Blue Raven Solar Reviews (2023)

Over the last six years, Blue Raven Solar has expanded its company from three to over 1,000 employees to bring solar solutions to customers throughout the United States. The company tailors its solar offerings to its customers and brings them personalized solar systems that are effective and affordable.

Read on to learn more about Blue Raven Solar services, installation, and financing to decide if Blue Raven is the best solar company for you and your home.

We awarded Blue Raven Solar 4.4 out of 5 stars and the title of Most Reputable when comparing leading solar companies. The company earns points for its stellar reputation and customer feedback, comprehensive warranty, years of experience, and solar panel product selection. We like that the company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and multiple financing options, as well as an in-house installation team. We deducted points for not offering solar products beyond panels and batteries and not having a NABCEP Board certification. 

• Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
• ADT Solar: Best Solar Warranty
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Blue Raven sells high-efficiency monocrystalline solar panels from various manufacturers, such as Canadian Solar and Trina. While monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive on average than polycrystalline or thin-film panels, they have an average life span of 25–40 years and efficiency rates of up to 20.6%. The provider also sells the SunPower SunVault solar battery for energy storage needs. This solar battery stores your solar photovoltaic (PV) system’s excess energy and provides electricity to your home during low-sunlight hours and power grid outages. 

Blue Raven provides the following solar services:

• In-house solar panel installation
• Solar battery installation
• System monitoring

Blue Raven’s installation process begins with filling out a contact form on its website so a representative can contact you. From there, you’ll go through these steps:

• Consultation: A rep will call you and ask questions about your energy needs and goals and your roof. You’ll get a detailed savings report and explanation of how effective solar panels will be on your property. 
• Panel selection: Expert technicians will work with you to determine the best solar array for your energy needs. You’ll be the final approver on the system plan. 
• Permitting: The Blue Raven team will obtain necessary build permits once your system design is approved. 
• Scheduling: Once permits are received, the team will set up your installation appointment.
• Installation: During installation, the Blue Raven team mounts your solar panels, rewires your electrical panel, and connects your utility meter to your new system.

“Install was simply fantastic, 21 panels roof mounted completed over two days. The team was great, there were no messes, they showed up on time, and were exceedingly safe and friendly. One look inside of their very organized trucks was an indicator of the workmanship I expected. The finished look on the roof is great, it looks clean and is quite visually appealing.” — Rob W., June 23, 2023, on BBB

“The install caused damage to my property. And after several go-arounds the solution was to replace the damage but only stain the boards they replaced. Asked how that’s going to match. No answer. Still not done. They also promised me a refund check after activation which I have never received.” — David F., May 25, 2023, on BBB

“Great install today with Blue Raven Solar Panels. They installed 16 panels on my porch. The crew was great. They were able to work with me on some minor adjustments. The panels look great. The all black looks sleek. Very happy.” — Steve R., June 19, 2023, on BBB

“Very poor communication within departments of the company over additional utility information requests causing a 2 month project to stretch out to over 10 months. Seems there is no project coordinator to keep on top of things. Customer had to keep inquiring status to keep project moving to next step.” — Melvin S., April 9, 2023, on BBB

*BBB information accurate as of July 2023

Get your quote from Blue Raven today.

Blue Raven lets customers purchase panels through a full, up-front payment at installation or a solar loan. Here are the differences in the provider’s solar financing options:

• Full purchase: Paying up-front for your solar panel system is the most cost-effective payment option since you won’t have any interest to pay. 
• BluePower Plus+: This solar loan from Blue Raven waives the first 18 months of solar payments for eligible customers. Those who are eligible may also receive $0 up-front pricing for design, permitting and installation. You’ll pay a fixed monthly payment subject to interest rates for the life of the loan, and you’ll own your solar system from day one.
• SmartStart: SmartStart is a new solar financing option from Blue Raven that guarantees your monthly solar payments will remain the same for five years. You’ll also receive 18 months of no solar payments, just like with the BluePower Plus+ loan.

Blue Raven’s warranty is comparable to that of many other top solar companies. Customers get a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty that covers solar equipment. There’s also a 10-year installation labor warranty, which isn’t uncommon for the industry, though some competitors offer 20- or 25-year workmanship coverage. Blue Raven also provides a two-year power production guarantee on solar panels. Not all companies offer this, but those that do typically offer guarantees of 20 or 25 years. 

Blue Raven is available in 18 states. See locations in your area below.

Compare Blue Raven Solar to Other Solar Providers

See how Blue Raven compares to other popular solar providers.

Installing a solar panel system is worth it for most homeowners, both financially and environmentally. Those who make the switch to solar benefit from:

• Renewable energy: Solar energy is a natural, infinite resource. 
• Lower energy bills: Sourcing some or all of your home’s electricity needs from solar panels instead of your local utility company’s power grid saves money on your electricity bill. 
• Increased home value: Solar systems can increase home value by an average of 4.1% according to a Zillow study. 
• Reduced environmental impact: Opting for a renewable energy source reduces your carbon footprint and is a more sustainable way to power your home. 

You’ll benefit from going solar if:

• Your property gets plenty of sun exposure
• You live in an area that uses net-metering
• You have high utility bills
• You qualify for solar incentives that can save you money

Learn more about whether solar is worth it for your property. 

Solar Incentives and Rebates

Most states offer solar incentives and rebates to help buyers save money on their solar power system. While this varies by state, common incentives include:

• Property tax exemption: Participating states waive collecting taxes on the value panels add to a home. 
• Sales tax exemption: Some states waive sales tax on solar equipment. 
• Federal solar tax credit: The federal government allows those who own their system to claim 30% of the total system cost on their taxes the year of installation. Note that this requires system ownership, so only those who purchase their system outright or through a solar loan qualify. 
• Net-metering: Net-metering is a program that allows you to sell any excess energy your system generates to your local utility company.

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Our Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:

• Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
• Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
• Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
• Financing options (15%)
• Experience (10%)
• Availability (10%)

Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.