Guide to American Solar Panel Manufacturers in August 2024 - MarketWatch

Guide to American Solar Panel Manufacturers in August 2024

If you are looking for U.S.-made solar equipment, the largest American solar panel manufacturers include Silfab Solar, Mission Solar and First Solar. Additionally, Tesla Energy, Canadian Solar and Qcells produce some solar panels in the U.S.

Although solar panels manufactured in the U.S. are not necessarily higher quality than panels made elsewhere, investing in American-made solar panels supports domestic solar research and helps create jobs.

Read on to learn more about leading U.S. solar panel manufacturers and why some homeowners may choose to invest in American-made solar equipment.

*In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.”

Top American Solar Panel Manufacturers

According to Andrei Gorinchenski, senior editor at A1 Solar Store, the most popular American-made solar panel brands are Silfab Solar, Mission Solar and First Solar.

- Silfab Solar, one of our top-rated solar panel brands, has solar panel factories in the state of Washington and Toronto, Canada. The company produces panels with high-efficiency ratings and leading 30-year power production guarantees. To get silfab installed on your home, we recommend using ADT Solar.
- Mission Solar manufactures its panels in San Antonio, Texas. Due to high costs, the company sources many of the raw materials and components needed to make solar cells from Asia.
- First Solar manufactures panels for utility-scale projects, and it produces solar equipment in the U.S. and Malaysia. It has a research and development center in California and three factories in Ohio— its first facility opened in Perrysburg, Ohio in 2002.

Tesla Energy, Canadian Solar and Qcells are also worth mentioning:

- Although Tesla Energy has a solar panel manufacturing plant in Buffalo, N.Y., PV Magazine has reported the company might actually be producing its panels in China.
- Canadian Solar announced in June 2023 that it is constructing its first manufacturing plant in the U.S., based in Mesquite, Texas. The plant is expected to begin panel production at the end of 2023. The company also has solar panel manufacturing facilities in Canada, China, Brazil, Thailand and Vietnam.
- Hanwha Qcells is a Korean solar company with manufacturing plants in China, Malaysia and South Korea. However, the company manufactures some of its panels in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2023, it announced a plan to expand plants to Dalton, Ga. and northwest Atlanta.

It’s important to note that the above companies manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, but do not handle installation. Our picks for top-rated solar companies that install American-made solar panels include ADT Solar(which installs Silfab and Canadian Solar panels), Sunrun and Blue Raven(both of which install Canadian Solar Panels).

How Much Do U.S. Solar Panels Cost?

“North American [solar panel] brands are slightly more expensive,” according to Tatiana Boronnikova, business manager at A1 Solar Store. While solar panels manufactured overseas tend to average between $0.70 and $0.80 per watt, American-made panels typically range from $0.80 to $1.10 per watt.

Keep in mind that these prices represent wholesale costs before installation. Solar panels cost an average of $2.85 per watt with installation and other costs included. According to our March 2023 poll of 1,000 homeowners with solar, most respondents paid between $15,000 and $20,000 for a solar system with all costs included.

Advantages of Solar Panels Made in America

Although American-made solar panels are more expensive, there are some benefits to choosing a U.S. brand. You can support the domestic economy, help advance solar technology research and development, and reduce your carbon footprint by shortening the supply chain of your panels. Additionally, investing in renewable energy in the U.S. can help enhance energy security and strengthen the power grid.

But U.S.-made solar panels, especially those with exclusively American-made components, are difficult to find, and overseas production still leads the market. Panels produced overseas are not necessarily of poorer quality. Investing in solar energy — regardless of where your equipment is made — can help reduce your carbon footprint and offset electricity bills.

Quality Standards and Assurance

While there is debate over whether or not American-made solar panels are better quality than modules made overseas, it ultimately comes down to a consumer’s preference and price sensitivity.

The U.S. Department of Energy supports the development and quality of American solar manufacturers, overseeing national labs, investors and entrepreneurs.

All solar panel manufacturers test solar modules according to standard test conditions. Solar panel manufacturers test the efficiency, wattage and durability under universal conditions in industry-standard laboratories. As such, you can compare solar panels based on specifics like energy-efficiency ratings, regardless of the brand.

All the North American-made solar panels mentioned above include 25-year product warranties, which is longer than some overseas competitors. Andrei Gorinchenski from A1 Solar Store also notes, “Customer service [for U.S.-based solar companies] is much easier to go to, not that solar panel owners need much of it.”

