reviewed.
See full reviewBest solar installers in Richmond, VA
| Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ION Solar | Elite | - | Get Quote | |
| Southern Exposure Solar | Elite | Ashland | Get Quote | |
| Ipsun Solar | Elite | Fairfax | Get Quote | |
| Cenvar Solar | Unrated | - | Get Quote | |
| Green Air, Inc. | Unrated | Ashland | Get Quote | |
| Shockoe Solar, LLC | Unrated | Ashland | Get Quote | |
| Baker Roofing CO | Unrated | - | Get Quote |
Best solar companies for home battery installations in Richmond
Batteries have become increasingly popular because they take an intermittent energy source like solar and turn it into a reliable and consistent supply of electricity. We recommend getting a solar battery quote if you want a backup power source or if your utility company doesn’t have a net metering program that buys excess solar energy at the full price of power, as you could save a little extra on your electric bill.
Here are some Richmond companies that install panels and solar battery storage systems:
| Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated Power Sources of Virginia | Unrated | Richmond | Get Quote | |
| Prestige Home VA - Solar | Unrated | Virginia Beach | Get Quote | |
| Off Grid By Design | Unrated | North Chesterfield | Get Quote | |
| ADT Solar (formerly Sunpro Solar) | Excellent | - | Get Quote | |
| SolarTyme by AAPCO | Unrated | Richmond | Get Quote |
How to find the best solar panel company near you
Picking a solar company is the most important decision you make when going solar. You need to trust them to drill holes in your roof, help you navigate financing and incentives and provide you with 25+ years of customer service.
Check out this video where our founder, who also founded a successful solar installation company, explains what to look for when choosing the best solar company near you.
Top things to consider when choosing a solar company in Richmond:
Years in business
One of the first things to look at when finding a company is how long they have been in business. We suggest looking for companies that have been around for at least five years, as the longer it has been in business, the more likely it is you’ll have a positive installation experience.
Companies with five or more years of experience will probably have established after-sales service and warranty support. It signals that they aren’t a company in it to make a quick buck; they’re in it for the long haul.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, which is why you should also keep a few other factors in mind.
Licenses, insurance, and certifications
Solar companies that are licensed, insured and hold certifications take their business seriously. Look for companies that have NABCEP Certified professionals or certified electricians on staff and are properly insured, so their workers, and you, are protected.
Financing options
Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a solar panel installation. So, you’ll want to find a company with solar financing options that work for you. Ask for quotes for various types of financing plans to see which one will work best for your budget. Solar loans are often your next best choice if you can’t pay in cash. But, if you don’t pay federal income taxes or can’t qualify for a loan, finding a company that offers solar leases or power purchase agreements might be the right move.
Services and products offered
Don’t choose a company that can’t complete the job that you want to be done. If you need an energy storage system, get quotes from companies that install batteries! Maybe you want a particular brand of panels or an electric vehicle charger installation. Ask the company if they provide those services or carry those brands so you don’t have to settle for less.
Customer review scores
Customer ratings give valuable insight into how a solar company actually operates and treats its customers. Read SolarReviews, Google and Yelp reviews to understand the company’s installation process, sales practices and overall customer service. But remember that some companies incentivize customers to leave positive reviews, so make sure you read reviews with some scrutiny.
Warranty
Any reputable solar installation company will offer a workmanship or labor warranty that covers any damages that may occur during the installation process. We recommend using an installer with at least a ten-year labor warranty.
Some installation companies, like SunPower, include a system performance guarantee. This promises you’ll get a certain amount of electricity from your solar panels and is an excellent added protection.
Richmond incentives and rebates
Solar incentives and rebates can cut the cost of installing solar in Richmond by thousands of dollars. The most significant incentive is the 30% federal solar tax credit, available to any taxpayer in the country when they purchase solar panels or battery storage.
