Blue Raven is a relatively newer company in the solar panel industry, but it’s strongly committed to providing affordable solar panels to customers. The solar company uses black-on-black monocrystalline solar panels with reputable brands like Canadian Solar and Trina. Additionally, Blue Raven Solar has a financing program with no money down for the first 18 months and offers free installation.
Pros
- Refer a friend program available
- Free solar energy for 18 months with a BluePower Plus+ plan
- Two-year power production guarantee with every installation
Cons
- Not available in all 50 states
- No solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) options
Table of Contents
- Blue Raven Solar at a Glance
- What Can You Expect From Blue Raven Solar?
- Where Is Blue Raven Available?
- Blue Raven Solar Warranties
- How Much Does Blue Raven Solar Cost?
- Blue Raven Solar Installation Process
- Getting a Solar Panel Installation Quote: We Put Blue Raven Solar to the Test
- What We Like About Blue Raven Solar
- What We Didn’t Like About Blue Raven Solar
- What People Are Saying About Blue Raven Solar
- How Blue Raven Solar Stacks Up
- Bottom Line: Is Blue Raven Solar the Right Solar Installer for You?
- Methodology: How We Selected the Best Solar Companies
Blue Raven Solar at a Glance
Blue Raven was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Orem, Utah. It was acquired by SunPower Solar in 2021. The company works with GivePower, a nonprofit that aims to make the planet a cleaner world. The company states that more than 67% of the country’s electricity comes from the burning of fossil fuels, and Blue Raven wants to put an end to that, one solar panel at a time.
Some stand-out features from this company include a policy that provides free solar energy for 18 months with the BluePower Plus+ plan, no installation costs, a 25-year manufacturer warranty and a two-year power production guarantee with every installation. The two-year power production guarantee ensures that you get a free upgrade if your system doesn’t produce the expected amount of energy.
Featured Partners
1
Palmetto Solar
BBB Grade
A+
Financing Options
Purchase, loan, PPA
Number of States Covered
27
2
Blue Raven Solar
BBB
A+
Financing Options
$0 upfront for 18 months
Number of States Covered
21
3
Momentum Solar
BBB Grade
A+
Financing Options
Purchase, loan
Number of States Covered
10
What Can You Expect From Blue Raven Solar?
Choosing a solar company isn’t a decision to take lightly. Understanding what you can expect will help you make the best decision for your home and needs. You’ll want to know if you can lease or buy, how well the panels perform and more. The following guide will provide a better understanding of Blue Raven Solar’s offerings.
Blue Raven Solar Services
Blue Raven is a full-service solar company, meaning it provides services in-house rather than using subcontractors. The company sells and installs solar panels, micro inverters and solar battery systems. It also provides assistance for those who need to secure permits and inspections while also offering free energy consultations. Unfortunately, Blue Raven doesn’t offer a mobile app or professional monitoring service, so homeowners might not know exactly how their systems are performing.
Blue Raven Solar Panel Options
Blue Raven doesn’t manufacture its own solar panels, so it installs panels from other brands. While the panels and manufacturers offered may vary, it’s helpful to note that the company installs Tier 1 monocrystalline panels. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient, producing higher outputs and providing 15% to 20% efficiency.
The following are the brands Blue Raven works with and the corresponding efficiency and wattage for each brand’s panel range.
| PANEL | EFFICIENCY RATING | WATTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Yingli Solar | 19.0% to 22.2% | Unknown |
| Maxeon | 22.1% to 22.4% | 405W to 430W |
| Solaria | 19.9% to 20.5% | 360W to 430W |
| Jinko Solar | 19.9% to 22.7% | 380W to 585W |
| Canadian Solar | 20.7% to 23.0% | 380W to 705W |
| Panasonic | 19.2% to 22.2% | 350W to 430W |
| JA Solar | 20.0% to 21.0% | 460W to 640W |
| LG Solar | 19.6% to 20.5% | 355W to 450W |
| Trina Solar | 19.9% to 21.8% | 335W to 435W |
Where Is Blue Raven Available?
Blue Raven Solar services 19 states: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
In the past, Blue Raven operated in 21 total states. Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Texas were subtracted from the list, while Missouri is a new addition.
Blue Raven Solar Warranties
Blue Raven Solar has two safety nets that provide protection to your system:
25-Year Manufacturer Warranty
The Blue Raven warranty covers manufacturing issues with your solar panels but not routine maintenance.
Two-Year Productivity Guarantee
After installation, Blue Raven guarantees its solar system for two years. Should your system not produce the expected amount of energy, the company will guarantee a free upgrade.
How Much Does Blue Raven Solar Cost?
The national average cost of solar panels is about $16,000, or between $3,500 to $35,000 based on the type and model. Costs typically factor in location, current utility consumption, size of the house and system installed, solar panel types and more. The national average cost for maintaining a custom solar system is between $140 to $180 for each service, or $280 to $720 annually.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to get a quote online from Blue Raven. You’ll need to set up a phone call with a sales rep to discuss options. We prefer when companies make online quotes available, even if they’re just a rough range of what a system would cost on a roof our size.
Financing Options
Blue Raven has two financing plans:
BluePower Plus+
Using the BluePower Plus+ plan, homeowners don’t have to put any money down for the first 18 months. Customers get a fixed monthly payment and interest rate for the entirety of the loan with no penalty for prepayment.
Blue Solar claims customers can pay 33% of their system in the first 18 months when combined with the federal income tax credit along with any state credit.
SmartStart Program
Using the five-year SmartStart program, customers pay a low promotional rate for the first 18 months. Once the promotion ends, customers will get a check for 42 months to keep the rate the same.
Blue Raven does not offer solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs). Instead, it strongly promotes customer ownership, since customers can take advantage of the federal solar tax credit as well as state and local incentives.
