7 Leading Solar Energy Companies
Solar energy is appealing to those who want to eschew fossil fuels to help the environment and those who want to save money on their electric bill. For both of these reasons, solar power has seen a rise in popularity recently. Whether you're looking to power a home, a school, or a business, the companies listed here can help you make the switch to clean energy. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Companies Helping People Switch To Solar Energy
| Name | Headquarters Location |
|---|---|
| EnergySage | Boston, MA |
| Orb Energy | Bangalore, Karnataka |
| REC Solar | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| Borrego Solar | San Diego, CA |
| Vikram Solar Limited | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Simpleray | Fairfield, IA |
| Solar Liberty | Buffalo, NY |
How Do Solar Panels Work?
The Rise Of Global Temperature
According to data from NASA
| Year | Annual Average Anomaly |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.73°C |
| 2011 | 0.61°C |
| 2012 | 0.65°C |
| 2013 | 0.69°C |
| 2014 | 0.75°C |
| 2015 | 0.90°C |
| 2016 | 1.02°C |
| 2017 | 0.93°C |
| 2018 | 0.85°C |
| 2019 | 0.98°C |
Products To Help You Go Green
If you're interested in the environment, you probably know that changing consumer habits is an important part of the fight against climate change. If you want to help save the planet, getting some of these eco-friendly products is a good place to start:
- A set of reusable grocery bags
- Stainless steel straws to replace disposable plastics
- A portable greenhouse where you can grow your own food
- Silicone food bags for taking healthy snacks on-the-go
- A vegan cookbook to help you cut back on meat
- Solar toys that will entertain your kids without using disposable batteries
- Some beeswax wraps, a waste-free way to keep food fresh
- A reusable water bottle
The Rise Of Solar Power
In Depth
As alternative energy technology continues to advance, and the environmental costs of fossil fuels become ever clearer, more and more consumers and businesses are exploring the possibilities of solar power. From residential photovoltaic arrays to resilient battery storage, companies around the world are offering a growing range of solar solutions. In no particular order, here are seven firms helping clients harness the clean energy of sunlight.
Opening our list at #1 is EnergySage, which works to facilitate solar power use for American consumers. The company's online marketplace helps users create a project profile based on the property's characteristics, then receive and compare quotes from pre-screened installers. EnergySage also assists with shopping for financing options to pay for installation, and offers a Solar Decision Guide to help those interested compare costs and benefits.
EnergySage provides a wealth of information about home photovoltaic systems, including overviews of net metering for those connecting to the grid, solar batteries for power storage, and operations and maintenance. The company offers resources discussing other environmentally friendly options as well, such as home efficiency upgrades or alternative heating and cooling. And EnergySage's buying guides help DIY consumers compare solar panels and related equipment.
The company offers resources discussing other environmentally friendly options as well, such as home efficiency upgrades or alternative heating and cooling.
Up next at #2 is Orb Energy. This full-service solar company offers collateral-free financing, installation, and maintenance for homes and businesses in India. Orb manufactures its solar panels in-house, and offers both grid-tied installations and off-grid systems with battery storage. The company also provides a calculator tool allowing prospective customers to estimate savings.
Along with photovoltaic equipment, Orb produces solar hot water systems, including both cost-effective evacuated glass tube collectors, and high-performance flat copper plate models. The company offers commercial and industrial installations as well as home systems. Those curious about Orb's services can read case studies from completed projects, or view testimonials from customers.
At #3 we have REC Solar, specializing in commercial PV systems and energy storage, with a portfolio dating back to 1997. This contractor works with industries including hospitality, agriculture, and manufacturing, as well as building utility-scale solar farms. The company offers operation and maintenance services as well as engineering, procurement, and construction, with monitoring software allowing clients to track and optimize energy savings.
The company offers operation and maintenance services as well as engineering, procurement, and construction, with monitoring software allowing clients to track and optimize energy savings.
REC Solar provides energy storage solutions to complement its power generation options, enabling clients to maximize efficiency of electricity usage and avoid demand charges, or to create microgrids offering resilience in the face of utility outages. The company also provides several financing options, including power purchase agreements for low up-front costs. Overviews of various aspects of PV purchasing, installation, and operations are available through REC Solar's blog.
#4 in our roundup is Borrego Solar, an American company that provides commercial PV solutions. Borrego offers services from land development for utility projects, to operations and maintenance with ongoing performance monitoring. Its portfolio includes municipal improvements like solar arrays built atop landfills, power generation for academic institutions, and installations for corporate offices.
For private landowners, Borrego offers long-term leases for construction and operation of small-scale community solar programs, producing clean power for local residents. The company can create systems for storage as well as generation, offering opportunities to defer grid upgrades and reduce demand charges. Borrego provides several types of financing options, as well as a variety of resources on the costs and benefits of solar electricity.
Borrego provides several types of financing options, as well as a variety of resources on the costs and benefits of solar electricity.
Coming in at #5 is Vikram Solar Limited, a leading Indian firm with a global presence, which manufactures and sells a comprehensive catalog of PV equipment. It also designs and builds projects for both residential and commercial applications. The company's past installation projects include solar arrays for academic institutions, utility-scale generation, and an experimental floating power plant.
Vikram Solar provides asset management services in addition to its manufacturing and construction divisions, and offers informational tools like an energy cost calculator, a home installation checklist, and a regional policy guide for customers in India. Other resources include educational slide shows and graphics, along with a blog examining the nation's energy industry. The company also funds corporate social responsibility initiatives including hospitals, schools, and local sustainability efforts.
Entry #6 is Simpleray, a company helping homeowners and businesses in Iowa and Illinois to invest in solar generating capacity. With a consultative process that keeps the client in the loop throughout the planning and installation, and online monitoring of power production once the system is in place, Simpleray handles every step of solar array design, construction, and support.
With a consultative process that keeps the client in the loop throughout the planning and installation, and online monitoring of power production once the system is in place, Simpleray handles every step of solar array design, construction, and support.
Simpleray's clients include schools, farms, and small businesses, as well as municipal utilities looking to move towards energy independence; the company's power purchase agreements enable electric generation at fixed long-term rates. Simpleray provides an online Resource Center with news updates and educational videos, and publishes articles on topics like renewable energy incentives and the benefits of grid-tied systems.
We'll end our list with #7, Solar Liberty, a photovoltaic equipment installer located in New York State. This company provides grid-tied residential systems with free evaluations, deferred payment loans to offset initial costs, and a rewards program offering prizes for referrals. The firm also offers solutions for businesses and municipalities, including solar farms for landowners.
In addition to power arrays, Solar Liberty can install battery storage systems and commercial microgrids to increase resilience and efficiency. The company also offers the SLX Monitoring device to allow real-time tracking of system performance, solar charging stations for electric vehicles, and a clean energy purchasing option for consumers. Its blog shares news and perspectives on the renewable energy industry.
