During the 1950s, a group of American researchers developed the silicon solar cell, making them the first ever to build a device that could convert sunlight into usable electricity.
While these men were far from the first people to witness the sun’s electric potential, their work laid the foundation for what we recognize as modern-day solar energy.
Today, solar energy is a multi-billion-dollar industry. And according to Precedence Research, the solar energy market is estimated to be valued at a whopping $368.6 billion by 2030.
Solar Energy Companies to Know
- Aurora Solar
- Sunrun
- SunPower
- ADT Solar
- First Solar
- Solaria
- Green Mountain Energy
- Sunnova Energy
But it’s not just the industry’s economic weight that makes it one of the fastest-growing sectors. As greenhouse gas emissions continue to clog our airways, disrupt weather patterns and threaten ecosystems worldwide, it has become increasingly important for communities to invest in solar energy.
Countless greentech companies recognize this need, and they’re making it easier for both homeowners and businesses to make the switch to solar energy. These solar energy companies do more than take care of the panel installation process for their customers. They give people the opportunity to save money, protect the environment and even create local jobs. In fact, some even give their customers control over the design of their solar systems, so they don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for environmental liability.
Here are 25 companies putting the power of solar into the hands of consumers.
25 Solar Energy Companies to Know
Founded: 2013
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Aurora Solar’s software helps solar energy providers streamline their design and sales processes. Using their software, companies can conduct shading analysis, design systems, perform NEC validations, compare financing options, create sales proposals and more. Aurora Solar also helps teams with remote site analysis, energy production estimates, and advanced engineering.
Founded: 1925
Headquarters: Juno Beach, Florida
NextEra Energy is a clean energy company that specializes in wind and solar energy. The company focuses heavily on battery energy storage and operates solar energy storage centers in numerous cities across the country. NextEra Energy currently serves residential homeowners and commercial businesses throughout North America.
Founded: 2007
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Sunrun develops customized solar systems designed to give homeowners more control and greater flexibility. The company offers several leasing and purchasing options in addition to 24/7 monitoring and repairs. Additionally, Sunrun’s Automated Site Modeling tool allows homeowners to personalize their solar system so that it matches their lifestyle and energy needs.
Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Named after the amount of time it takes the sun to reach the Earth, 8minute Solar Energy is dedicated to building custom-optimized solar power plants. The company’s power plants combine solar with smart storage solutions, which enables their projects to operate like conventional utility assets without CO2 emissions. 8minute boasts a large number of projects scattered across California and the Southwest.
Founded: 2008
Headquarters: Mandeville, Louisiana
ADT Solar provides rooftop solar solutions to residential and commercial properties nationwide. Once the company installs solar panels, customers gain access to online solar monitoring, which allows them to track their energy consumption. ADT Solar offers its services in several states including Illinois, Florida and Arizona.
Founded: 1985
Headquarters: San Jose, California
SunPower aims to make clean energy more accessible with its all-in-one residential and commercial solar and storage solutions. Property owners can create their own home solar designs and monitor power generation, energy use, and more online. SunPower’s client base includes Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, and Toyota.
Founded: 2009
Headquarters: South Plainfield, New Jersey
Momentum Solar is a solar contractor that gives homeowners various options to either lease or purchase solar energy plans, some of which are eligible for local tax credits and incentives. Momentum Solar’s mobile app enables users to track project installation status, view scheduled events, and monitor energy production.
Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Solstice is on a mission to help all homeowners gain access to solar energy. In addition to residential rooftop solar installation, the company offers what they call community solar, which gives customers a portion of a locally shared solar garden. Solstice’s community solar option is intended to help homeowners save money on their energy bill while building local solar capacity.
Founded: 2013
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Sunfolding developed a tracker that enables people to produce solar energy from anywhere, regardless of the shape or contours of the land. Their flexible tracker can be used at any ground-mounted project site and is designed to ensure each project layout can be optimized.
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Walnut Creek, California
Recurrent Energy develops utility-scale solar and energy storage projects and is dedicated to delivering clean energy to a wide range of large energy providers. Recurrent Energy’s projects can be found across North America, from North Carolina to Ontario.
Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
OneEnergy develops, owns, and operates community and utility-scale solar energy projects. The company’s solar projects are designed to improve ground filtration, reduce runoff, and provide a habitat for local wildlife. OneEnergy currently serves communities nationwide.
