SunPower Solar Installer Review

Our Rating: 5 / 5 (See: How Leaf Score is calculated)

The Bottom Line

SunPower offers high-quality equipment, training for installers, and financing, as well as some technical support and customer support. However, a SunPower installation is only as good as the local installers you use.

With a SunPower system you get the benefits of a national brand and local experts. The company’s huge network of certified solar installation contractors can help customize your rooftop solar energy system accounting for local weather patterns, electrical and building codes, and your family’s current and future energy needs.

About SunPower

SunPower is based in San Jose, California, and has long focused on manufacturing innovative solar photovoltaic products and the commercial solar market. Recently, however, SunPower spun off its manufacturing arm to a new entity, Maxeon, and bought the U.S. solar installation company Blue Raven Solar in 2021. This suggests a shift in focus, with SunPower doubling down on its efforts in the residential solar market.

In May 2022, Maxeon also announced a new partnership with CED Greentech. This will allow SunPower to distribute its solar products more effectively across the U.S. and worldwide to residential customers as of January 2023.

SunPower already makes the most efficient home solar panels and offers one of the best warranties around. The solar panels were also the first in the world to be Cradle to Cradle certified, meaning they’re the most sustainable solar panels available. This recognition is based on the company’s use and reuse of materials, manufacturing using renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness.

Maxeon is one of the few solar panel companies to produce a robust sustainability report each year. As per the 2021 Maxeon report, an external assessment found that the environmental payback period for its Maxeon 3 panels was less than a year. Depending on the system, it took 0.13 to 0.92 years for the renewable energy system to generate the same amount of energy it took to manufacture the product. Considering the longevity of the panels, this means the energy return could be more than 100 times the energy required for production.

SunPower solar equipment

SunPower offers four lines of solar panels, distinguished mainly by wattage and aesthetics. These are the M Series, A Series, X Series and E Series. All of the panels are high-efficiency monocrystalline designs with half-cut technology and efficiencies above 20%. 

The degradation rate of these panels is also really impressive, with barely any drop in efficiency over the 25-year warranty period. In fact, SunPower is so confident in the panels that it offers a performance guarantee of 92% of their original production at the 25-year mark for some models. 

The higher efficiency of SunPower solar panels means you can pack more production into a smaller space. Yes, SunPower panels are a bit more expensive than other solar panels, but the higher efficiency means it works out to a fairly similar price watt for watt. If your roof is partially shaded or you live somewhere quite cloudy, SunPower panels are also a great choice as they are designed to maintain energy production even under these conditions.

SunPower’s efficient panels are also a great choice for homeowners who have or are looking at getting an electric vehicle. This is because the panels can meet higher energy demands, such as for charging an EV, while taking up less roof space than conventional panels. In fact, SunPower customers will soon be able to add the Wallbox Pulsar Plus to their home energy project, allowing seamless EV charging using their solar panels.

Every SunPower home solar installation comes with a convenient smartphone app. where you can monitor your array’s output. The app also gives information on estimated savings on your energy bill, energy production over time, and even the environmental impact of that energy. The company’s EnergyLink™ system combines hardware, firmware and software to amass data that nerdy homeowners can analyze at their leisure. This monitoring system also flags any potential problems, so you can get help or perform maintenance quickly to restore and maintain productivity.

A complete home solar energy system

SunPower Equinox™ is a total home solar solution by SunPower. This suite of products works together as an integrated system under one comprehensive warranty. With most solar installers, you’ll get a hodgepodge of brands of solar panels, inverters, racking systems, and other components, based on the installers’ inventory at the time of installation. This can affect performance and lead to compatibility issues, as well as a mishmash of aesthetics instead of a seamless design.

Because SunPower offers a complete system with a single warranty, this can make it easier to make a claim should anything go wrong. There’s no passing the buck: the manufacturer of an inverter can’t, for instance, claim that the problem lies with a panel made by another company. Under the SunPower warranty, if you have issues with your system within 25 years (or 10 years for monitoring hardware and software), the company will repair, replace, or reimburse you for the fault.

In addition to the high-efficiency panels, SunPower offers its patented InvisiMount rail-based mounting system. This has an all-black design and is adapted for most roof slopes and types. Compared to most standard rooftop solar racking systems, InvisiMount parts are significantly less visible, providing homeowners with easy installation and a sleeker aesthetic.

SunVault Storage

SunPower also offers its own battery storage equipment to round out a complete home solar energy system. The SunVault Storage system has a 13 kWh battery and inverter, and the Hub+, which houses the load center. This solar battery uses lithium Ferro phosphate cells, which are safer and longer-lasting than other battery systems. Homeowners can add more battery units to the system, up to 52 kWh, for extra back-up capacity. 

The Hub+ offers monitoring of electricity production and home energy use and optimizes battery charging and discharge to take advantage of local utility rates. This helps reduce your utility bill each month and makes battery maintenance a breeze. It does take a little fine-tuning though. Homeowners have to set storage system preferences through the mySunPower app. Preferences can include which appliances (such as HVAC or a refrigerator) to keep running should there be a power outage, and when to power an EV charger or washing machine.

