Blue Raven Solar Reviews, Services and Costs (2024) – MarketWatch
Our Thoughts on Blue Raven
If you are considering a home solar system, Blue Raven is our top pick for financing options. The company offers two types of solar loans with lower payments during the first years, which may help your power bill savings accumulate faster. Depending on the loan, the company offers either an 18-month grace period with zero payments or 60 months of reduced payments.
Our research team also recognizes Blue Raven for having high-quality solar panels. Blue Raven owner SunPower makes solar panels under the Maxeon brand, which have up to 23% efficiency, one of the highest rates in the industry based on our market research. However, Maxeon panels are also among the most expensive panel brands on the market, but Blue Raven also has other, more affordable quality brands including REC and Canadian Solar.
Blue Raven offers a 25-year product and power-output warranty, the industry standard for solar companies based on our findings. It also provides a two-year production guarantee — if your panels do not deliver the electricity output as stated by Blue Raven, you should get compensated for missed savings. However, the company’s 10-year workmanship warranty is shorter than other providers we’ve reviewed, such as SunPower and Freedom Solar, which offer 25-year terms.
How Blue Raven Scored in Our Methodology
Blue Raven Solar scored 4.5 out of 5 stars based on the review methodology developed by the MarketWatch Guides team. Its strongest points are its financing options and selection of high-quality solar panels.
Blue Raven State Availability
Blue Raven Solar services 18 states with 39 offices, including a headquarters in Orem, Utah. The company designs and installs solar panel systems with in-house teams without relying on external contractors.
Blue Raven Cost and Services Offered
According to our 2023 survey of 1,000 homeowners with solar panels, you can expect to pay from $2.50 to $2.81 per watt when buying a home solar system from Blue Raven. Here are the estimated prices for solar panel installations ranging from 5 kilowatts (kW) to 8 kW.
| System Size | Installation Cost |
| 5 kW | $12,500–$14,050 |
| 6 kW | $15,000–$16,860 |
| 7 kW | $17,500–$19,670 |
| 8 kW | $20,000 $22,480 |
You can expect to pay between $20,000 and $22,500 for an 8 kW system with Blue Raven, slightly less than the price of competitors, which we averaged around $15,000 to $20,000. Your cost will increase if you pay with one of the company’s loan options due to accrued interest charges over time.
How does this provider score in terms of cost or coverage? Are they one of our cheapest options?
Solar Panel Brands Offered
Blue Raven Solar installs monocrystalline panels, known for having high efficiency. Although SunPower owns the company, Blue Raven also installs solar panels from other manufacturers. According to the company website, Blue Raven installs the solar panel brands listed below.
| Solar Panel Brand | Efficiency Rating | Relative Cost Scale |
| SunPower Maxeon | Up to 23% | High |
| REC | Up to 22.6% | Medium–high |
| Panasonic | Up to 22.2% | Medium–high |
| Canadian Solar | Up to 22.8% | Medium |
| Jinko Solar | Up to 22.53% | Medium |
| Solaria | Up to 20.5% | Low–medium |
| JA Solar | Up to 21.2% | Medium |
| Trina Solar | Up to 21.5% | Medium |
| Yingli Solar | Up to 20.7% | Low–medium |
Solar Battery Installation
Blue Raven Solar offers four solar battery options from the following manufacturers.
| Solar Battery Model | Typical Installed Cost* |
| Tesla Powerwall 2 | $14,000–$16,000 |
| Enphase IQ | $13,000–$17,000 |
| SunPower SunVault | $15,000–$20,000 |
| FranklinWH aPower | $17,000–$18,000 |
*Since Blue Raven does not publish pricing information on its website, we estimated general costs based on market value. Prices may vary depending on your solar battery installer and location.
In our solar survey, 59% of 1,000 participants installed a battery system alongside their solar panels. Two of the solar battery models offered by Blue Raven were especially popular among those respondents: 30% chose the Tesla Powerwall and another 30% chose the SunPower SunVault battery.
On average, an energy storage system adds between $12,000 and $22,000 to the cost of a solar panel system, based on our research. This means a battery could increase the overall price of a Blue Raven solar system to between $25,000 and $35,000. However, customers can claim the 30% federal tax credit for solar panels and home batteries. If the total cost of your project is $35,000, for example, you would receive a $10,500 incentive.
