If you’ve crunched the numbers and it’s time to go solar, your choice of hardware is crucial.
If you’re a homeowner, you’ve no doubt experienced moments of dread when the utility bill arrives. Whether you’re paying through the nose to heat your house or keep the temperature somewhere south of the surface of the sun—or the kids refuse to turn off a light anytime they leave a room—that electric bill can be startling.
If high electric bills have inspired you to investigate adding solar energy to your house, you’ve no doubt done a little research to find out how much that will cost you and how quickly that investment will pay for itself. Now all you have to do is choose the best solar panels to slap onto your roof. Figuring that out is a lot more straightforward than you might think: There are three essential considerations when choosing solar panels: cost (which may be reduced thanks to tax credits and other programs), efficiency (a measurement of how much power your panels will generate—higher efficiencies mean fewer panels needed), and the warranty. Here’s a rundown of the best solar panels you can put on your home right now.
Efficiency: 22.7%
Cost per watt: $3
Warranty: 40 years on materials, 40 years on power output.
When shopping for solar panels, the efficiency rating should be top of mind. A panel’s efficiency is basically a measurement of how much electricity it will generate from the sunlight it absorbs—a higher efficiency means more power.
The Maxeon 3 solar panel isn’t the most efficient panel (by a hair), but it’s pretty great at 22.7%. It’s a little on the expensive side to install, too, with an average cost of $3 per watt to install. What sets the panel apart is the warranty: 40 years on both the materials themselves and the power output, which means you could conceivably never have to replace the panels on your home in your lifetime. If price is your main concern, there are better choices, but if the idea of not having to worry about the panels on your roof for the next four decades is appealing, Maxeon is a compelling choice.
Efficiency: 22.8%
Cost per watt: $0.60 to $1
Warranty: 25 years on materials, 30 years on power output.
Canadian Solar’s products combine the highest available efficiency (their HiHero panel offers 22.8% efficiency) with a relatively low cost (about $0.60 to $1 per watt). They also work well in a wide range of temperatures and climates, making them a great choice for a lot of homeowners. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, this is your best bet.
Efficiency: 22.6%
Cost per watt: $1.40
Warranty: 25 years on materials, 25 years on power output.
REC’s Alpha Pure solar panels are very efficient, but their warranty isn’t quite as good as some of the others. The price ranges between $1.28 and $1.47 per watt, which is mid-range in most cases, which makes them a pretty decent bargain. They’re also some of the thinner and most attractive panels out there, which might make them a good choice for folks who are worried about ruining their roofline and curb appeal.
Efficiency: 22%
Cost per watt: $0.80 to $1.10
Warranty: 25 years on materials, 25 years on power output.
Q Cells aren’t the most efficient panels on the market—although they boast 22%, note that this is only when they’re installed using an “optimized double layout,” so you’ll have to work with your installer to ensure you’re getting the most efficient configuration. Otherwise, they still offer pretty good performance, and the price—while not as cheap as Canadian Solar—is still pretty good. The warranty is good, too, making these a fine if unspectacular choice.
Efficiency: 22.2%
Cost per watt: $1 to $2
Warranty: 25 years on materials, 25 years on power output.
Panasonic has been low-key making some of the most reliable solar panels on the market. They don’t top the list in terms of efficiency, they’re a bit on the pricey side, and the warranty is pretty standard. What sets Panasonic’s Everholt panels apart is their longevity—they have an annual degradation rate of just 0.25%, which means they will keep pumping power at a high rate for a very long time.
If you’re not excited about a bunch of lumpy solar panels on your roof and you’re replacing your roof anyway, you might be thinking about solar shingles instead of panels. In that case, consider the Timberline by GAF shingle. They have an efficiency rating of 22.6%, offer a 25-year materials warranty, a 15-year wind damage warranty, and a 25-year power production warranty. They’re also pretty easy to work with—installation is similar to any asphalt roof shingle, so finding a certified installer isn’t as difficult as it can be with other solar shingles. They’re pricier than solar panels at $4 to $7 per watt, but that’s true for all solar shingles—and the Timberline shingles are competitive with other solar shingle products.
