Category Archives: Buyer’s Guide

Articles about solar products and companies to help consumers understand more about solar equipment/companies and best compare their quotes and options.

Image shows a white house with an attached garage. The home has rooftop solar panels.

Tesla solar panels: the complete review

Tesla entered the solar industry in 2016 when the Elon Musk-led company acquired SolarCity and began offering home battery storage and solar installations. Making the jump from electric vehicle manufacturer to a broad clean energy solutions provider, Tesla continues helping homeowners achieve energy independence. In addition to their popular Solar Roof, which replaces traditional roofing materials with small photovoltaic solar shingles, Tesla also offers traditional solar panels. In this review, we’ll dive into the specifics of Tesla’s solar offerings and what it looks like to go solar with Tesla. 

When evaluating your solar panel options, it’s essential to compare what’s available so you can be confident in your solar investment. Let’s look at Tesla’s solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.

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Image of a black solar panel on a white and blue background. The text on the image reads Q CELLS the complete review

Q CELLS solar panels: the complete review

Founded in Germany in 1999 by a group of German engineers and acquired by Hanwha Group in 2012, Q CELLS (formerly Hanwha Q CELLS) is one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers. Now headquartered in South Korea, they produce panels in the United States, Malaysia, and China. In North America, they are based in Dalton, Georgia, where they have the largest solar manufacturing facilities in the Western Hemisphere! The combination of aesthetically pleasing and high-quality panels at a relatively low cost has made Q CELLS an increasingly popular choice for solar shoppers comparing their options on the EnergySage Marketplace

When evaluating your solar panel options, it’s essential to compare what’s available so you can be confident in your solar investment. So, let’s look at Q CELLS’ solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.

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Image of a black solar panel on a white and orange background. The text on the image says LA Solar Group the complete review

LA Solar Group solar panels: the complete review

LA Solar Group has been installing solar panels since they were founded in the Los Angeles area in 2011, with current installations spanning three states: California, Nevada, and Texas. During the past 12 years, they’ve installed over 25,000 systems and approximately 625,000 solar panels. In 2019, they took their years of experience as solar installers and expanded their business to offer their own line of solar panels. So, how do their panels compare to other leading panel brands? In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about LA Solar Group and the products they offer.

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rec solar panels review

REC Solar panels: the complete review

REC Group is Europe’s largest solar panel manufacturer, with offices in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia. The company was founded in Norway in 1996 and manufactures its solar panels in Singapore. REC is known for pioneering half-cut cell technology in 2014, which improved the performance of solar panels by cutting solar cells in half. 

In 2022, REC launched its newest series of solar panels: the Alpha Pure-R. They now offer four series of high-power solar modules for residential applications, including Alpha Pure-R, Alpha Pure, N-Peak 2, and Twinpeak 4. REC solar panels are growing increasingly popular – they’re now some of the most quoted and most selected panels on the EnergySage Marketplace.

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tesla-solar-roof

Tesla Solar Roof cost vs. solar panels

You’ve probably heard of the Tesla Solar Roof before – and you may even be considering it over standard solar panels. The Solar Roof integrates traditional roof shingles with solar panel technology to create a sleek solar system that’s both aesthetically pleasing and a generator of clean energy. But Tesla Solar Roofs come at a premium cost and aren’t the best option for everyone. In this article, we’ll help you decide if a Tesla Solar Roof or solar panels are right for you.

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Image of a solar panel with text that says SunPower: the complete review

SunPower solar panels: the complete review

SunPower solar panels are one of the most frequently requested solar panel brands on the EnergySage Marketplace and for a good reason: SunPower panels are often the most efficient (read: powerful!) products on the market today, and they offer an industry-leading warranty. For many years, SunPower has been a fully-integrated solar shop, manufacturing solar cells and panels and then offering sales and installation services for residential and commercial applications. But, while they are considered some of the best panels, they do come at a premium price. 

When evaluating your solar panel options, it’s essential to compare what’s available so you can be confident in your solar investment. Let’s look at SunPower’s solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.

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solar panel kits

Solar panel kits: a complete overview

Most home solar panel systems are installed by a qualified solar installer, but more DIY-minded homeowners are exploring options like solar panels for sale online and solar panel kits for home available for purchase in hardware stores. If you’re one of the millions of Americans considering joining the transition to renewable energy by going solar, you’ve probably come across some of the DIY solar products and off-grid solar systems available – but do you know how to choose the best product out of all the solar panels for sale? Here’s your complete guide to finding the right option for your home.

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Image of Panasonic solar panel with text

Panasonic solar panels: the complete review

As one of the world’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers, Panasonic is a household name that entered the solar industry in 1975. Panasonic solar panels are popular among EnergySage shoppers and installers – in fact, they’re the third most quoted brand in 2023! However, in 2021 Panasonic announced that they’ll no longer manufacture their own solar panels (they previously had a manufacturing deal with Tesla). But if you’re interested in Panasonic solar panels, don’t worry: unlike LG Solar, Panasonic is continuing to sell high-performing panels – manufacturing is now just outsourced to a third party. 

When evaluating your solar panel options, it’s important to compare what’s available so you can be confident in your solar investment. Let’s take a look at Panasonic’s solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.

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Solar generators

Our guide to the best solar generators

Solar isn’t just for rooftops – you can use portable solar products like solar generators as a backup power source if the grid goes down, or as a source of electricity for your campsite, RV, or boat. But what is a solar generator exactly? And how does it compare with typical fossil-fuel-powered generators? In this article, we’ll break down the key things you need to know about solar generators so you can decide if they’re right for you!

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portable solar panels on rv

Best portable solar panels

Solar power isn’t just for homes and businesses! With portable solar panels, you can use the sun’s power on the go to meet your energy needs. From portable solar panels and solar generators for RV trips to solar phone chargers, there are many kinds of moveable solar products with an easy-to-transport, compact design on the market today.

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