Additional Services
In addition to solar panel and home battery installations, Blue Raven also offers the following services:
- Free initial consultation
- Mobile app
- System monitoring
Payment Options
Blue Raven has two solar loan options with unique benefits compared to other companies we’ve reviewed.
- BluePower Plus+: Features no payments for the first 18 months of the loan term
- SmartStart: Features reduced payments for the first 60 months of the loan term
Blue Raven solar loans have no prepayment penalties, so you can pay the balance off early to reduce interest charges. Customers also have the option of paying for a system upfront in cash and avoiding interest rates completely.
Blue Raven has no solar lease or PPA options, but our team found this as only a minor disadvantage because of the company’s solar loans. Solar loans usually have lower monthly payments than leases and PPAs. Plus, only the legal owner of a photovoltaic (PV) system can claim the solar incentives. You own the panels when paying via cash or a loan but not when signing a lease or PPA.
Blue Raven Warranties
Having warranty coverage is important when you install a solar power system to help ensure your solar panels consistently deliver energy savings over time. With a product or performance warranty, if any of your panels or another system component breaks down, you should get a free replacement. Reputable companies will also include a workmanship warranty to cover the quality of system installation.
Here is an overview of Blue Raven Solar’s warranty coverage:
| Warranty Type | Blue Raven Length | Industry Average* |
| Workmanship | 10 years | 10 years |
| Product | 25 years | 25 years |
| Performance | 27 years | 25 years |
*We based industry averages on market research and our analysis of solar companies nationwide.
The solar panels offered by Blue Raven have a 25-year product and power-output warranty from the manufacturer. Blue Raven also offers a two-year production guarantee, where customers can get financial compensation if their panels fail to generate the electricity output promised by the company. The company’s weakest warranty is for workmanship, which at 10 years is shorter than the industry average.
Blue Raven Installation Process
Blue Raven Solar outlines a seven-step installation process on its website. Before starting the process, the company offers a free initial consultation where you can ask about solar energy systems and financing options. Here is a general overview:
- Custom proposal: After you reach out to Blue Raven Solar for a quote, the company will create an initial proposal that considers your energy usage, roof type and the current state of your home’s electric panel. If you want to apply for a solar loan, the company will also ask about your credit score and annual income.
- Sign an installation agreement: By signing this document, you accept the solar proposal sent by Blue Raven.
- Site survey: To complete a site survey, Blue Raven will send technicians to collect specific information needed for your solar system design. The visit includes an inspection of your roof and power meter.
- Permitting: The company should take care of the permits and approvals needed to install your solar panels. This is the slowest part of the process, taking four to six weeks according to Blue Raven’s website.
- Schedule installation: Once Blue Raven has an approved solar design, it will contact you to schedule the system installation date.
- Installation day: Blue Raven installation teams normally take one to two days to set up a solar system, according to the company website.
- Inspection, verification and final steps: Before you can officially use your solar system, Blue Raven must schedule inspections with your city and electric utility. After passing both inspections, Blue Raven can switch your solar energy system on.
Reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot indicate that most Blue Raven Solar customers have a positive buying experience. However, some customers have complained about high-pressure sales tactics and long wait times before the installation. We reached out to Blue Raven for comment on these customer complaints but did not receive a response.
What Customers Think of Blue Raven Solar
To better assess what customers like and dislike about Blue Raven Solar, our team read dozens of reviews and identified positive and negative trends. At the time of this writing, Blue Raven held an average score of 4.4 out of 5 stars based on 1,380+ customer reviews on the BBB. The company also holds 4.4 out of 5 stars based on 60 reviews on Trustpilot.
What Customers Like
- Positive customer experience: Many Blue Raven customers expressed satisfaction with the overall solar buying process. Some reviews also mentioned that the solar installation process was efficient and well-organized.
- Clear communication: Customers appreciated that Blue Raven sales representatives took the time to answer their questions.
- Technical know-how: Customers appreciated the company’s experience with solar design requirements and local permitting procedures.
- High-quality solar panels: Some customers also mentioned the quality of the solar equipment provided by Blue Raven.
What Customers Don’t Like
- Delayed installations: Negative reviews of Blue Raven Solar seem more rare than positive testimonials, but some customers mentioned long wait times before the company installed their panels.
- Slow permitting process: Some customers also complained about permitting delays, although local authorities also play a role in the permitting process.