The SunVault system has a multi-inverter configuration that allows more areas of your home to be powered during an outage. It can also deliver a lot more power than some other solar storage systems, meaning it can crank up enough power to start appliances that some other battery systems could run but not start. The SunVault system provides 6.8 kW of continuous power and comes with a 10-year warranty.

If you do decide to go for another battery system, however, this should pair well with SunPower’s panels. Enphase Encharge and Tesla Powerall batteries can both be used with SunPower panels, for example. 

For customers who want to connect their battery to the grid to take advantage of rebates and incentives, SunVault makes it easy through ethernet, Wi-Fi and cellphone connections. SunVault™ Storage can also provide freedom from utilities’ time-of-use rates and help offset energy use on cloudy days and in the evenings. 

The company has plans to introduce other products for greater home integration in the next year or so, with demand management systems and smart home energy monitoring, so you can run energy-hungry appliances when electricity is cheaper or more readily available from your panels or battery.

The company has plans to introduce other products for greater home integration in the next year or so, with demand management systems and smart home energy monitoring, so you can run energy-hungry appliances when electricity is cheaper or more readily available from your panels or battery.

How the SunPower process works

SunPower offers a Free Consultation for home solar. When a customer contacts SunPower, the solar company’s team will schedule an in-depth consultation with an energy consultant. During this 45-60-minute session, a solar expert will ask questions about your home, energy use, and likely future energy needs. Expect to share recent and previous utility bills and discuss your hopes for your home solar energy system. 

The consultant will also ask questions about your roof, any shading or obstructions, and other factors that can affect solar installations. They will offer options for panel placement and give you a good idea of the likely output of different-sized solar energy systems. Finally, you’ll get a quote for home solar installation based on your family’s energy needs.

Homeowners also get access to the SunPower Design Studio, which allows you to visualize your home with solar panels through an app. This tool outlines your roof, including any potential obstructions for panels, and then creates a report detailing optimal panel positioning and likely array output.

Installing SunPower home solar

SunPower has its own team of installers but typically leverages its massive, well-established dealer network to carry out most installations. These dealers/installers have undergone training through SunPower and are certified by the company. This means the quality of the installation should be the same regardless of where you live. That said, some of the installers are far more experienced than others and the quality and ease of your home solar project will depend greatly on the local crew that performs the work. 

Our top tip is to ask SunPower about the specific crew they’ll send to install your panels. Ask how long the crew has been working with the company and how many installations they’ve done. If available, ask for a more experienced crew leader to work on your project, especially if your rooftop or system design is complicated.

SunPower is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Every SunPower dealer/installer has to pass the SunPower Equinox Best Practices exam, which is one of the NABCEP’s listed certification programs, before they can install SunPower products. This means that even the newest of installers signed up with SunPower must meet a minimum standard for professional practice.

It’s also worth noting that the design of SunPower panels makes for a fast home solar installation process. Your solar panels will arrive on-site with factory-integrated microinverters. This means less on-site wiring work, which translates to fewer opportunities for mistakes and a faster install overall.

1. Free online estimate: By giving information about where you live, how much energy you use and your credit score, you can get a free online estimate from SunPower that includes the estimated system cost as well as projected 25-year energy savings.
2. Solar consultation: If you want to move forward with SunPower after receiving your free quote, you can set up a free, virtual consultation with a SunPower representative. At this stage in the process, you have the chance to ask any questions about the system’s design and how to meet your home’s energy needs. After this, you’ll receive a proposal.
3. Complete paperwork and obtain solar permits and approvals: SunPower will apply for all permits and building approvals from your presiding city or county on your behalf. This process can take up to a few weeks. SunPower will also ensure you’re enrolled in any eligible net metering programs.
4. Solar system installation: SunPower will arrange for your system to be installed by one of its certified partners. Some states have technicians that are part of the company’s Master Dealers program, which is an invite-only, rigorously selected list of SunPower dealers that best represent SunPower’s brand. Installations typically take less than a day, depending on the complexity of the system.
5. Inspections and permission to operate (PTO): After the system is installed, you’ll need to wait until it’s inspected by both your city and your utility company before you can turn it on. SunPower will arrange the inspections, and after your system passes, you can start using your solar power.

SunPower cost

SunPower solar energy systems typically cost between $3.20 and $4.50 per watt. Altogether, a 6-kilowatt system from SunPower can cost up to $30,000 or more before incentives.

With SunPower, you can purchase a residential system outright, pay with a loan or lease a system. The company offers solar financing options with $0 down for eligible homeowners. Purchasing allows you to take advantage of tax credits and other incentives.

For the most accurate SunPower solar panel prices, get a quote online or contact an authorized SunPower dealer.