Some cities, counties, states and utility companies offer additional solar incentives, saving homeowners even more money. Here are the solar incentives available in Richmond:
| Incentive | Eligibility | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
| Energy Generation Property Tax Exemption | State | Property Tax Incentive |
| Net Metering | State | Net Metering |
How much can you save with solar incentives?
What to look for in solar quotes in Richmond
Once you’ve found a few companies you like, you can start getting solar quotes. You can get a better deal when you get quotes from multiple solar installers; we suggest getting at least three quotes. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for comparing quotes and what questions you should ask installers.
System size and energy production
All solar quotes should include the size of the system and how much energy it is projected to produce. Most of the quotes you get will probably be in the same ballpark. But, if one is drastically larger or smaller than the others — ask about it! Maybe one installer included shading from a tree, while another based its estimates on having that tree removed.
If you choose reliable installers, you can trust that these estimates will be as accurate as possible. But you can always double-check using the SolarReviews solar calculator and enter the information received in your quotes.
Pricing
You should know as much as possible about how much the solar panels cost. Make sure you know both the total cost of the system and the price per watt of solar installed. The cost per watt makes it easier to compare prices between quotes and gives you a better idea of how fairly the system is priced. The average price of solar is about $2.13 to $3.19 per watt in Richmond, so anything in that range is a fair price.
Financing
Financing is one of the most important things to look for in your solar quote. There are a few different things to keep an eye out for, depending on what type of solar financing you’re using.
If you’re looking to use a solar loan, you should ask the company for both a cash quote and the financed quote. Solar loans include something called dealer fees, which can sometimes add 20% or more to the total cost of your system in exchange for a lower interest rate. It’s worth comparing what dealer fees and interest rates you’re quoted from different companies to get the best deal possible.
If you want a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), you’ll want to look for an escalator clause in the contract. The escalator clause outlines how much your payments will go up every year. Ideally, this should be lower than the rate at which electric prices increase in your area, typically about 3% annually. If the escalator rate is higher than this, you could end up paying more than if you hadn’t gone solar at all!
Payback period
Some quotes may include when you’ll break even, meaning when your panels have saved as much as you spent on them.
If it’s not explicitly listed on the quote, you can compare any savings estimates they provide to the system’s total price and get a rough estimate of when your panels will pay themselves off. The shorter the payback period, the better.
Equipment
Good quality solar installers will carry good quality equipment. So if you pick an installer you trust, you can expect reliable products. But, it can’t hurt to research and ask the installer questions about what would be going on your roof.
Most solar panels installed today are about 400 watts in size and have efficiency ratings above 19%. Higher wattage and efficiency panels can produce slightly more electricity but may add a price premium. You’ll want to make sure the solar panels have the industry standard 25-year product and performance warranties.
Frequently asked questions about solar in Richmond
How much do solar panels cost in Richmond?
How much can solar panels save in Richmond?
Do I need a solar battery in Richmond?
How can you pay for solar panels in Richmond?
What are the best solar companies for a solar lease in Richmond?
What are the best solar companies for zero-down solar loans in Richmond?
How SolarReviews rates installers
SolarReviews developed our Expert Rating criteria to make it easier for homeowners to find solar companies they can trust. It’s not just about the consumer reviews or the products they sell - it’s about how they treat their employees, how they support their customers, and if they run an honest business.
We used our team’s extensive knowledge of the solar industry to create a data-based scoring system for rating solar companies that encompasses all of the most important things to consider when picking the best solar company, including:
- Background checks
- Brand quality
- License and insurance
- Vertical integration
- Profitability
- Transparency
- Consumer reviews
- Loan options
- Local service
- Responsible pricing
Learn more about the SolarReviews Expert Rating system.
Andy is arguably the most qualified rooftop solar expert in America. He is in a unique position, having founded a large solar company but now being independent of any particular company. He has appeared on CNBC, has been referenced in public hearings concerning the rooftop solar industry ( such as the recent CPUC NEM 3 decision) and has been referenced by many major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and many others.