- Slow follow-up support: Some customers who left negative reviews mentioned communication issues with the customer service department and slow follow-up.
- High-pressure sales tactics: Most negative reviews of Blue Raven are related to the sales process, based on our assessment. The company received complaints for repeated calls and knocking on doors with “no soliciting” signs.
- Lower savings than expected: A few customers mentioned they do not see the electric bill savings they expected. Blue Raven responded to these reviews by explaining that some solar systems are sized smaller because of space limitations or to meet a lower budget, which could result in lower savings. The company also clarified that it notes this dynamic in its initial proposals.
Our team reached out to Blue Raven for comment on the above negative reviews but did not receive a response.
Blue Raven vs. the Market
You can see in the chart below how Blue Raven compares with other leading solar installers in terms of cost, product offering, financing options and warranty terms.
| Star Rating | |||
| 8 kW System Cost | $20,000–$22,500 | $25,000–$30,000 | $20,000–$25,000 |
| Warranties | 10-year workmanship, 25-year product and power output, 2-year production guarantee | 25-year workmanship, product and power output guarantee | 10-year workmanship, 25-year product and power output guarantee |
| Solar Panel Brands | Maxeon, REC, Panasonic, Canadian Solar, Jinko Solar, Solaria, JA Solar, Trina Solar and Yingli Solar | Maxeon | LONGi |
| Financing Options | Cash purchase or two solar loans | Cash purchase or solar loan | Cash purchase, solar loan, solar lease or PPA |
| Products and services | Solar panels, solar batteries, energy audits, system monitoring and a mobile app | Solar panels, solar batteries, energy audits, system monitoring, solar panel maintenance, panel removal and reinstallation, backup generators and a mobile app | Solar panels, solar batteries, electric vehicle chargers, system monitoring, optional service package and a mobile app |
| Star Rating | |||
| 8 kW System Cost | $20,000–$22,500 | $25,000–$30,000 | $20,000–$25,000 |
| Warranties | 10-year workmanship, 25-year product and power output, 2-year production guarantee | 25-year workmanship, product and power output guarantee | 10-year workmanship, 25-year product and power output guarantee |
| Solar Panel Brands | Maxeon, REC, Panasonic, Canadian Solar, Jinko Solar, Solaria, JA Solar, Trina Solar and Yingli Solar | Maxeon | LONGi |
| Financing Options | Cash purchase or two solar loans | Cash purchase or solar loan | Cash purchase, solar loan, solar lease or PPA |
| Products and services | Solar panels, solar batteries, energy audits, system monitoring and a mobile app | Solar panels, solar batteries, energy audits, system monitoring, solar panel maintenance, panel removal and reinstallation, backup generators and a mobile app | Solar panels, solar batteries, electric vehicle chargers, system monitoring, optional service package and a mobile app |
Blue Raven Solar stands out for its selection of high-quality panels, based on our review. It also features the 25-year performance warranty typically offered by solar panel manufacturers plus an additional two-year production guarantee.
However, a negative we found with Blue Raven is its shorter workmanship warranty. The company also has a more narrow service offering beyond solar panel and battery installations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Raven Solar
Blue Raven Solar is a reputable company based on our review. The company is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and an average customer score of 4.4 out of 5 stars. It installs solar panels and home batteries from several leading manufacturers. Blue Raven is owned by SunPower, which also ranks among our picks for the country’s top solar companies.
While the best solar company for you will depend on your energy needs and budget, the MarketWatch Guides team has rated and ranked the best solar companies nationwide. Among our picks include Freedom Solar, Sunrun, Momentum Solar, SunPower and Blue Raven.
Blue Raven uses monocrystalline solar panels, which have a higher energy efficiency than polycrystalline and thin-film panels. The company installs solar panels from several manufacturers, including SunPower’s Maxeon brand, REC, Panasonic, Canadian Solar and more.
How much money solar panels can save you depends on the size of your solar panel system, your local electricity rate and other factors. Based on our general calculations, a 6 kW home solar system can generate over 8,000 kWh of energy per year in a site with favorable sunshine. At the national average electric rate of 15.73 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), our sample solar system could save you around $1,260 in energy costs.
Keep in mind this is just an example. You can get a better idea of your expected solar savings after an initial home assessment by a qualified solar company.
Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Solar Companies
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