Paying for SunPower panels

Unlike many smaller solar installers, SunPower offers financing direct to customers. You can choose from three payment options: cash purchase, loans, or solar leasing. Under the lease option, Sunpower owns the system (meaning the company maintains the rights to any SRECs or tax incentives) and the customer pays monthly to rent the equipment. Under the lease option, customers get a 25-year performance guarantee and the ability to transfer the lease should they move.

SunPower loans come with 5-to-25-year terms, no prepayment penalties, and a range of interest rates depending on the amount and your personal finances. You can also use another loan provider to finance a SunPower installation.

SunPower doesn’t offer power purchase agreements but can provide leasing and financing opportunities as an alternative to paying cash. 

Negative reviews

SunPower is a big company and faces many of the problems known to plague corporate giants. That said, there are surprisingly few negative reviews about SunPower, given there are now millions of homes powered by SunPower systems in the U.S.

While most SunPower customers report being very satisfied with their solar energy system, those that do experience issues tend to find it a struggle to reach someone and get timely help. Because SunPower outsources much of its installation business to local installers, there’s sometimes a back and forth between the installer and SunPower as to who is responsible for any issues. Customers may get lost in the shuffle, which can mean your new energy system isn’t producing the power you hoped it would (or isn’t reporting power production properly) for a few weeks or even months.

With any company that outsources installation, there’s also potential for considerable variation in installation quality. If your local installer cuts corners, for instance, you’re much more likely to have problems with your SunPower installation, even if you have exactly the same system design as a neighbor using a more fastidious installer. 

Similarly, two customers with the same exact system may experience the same exact problem but have wildly different experiences based on the customer service skills of their local installer.

SunPower legal issues

As a larger solar installer and manufacturer, it’s no surprise that there have been several legal actions involving SunPower in recent years. The biggest of these is a class action lawsuit alleging that SunPower manufactured, marketed, and sold solar modules for residential use that included a defective part. 

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that SunPower sold solar panels with factory-integrated Generation 3.0 microinverters containing a defective component manufactured by a third-party. The solar modules were manufactured between approximately July 2015 and December 2016. SunPower agreed to settle the lawsuit but denied the allegations and any wrongdoing or liability.

The allegedly defective microinverters were installed in SunPower solar panels carrying serial numbers beginning with 4140515xxxx and 4140516xxxx. These were equipped in solar modules included in SunPower’s Equinox systems with the following model numbers: 

• SPR-E20-327-C-AC
• SPR-E19-320-C-AC
• SPR-E18-305-C-AC
• SPR-X22-360-C-AC
• SPR-X21-350-BLK-C-AC
• SPR-X21-345-C-AC
• SPR-X21-335-C-AC
• SPR-X21-335-BLK-C-AC
• SPR-X20-327-BLK-C-AC.

Affected customers may have experienced lost or reduced power production, property damage due to microinverter repair or replacement, or loss of solar renewable energy credits or other incentives.

SunPower customers who bought the affected solar modules or who own a home where the modules were installed were eligible to receive part of the settlement, with expected payments of $173.52 per Class Member. 

In addition to the small payout per customer, SunPower also agreed to create a dedicated customer care program up until the end of 2021 and to retrofit all defective microinverters by June 30, 2021. As such, no SunPower solar panels currently sold or being installed on homes should contain the allegedly defective microinverters.

That said, SunPower also revealed on January 20, 2022, that it had “identified a cracking issue that developed over time in certain factory-installed connectors.” The company is now being sued through a class action suit brought by shareholders who allege that SunPower withheld the information that it could cost “approximately $27 million of supplier-quality related charges in fourth quarter 2021 and approximately $4 million in the first quarter of 2022” to replace the connectors.

All in all, be sure to check with your local installer about their inventory of SunPower equipment to ensure there are no product recalls or issues that could affect your system’s performance.

Final thoughts on SunPower home solar

If it’s good enough for NASA….

Seriously, though, there are plenty of reasons why SunPower is the go-to solar company for big organizations and companies. With SunPower, you get high-efficiency solar cells, more sustainable manufacturing, a seamless, integrated home solar energy system, an impressive warranty, and beautiful design. You also get access to flexible payment options, optional solar battery storage and integrated EV charging, as well as smartphone monitoring.

Yes, there are some issues with communications and a history of equipment problems. However, the number of customer service complaints is actually surprisingly low considering just how many solar installations SunPower performs. As for the equipment problems, the good news is that SunPower caught the most recent problem and is already fixing the issue, perhaps having learned from the 2015/16 lawsuit.

All in all, SunPower could be a great choice for most homeowners, offering a sleek, cohesive solar energy system and the complete installation package. If you want to keep things simple, and you don’t mind paying a bit more for higher efficiency solar panels, check out SunPower. Just be sure to ask questions about the specific installation crew who will be working on your project, and know who to call if problems or questions arise after installation. If you have lots of roof space, however, and you want to pay a little less, you may find better value in using a different installer and a different brand of solar panels.