6 Largest Solar Solar Companies

These are some of the largest solar companies building technology to turn sunlight into energy.

Written by Margo Steines
Solar panels have been installed in a field to capture sunlight and convert it into energy.
Photo: Shutterstock
UPDATED BY
Rose Velazquez | Aug 27, 2024

The energy sector has moved beyond relying only on traditional methods of keeping homes and businesses running. Solar power is one of many alternative energy solutions with a range of useful applications, such as powering electric vehicle charging stations. The following is a roundup of some of the largest solar companies developing, manufacturing and commercializing technology that turns sunlight into energy.

Largest Solar Companies

  • SunPower Corporation
  • SolarEdge Technologies
  • First Solar
  • Sunrun
  • Array Technologies

 

Largest Solar Companies

Founded: 1985

Headquarters: Richmond, California

SunPower Corporation deals in residential solar energy systems and storage, serving homeowners, builders and local solar dealers. It’s been in business since the 1980s and has received over 1,000 solar patents for innovations in materials and technology, according to SunPower’s website. The company offers exclusive access to extremely high-efficiency solar panels, which use its proprietary SunPower Maxeon cell technology. 

Further ReadingWhat Is Greentech? Greentech & Cleantech Definition

 

Founded: 2006

Headquarters: Herzliya, Israel

Clean energy company SolarEdge Technologies developed the DC optimized inverter solution, which is a technology that can be added to solar panels to better and more safely convert solar power to AC electricity, which is what you need to run appliances in your home. SolarEdge Technologies provides photovoltaic systems, electric vehicle charging and solar batteries for residential and commercial clients. 

 

Founded: 1999

Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona

Solar tech company First Solar sells environmentally optimal thin film photovoltaic modules, which use less carbon and degrade more slowly than commonly used crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels. First Solar’s website shows it operates the biggest solar manufacturing plant in the United States and is on target to soon produce over 20 gigawatts of energy annually. 

 

Founded: 2007

Headquarters: San Francisco, California

Sunrun’s team of over 7,000 employees brings solar energy for homes and vehicles to individuals with monthly solar leases, loans and purchase options. It offers power storage via the Tesla Powerwall and worked with Ford to create a Home Integration System that allows homeowners to use the Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck as a generator in power-loss scenarios. 

 

More on Energy5 Top Clean Energy Companies

Founded: 1989

Headquarters: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Array Technologies makes solar tracker software and technology for individual and corporate clients. Solar trackers physically move photovoltaic panels and other solar energy system components on a seasonal and daily basis so that they are always oriented toward the sun. This tech significantly uplevels the amount of energy that can be captured and stored by solar panels.

 

Founded: 1998

Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington

Clean Power Research builds software solutions and tools for the clean energy landscape that manage building electrification and support efficient solar power plants. The company works with 80 utility providers across over 200 entities. This gives it the capacity to power millions of homes. 

 

Ana Gore contributed reporting to this story.

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