Best Brand solar Panels
Every solar panel has a long list of specifications to help you understand a solar panel’s performance, quality, and durability.
But individual panel specifications and warranties don’t provide you with a complete picture of how one brand of panel stacks up versus another, making it hard to select the best solar panels for your unique needs.
EnergySage has developed a straightforward system for classifying and comparing the best solar panels by evaluating key criteria. EnergySage’s system identifies three types of solar panels: Economy, Standard, and Premium. These classifications are provided alongside every quote that is submitted through the EnergySage Solar Marketplace to help shoppers compare their options and choose the best solar panels for their needs.
Solar Panel Types - The Reality
There are dozens of solar panel manufacturers on the market in the U.S., each offering several models. Even the most research-focused consumer would be overwhelmed by the task of reviewing specifications for each of them. However, choosing the best solar panel for your solar energy system doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience.
Our objective, fact-based classification system can quickly help you arrive at a decision. We evaluated specification sheets, support agreements, warranties, and other publicly available documents, and used that information to assign a rating to the best solar panel brands and energy system types in the U.S. market.
Solar panel classification
The EnergySage classification system incorporates solar panel specifications related to performance, quality, durability, and warranty. Those specifications are used to group equipment into three types of solar panels:
How to choose the best solar panel for you
EnergySage has classified all types of solar panels into an easy-to-understand framework: Premium, Standard and Economy. Remember, just as every car owner doesn’t drive a Mercedes, you should select the best solar panels for your specific needs.
- Premium solar panels are a great option for maximizing solar energy production when available roof space is tight and your budget has the flexibility to pay a higher price for a best in class solution.
- Standard solar panels should be a safe and solid choice for you under most circumstances.
- Economy solar panels are a fair choice if your budget is limited or if you’re going solar via a lease or power purchase agreement, but they may not go the distance for you in the long run.
- Premium panels exceed most, if not all, of the specifications and metrics used in our classification system.
- They tend to generate more solar electricity per square foot than Standard panels, and are recommended if you have limited roof space and need to maximize your energy production.
- You’ll likely pay a higher upfront price for the exceptional performance, quality, durability, and warranty coverage of Premium panels.
- Premium panels can deliver better long-term returns on investment than other types of solar panels.
- Standard panels perform well under most circumstances and conditions.
- Most solar panels installed in the U.S. fall into this category.
- Standard panels generally have good power ratings, efficiencies, and other performance characteristics.
- For the most part, they are also compliant with manufacturing quality and durability standards, and have good warranty support.
- Economy panels can get the job done in many circumstances, but don’t perform as well as Standard panels.
- Economy panels tend to produce less electricity under the same conditions than their Standard panel counterparts.
- Their performance may also degrade more quickly over time, and they are often less resilient than Standard panels over the long term to the harshness of seasonal weather conditions.
- Manufacturers’ warranties are generally shorter for Economy panels.
