Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Orlando
The Sunshine State is a popular place for solar energy. The federal tax credit and state-level incentives help make the clean energy switch more affordable.
Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando, Florida.
Tourists visiting Orlando are increasingly seeing a sight other than just cartoon mice: solar panels stacked on rooftops.
The Central Florida city has set a goal of 100% clean and renewable energy sources by 2050. Meanwhile, there are many clean energy initiatives, including private companies moving toward increased solar usage. Going solar is an appealing choice in the aptly named Sunshine State: Florida ranks fourth overall for solar energy potential, while the average electricity cost was $167.55 in October 2023.
The federal tax credit bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act provides a 30% rebate on solar panel systems for any US resident, but there are some state-level incentives that'll also help make solar panels more affordable in Florida. Solar panel systems are exempt from property and sales taxes within the Sunshine State, and a net metering policy lets you send your excess energy to the grid in order to get credits on your bill.
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If you do explore the possibility of solar energy, there are solar costs and incentives to consider before making the decision. But before breaking those down, here is a list of the best solar installers operating within Orlando.
Best national solar panel companies in Orlando
Palmetto Solar
Best overall
Read full reviewSolar panels are typically low maintenance equipment, but they're also unfamiliar. If you want to reap the benefits of solar but will have a bit more peace of mind if someone else is making sure it's working, Palmetto might be a good fit for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto's monitoring service in to your payback period calculations.
- Equipment 9.3 / 10
- Warranty 6 / 10
- Service 10 / 10
SunPower Solar
Best solar panels
Read full reviewIf you're looking for top-of-the-line solar panels, SunPower is your best choice. But don't write it off if you're looking for a less flashy installation that will get the job done. This year it started installing Qcells panels, which should make an installation from the longest-tenured company on our list available to more people.
- Equipment 8 / 10
- Warranty 8.5 / 10
- Service 7 / 10
Elevation
Whole home approach
Read full reviewElevation's focus on your home's energy efficiency isn't the norm in the industry. If you're planning on addressing energy efficiency first, working with Elevation allows you to keep the whole process with one company. Elevation's solar equipment comes from well-established and well-regarded companies. Elevation's warranties on workmanship and weatherization could be a bit longer.
- Equipment 9.3 / 10
- Warranty 6.5 / 10
- Service 7.5 / 10
Freedom Forever
Best for cash customers
Read full reviewInclude Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that's changing.
- Equipment 9.3 / 10
- Warranty 7 / 10
- Service 5 / 10
Tesla Solar
Most affordable
Read full reviewTesla's solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk's ventures. Even Tesla's Solar Roof seems to get more love.
If price is the thing you won't budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.
Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla's service is a bit of a gamble.
- Equipment 7.3 / 10
- Warranty 6.5 / 10
- Service 8 / 10
Momentum Solar
All in-house installers
Read full reviewMomentum installs in 11 states without using subcontractors. While using in-house installers doesn't guarantee a better experience, it does suggest you're likely to get a more uniform experience from Momentum. The fact that Momentum backs its installations with a 25-year workmanship warranty hints at a strong belief in its crews' ability. If Momentum is part of your search, consider the warranties against leaks that other companies offer. Momentum's is five years, which isn't the best.
- Equipment 6 / 10
- Warranty 7.5 / 10
- Service 7 / 10
Local solar panel companies in Orlando
Panasun Solar offers residential solar, commercial solar and battery backup services. It offers three types of payment plans including purchases and leases. The company has an A+ plus rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Sunbright Solar boasts of completing 2,500 projects since its launch in 2020. It has an A+ rating from the BBB.
How to determine which solar company is best for me
"Orlando is one of the most concentrated areas for solar in general," said Raina Greenfest, a civil engineer and Florida Solar Energy Industries Association board member who runs a solar consultancy called Raina or Shine. Greenfest encourages thorough vetting of potential contractors and asking many questions before you move forward with installation.
There are many ways to make sure you're working with a reputable solar installer. Companies that are certified by NABCEP are licensed professionals. It's also a good idea to check the Better Business Bureau and get reviews from Google and Yelp to see what people are saying about a given installer. You could even check with your neighbors who've installed solar panel systems to see what their opinions are.
"They should compare apples to apples and who is actually performing the work," Greenfest said. "If a homeowner has a question they are going to want to have the ability to talk to somebody and get answers. It is really important they are working with a reputable contractor."
Additionally, it's important not to rush the process when looking for a solar installer. This is an expensive purchase, and it's always important to make sure you have all the important information before rushing into such a big financial decision. Make sure to get bids from at least a handful of installation companies to weigh your options before deciding to move forward with one of them.
Cost of solar panels in Orlando
One of the major deciding factors in choosing to go solar is the cost. Throughout the state of Florida, solar costs have come down 42% over the past 10 years, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
"The market is saturated with product at the moment, which wasn't the case awhile back," Greenfest said. "You have installers ready to go and interest rates are dropping so that combination makes it a very viable option."
Other cost factors include the type of panel selected for the installation and the type of roof you have. Anyone with a roof 20 years or older may want to consider replacing the roof first before going solar, according to Greenfest.