Founded: 1999
Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona
First Solar engineers and operates photovoltaic solar systems. In addition to being recyclable, the company’s technology is designed to use less energy, water, and semiconductor material. First Solar boasts offices in several countries including Brazil, Belgium and Japan.
Founded: 2007
Headquarters: Oakland, California
Sungevity delivers customized solar energy solutions for both homeowners and commercial businesses. The company grants customers access to multiple energy storage options as well as a mobile app that allows users to view power generation in real time. Sungevity has also created sustainable water technology that harnesses the sun’s energy to extract clean drinking water from the air.
Founded: 2000
Headquarters: Fremont, California
Solaria is dedicated to building high-output, all-black solar panels. The company’s all-black PowerXT is designed to be more efficient, less expensive, durable and more aesthetically pleasing. Solaria partners with various distributors including Soligent, CED Greentech, and Sonepar.
Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Ortem, Utah
Blue Raven Solar aims to make it simpler and more affordable for homeowners to use solar energy. The company offers customers zero upfront costs, multiple low APR loan options, local tax credits, and an app that allows them to monitor energy production. Blue Raven installs solar energy systems in numerous U.S. states including Nevada, South Carolina and Texas.
Founded: 1997
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Green Mountain Energy offers wind and solar energy plans for homes and businesses. The company enables homeowners in particular to get their electricity from local solar parks, thus removing the need for roof installations. Green Mountain Energy also enables its customers to harness solar energy to fuel their electric vehicles.
Founded: 2017
Headquarters: Leawood, Kansas
Zenernet is on a mission to make the solar energy decision-making process easier and more informative for homeowners. The company develops solar panels, home batteries, and generators and offers its customers a flat, modular pricing structure, remote site inspections, and more. Zenernet serves clients in numerous U.S. states including Wyoming, New Mexico, and Illinois.
Founded: 1994
Headquarters: Wall Township, New Jersey
Trinity Solar is a residential solar company that serves thousands of homeowners with a no-cost solar energy solution intended to help lower the cost of living while protecting the environment. Trinity Solar allows its customers to purchase their solar systems up front, so there’s no need for them to pay for the power they produce going forward.
Founded: 2012
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Sunnova Energy offers residential solar, battery storage and system protection services. Their home solar solutions include system monitoring, system performance management, zero out-of-pocket costs for repairs and replacements, and more. Sunnova Energy’s battery storage systems are designed to ensure resilient backup power and protection from peak rates.
Founded: 1983
Headquarters: Roseville, California
Sunworks makes high-performance solar power systems for homeowners and businesses. For the latter, Sunworks uses an insertion rail technology that allows for quick system installation and reduced labor costs. The company also offers electric vehicle charging systems.
Founded: 2009
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Pattern Energy is dedicated to delivering low-cost renewable energy to communities, operating an extensive portfolio of solar, wind, transmission and energy storage projects that span the U.S., Canada and Japan.
Founded: 2003
Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
Along with electric vehicles, Tesla also manufactures solar-powered roofs and attachable panels. Its Solar Roof product is a roof made up entirely of solar panels tiles, created to be installed as part of the home construction process. Tesla’s Solar Panels, created as separate entities than the roof itself, are able to be installed onto a pre-built structure. Both products offer a durable and clean energy alternative, as homes can be powered directly from sunlight entering the panel surfaces.
Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Charleston, South Carolina
Palmetto provides solar energy products, solar panel and solar energy battery storage, panel and roof maintenance, pest protection and more. Palmetto’s installation process is customizable to financial needs, allowing users access to long-term savings information through its mobile app.
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Herzliya, Israel and Fremont, California
With a focus on powering smart homes and related environments, SolarEdge creates an array of clean energy products for homeowners and business owners. Photovoltaic energy converters, solar power optimizers and electric vehicle charging hardware are just a few technologies the company offers.
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Fremont, California
Enphase technology harnesses solar energy to get the most power and use for its users. The Enphase Energy System attaches solar panels to rechargeable batteries that store captured energy, which can be monitored and controlled through a mobile app. For select communities, those that gather surplus energy can sell it back to utility providers for extra cash or credit return on electricity bills.