Refer a Friend
Blue Raven also offers a Refer a Friend program. While this can not be used to pay for the system itself, it’s a helpful way to offset some of the cost. The first referral earns the customers $500, the second earns $1,000 and the third (and each after that) earns $1,500. There isn’t a limit to the number of referrals you can submit, so it’s an attractive program for motivated and happy solar owners.
Blue Raven Solar Installation Process
Blue Raven Solar’s installation process is very straightforward:
- A Blue Raven Solar representative will visit your residence to determine if you are a candidate for going solar.
- A survey team will check the electrical status and your roof condition, such as the roofing type, angle and roof shading.
- The design team will create a custom, maximum-efficiency plan for your house.
- The installation team will then create and sign the solar panel installation agreement, handle all necessary permits and install the panels.
Getting a Solar Panel Installation Quote: We Put Blue Raven Solar to the Test
We like to put all of our reviewed companies to the test and get quotes for our solar systems, and we tried with Blue Raven Solar. However, Blue Raven doesn’t offer online quotes. Instead, potential customers must fill out the following form, share their contact info and wait for contact from a sales rep.
That said, navigating the Blue Raven website is very easy, and the contact form is straightforward. After potential customers fill out the form, the site mentions a short wait until a sales rep gets in touch. While they wait, customers are able to view Blue Raven resources that explain the company’s systems.
What We Like About Blue Raven Solar
There are many great things about Blue Raven Solar. For one, the financing options are terrific. We like that the BluePower Plus+ plan allows customers to suspend payments for the first 18 months and really restructure what their energy consumption and savings look like.
Also, Blue Raven uses top-notch panels and equipment from multiple manufacturers. While the company doesn’t offer its own, the preferred brands are trustworthy, efficient and powerful. Should they underperform, Blue Raven’s performance warranty ensures homeowners don’t take the hit for poor performance in their system’s first two years.
The Refer a Friend program is pretty terrific, as well. Blue Raven will pay customers up to $1,500 for referring new customers, creating a helpful way for homeowners to offset the cost of their system.
What We Didn’t Like About Blue Raven Solar
There are only a few minor complaints about Blue Raven Solar. For one, it’s not as widely available as some other companies. Nineteen states have access to Blue Raven service, but the rest of the country can’t take advantage of the excellent products and payment programs.
Also, most other companies offer solar leases or power purchase agreements. Blue Raven doesn’t. While the BluePower Plus+ payment option is a great option, some might prefer to sign a long-term lease or PPA.
What People Are Saying About Blue Raven Solar
Almost every company in the solar industry struggles to keep customers completely satisfied, but Blue Raven does one of the best jobs of it. The overwhelming majority of reviews are positive. Though these instances were rare, the negative and neutral reviews mentioned that the installation teams did not always clean up after themselves and that the jobs sometimes took much longer than expected.
Most people, however, had pleasant experiences with their purchase.
How Blue Raven Solar Stacks Up
Blue Raven Solar vs. SunPower
Both Blue Raven and SunPower hold A+ ratings with the BBB as of this writing, and both offer some flexible payment options. However, SunPower offers a zero-down lease, while Blue Raven offers the BluePower Plus+. In our opinion, this plan is unique and exciting, ensuring that the homeowner owns the system at the end of the agreement. Also, BluePower Plus+ allows homeowners to take advantage of the federal tax credit, while a lease does not. SunPower is available in 50 states, but we still think Blue Raven comes out on top where it’s available.
Learn More: SunPower Review
Blue Raven Solar Vs. Elevation Solar
Given the similarities, choosing between Blue Raven Solar and Elevation Solar can be a challenge. However, Blue Raven is available in almost four times as many states. Also, Elevation’s financing options aren’t as attractive as BluePower Plus+, so Blue Raven may be a better choice for some homeowners.
Learn More: Elevation Solar review
Bottom Line: Is Blue Raven Solar the Right Solar Installer for You?
Forbes ranked Blue Raven Solar second on its list of best solar panel installation companies. Customers pay $0 upfront, get no-cost installation, receive 18 months free and enjoy a 25-year manufacturer warranty. While the company only serves 19 states, it’s worth checking out for its personalized solar systems and flexible financing.
The company offers ebooks that break down the benefits of solar from Blue Raven and answer a broad range of customer questions. Determining whether Blue Raven is right for you depends on customer needs and preferences.
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Best Solar Companies By State
Methodology: How We Selected the Best Solar Companies
To determine the best solar company ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 26 major companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including years in business, equipment options, app and customer reviews and support, nationwide availability, price and warranty, product specifications and features.
You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates solar companies in our detailed methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does Blue Raven Solar cost on average?
Nailing down an average price for Blue Raven Solar or any solar company is difficult. So much depends on the location, roof type, and products chosen. But our research shows that the average 5kW system will cost around $12,000 to $14,500. An 8kW system will cost somewhere between $20,000 and $22,500.
How efficient are Blue Raven Solar solar panels?
Blue Raven Solar does not manufacture solar panels, but it does use Tier 1 panels from other manufacturers. Most of these panels range from 19% to 22% efficiency, which is considered excellent.
How long do Blue Raven solar panels last for?
While the systems are covered under warranty for 25 years, a well-maintained solar panel can last more than 30 years, albeit with diminished efficiency and performance over time.
How does Blue Raven Solar compare to other solar companies?
Blue Raven Solar performs well compared to most other solar panel companies. It offers excellent financing options and doesn’t take advantage of customers’ tax credits. The real drawback is that it’s only available in 19 states.
Is Blue Raven Solar worth it?
Yes, through our research, we found that Blue Raven Solar is worth it. We appreciate the company’s payment programs, quality product offerings and overwhelmingly positive customer reviews, making it one of our favorite solar companies on the market.