You might also want to take a look at home appliances to make sure they are energy efficient and reduce your consumption before adding solar panels. That could lead to you needing fewer panels and saving money.
Here's a look at the average cash price for a typical solar panel system in Florida, before factoring in tax credits and incentives, according to data from FindEnergy.com. Remember, if you're going to add solar batteries or other additional equipment to your purchase, your system may be significantly more expensive.
Average cost of solar panels in Florida
| Typical system size (kW) | Price per watt | Total installed cost | Cost after 30% federal tax credit | |
| Florida | 9 | $3.21 | $28,890 | $20,223 |
| National average | 8.6 | $3.67 | $31,558 | $22,091 |
Our interactive map below displays the average total cash price, cost per watt and typical system size for a solar panel system in your state, according to data from FindEnergy.com. Prices shown don't account for rebates from tax credits or state incentives. Certain states don't have any FindEnergy solar data and are grayed out on the map.
Orlando solar panels incentives and rebates
The biggest financial incentive for going solar in Orlando is the federal solar tax credit, known as the residential clean energy credit, which will pay you back for up to 30% of the installation costs.
The state of Florida doesn't offer tax credits or rebates for installation, but there are net metering programs and both property tax and solar sales tax exemptions.
Florida solar panel incentives
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Residential clean energy credit | This federal tax credit provides up to 30% of the cost of a solar panel installation back on your taxes the following year. |
| Net metering | Net metering allows you to sell the energy generated by your solar panels but not used at your home back to the grid for credits on your power bill. |
| Property tax exemption | The value of a solar panel installation is exempt from property tax assessments. |
| Sales tax exemption | Solar panels and certain equipment are exempt from Florida's sales tax. |
How to pay for solar panels in Orlando
While power purchase agreements are not available in Florida, you do have several options to pay for solar panel installation.
Cash: While the initial installation costs can be prohibitive, if you have the funds available to do a straightforward purchase, which eliminates interest and fees associated with a potential loan and the cost savings will start right away.
Solar loan: Generally offered by the installer, there are solar-specific loans available if you want to finance the installation over time.
Home equity loan: Home equity loans or HELOCs are another option for you and because they are tied into collateral (your home), you might be able to get a good interest rate. But they can come with a lengthy appraisal process, and if you fail to repay the loan, you could lose your home.
Personal loan: A personal loan through a financial institution is another route, but they tend to come with higher interest rates.
Solar lease: If you have a solar lease, you make a monthly payment to a solar panel company to have the panels on your home, but you do not own them. In this case, you aren't eligible for the federal tax credits and you don't actually own the system.
Other installation factors to keep in mind
In addition to the different financing methods that you need to keep in mind, there are a number of factors that might affect your installation as well:
Renting vs. owning your home: If you're renting a house and hope to purchase a home relatively soon, the costs of installing solar panels may not be worth the investment. Also, the choice to get solar panels would ultimately be up to the homeowner -- your landlord.
Cost vs. time: While solar panels will save you money in the long term, they're very costly to install. If you aren't planning to stay in your current home until the solar panels are profitable, it's probably not worth it to go through with the installation.
Roof condition and angle: Not every roof can handle the solar panel system required to power important household appliances. Old roofs will likely need to be replaced, adding to the total costs of a solar panel installation. Additionally, the angle of your roof is extremely important -- the sun needs to be hitting your panels during peak sunlight hours. To make sure that the sunlight is hitting your solar panel system, check if your roof is constructed at an angle conducive to solar power generation.
Insurance coverage: Solar panels can be damaged by extreme weather or other outside forces. You should review your homeowner's insurance policy to determine if the panels would be covered and contact your insurance company to notify them.
Homeowners association regulations: While Florida has laws limiting how homeowners associations can restrict solar panels, you should check your HOA's regulations to see what their rules are.
How we found the best solar panel companies
Our Methodology
The companies we listed above as "the best" are curated from CNET's best solar companies list. Companies making the best list are scored on the equipment, warranties and customer service they offer. Then, we make sure these recommendations are available in your state. You can read a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.
Companies listed under the local installers were chosen in a less rigorous way. We chose them because they offered something unique or notable to customers in the state, they seemed well-regarded by internet reviewers or because they were one of the few installers we could find information on in the state.
Whether we've completed a full review on a company or not, it's always a good idea to get multiple quotes from different installers before choosing a company.
Orlando solar panel FAQs
What are the advantages of solar panels?
Solar panels are a great way to save money in the long term, and they reduce carbon emissions from personal energy usage. For a detailed list of pros and cons associated with solar panel system installation, take a look at this article.
How long does it take to pay off solar panels?
Your solar payback period will vary depending on the size of your solar panel system, whether you bought and installed any additional equipment, and how much energy you use to power your home. This article can help you calculate the solar payback period for your personal situation.
Does Florida offer a state tax credit for solar panels?
No, Florida does not have a state-level solar tax credit. All US residents are able to claim the residential clean energy credit for a 30% rebate on the cost of their solar panels and additional clean energy home additions, though.
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