Economic Impact and Job Creation

As the fastest-growing renewable energy source, solar power has a massive impact on the American economy. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association(SEIA), the solar industry generated nearly $35 billion of private investment in the U.S. economy in 2022 alone.

The U.S. solar industry employs nearly 264,000 people in all 50 states. About 33,500 of these jobs are in solar manufacturing and 30,600 are in wholesale trade and distribution. Purchasing U.S.-made solar panels can support such jobs and boost local economies.

Supporting Domestic Innovation and Research

Government programs and funding support domestic innovation and research, which improve solar technology and infrastructure. When you purchase an American-made solar system, you can help domestic solar manufacturers develop innovations to make the technology more accessible, efficient and viable.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funds domestic innovation and research in solar. SETO offers several incentives for solar innovation in the U.S., including the $3 million American-Made Solar Prize competition and other funding opportunities.

Additionally, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a $45 million investment in domestic solar manufacturing and a $20 million investment in researching solar panel disposal and recycling.

These funding opportunities have bolstered the ability of domestic solar manufacturers to develop new products and advance the U.S. solar market.

The Bottom Line

American-made solar panels tend to cost more than panels manufactured overseas in countries like China and Korea. However, investing in U.S. solar panels can help support the domestic economy and advance solar research and development.

Ultimately, a solar panel manufacturer’s country of origin may or may not be a deciding factor for you. There are certainly high-quality solar panels manufactured overseas, and many homeowners do not have a preference.

If you’re interested in purchasing American solar panels, we recommend speaking with a local solar professional about your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions About American Solar Panels

ADT Solar, Sunrun and Blue Raven Solar install American-made solar panels. If you want to ensure your solar panels are American-made, we recommend speaking with a local solar installer as larger companies may not exclusively install U.S.-made solar panels.

First Solar is the largest U.S.-based solar panel manufacturer. It exclusively produces large-scale, thin-film solar panels and has an annual manufacturing capacity of more than 20 gigawatts (GW). However, if you are looking to install residential solar, you may want to consider companies that produce monocrystalline panels.

The U.S. produces around 2% of solar panels in the world. However, according to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, the country has a current manufacturing capacity to meet one-third of domestic demand for solar panels.

Tariffs and legislation have changed the demand and availability of Chinese solar panels over the years. The U.S. has historically limited solar imports from China through trade restrictions. However, President Biden paused tariffs on Chinese panels for two years to help meet the U.S. demand for clean energy. The U.S. House of Representatives voted in April 2023 to reinstate these tariffs.

Leading solar manufacturers around the globe include JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, Sharp Solar and more. Learn more about the global solar panel market.

Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Solar Companies

We closely evaluate solar installation companies with a focus on the factors most important to homeowners like you. We based our solar company methodology on input from multiple homeowner surveys, discussions with industry experts and research into the renewable energy market. Our review process involves assessing each company on the following criteria, which we then use to calculate a rating out of 5 stars.

- Cost and payment options (20 points): Cost is one of the most important factors when installing a solar energy system. Solar providers that offer cash purchases and in-house loan financing earn full points in this category. Companies also receive bonus points for offering solar panel leasing or power purchase agreements (PPAs).
- Services (20 points): In addition to solar installations, companies offering backup battery and electric vehicle charger installations, energy efficiency audits and system monitoring earn the most points in this category. Companies can also receive points for completing installations in-house, as opposed to using third-party contractors.
- Reputation (20 points): To assess the reputation of each company, we consider Google star ratings, Better Business Bureau (BBB) scores and reviews, and NABCEP certification status. We also look at customer complaint rates on sites like the BBB and weigh how the company responds.
- Warranty (15 points): We verify that each company offers workmanship, product and performance warranties on all of its solar installs. A provider earns more points for extending warranties that meet or exceed industry standards, including 10 years for system workmanship and products and 25 years for panel performance.
- Customer Support (10 points): Solar companies that offer virtual consultations, a mobile app, 24/7 customer support and high customer satisfaction with backend support earn the most points in this category.
- Industry Experience (10 points): Providers with 10 or more years of experience in the solar installation industry earn a perfect score in this category.
- Sustainability (5 points):To measure sustainability, we assess each company based on whether it shares a detailed sustainability statement or ESG disclosures on its website. We also conduct research to see if companies offer end-of-life panel disposal programs or have eco-friendly community partnerships.

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.