Blue Raven is a relatively younger company in the solar panel industry, but it’s strongly committed to providing affordable solar panels to customers. The company uses black-on-black monocrystalline solar panels in its solar energy systems with reputable brands like Canadian Solar and Trina. Blue Raven Solar has a financing program with no money down for the first 18 months and offers free installation.
Pros
- Refer a friend program available
- Free solar energy for 18 months with a BluePower Plus+ plan
- Two-year power production guarantee with every installation
Cons
- Not available in all 50 states
- No solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) options
![Blue Raven Solar Review](https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/fit-in/x/https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Blue-Raven.png)
Table of Contents
- Blue Raven Solar at a Glance
- Blue Raven Solar State Availability
- Other Benefits
- Blue Raven Solar Solar Benefits
- Additional Solar Options
- Blue Raven Solar Installation Process
- Blue Raven Solar Cost and Financing Options
- Blue Raven Solar Warranties
- How Blue Raven Solar Stacks Up
- Is Blue Raven Solar Right for You?
- Methodology
Blue Raven Solar at a Glance
Blue Raven was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Orem, UT. It was acquired by SunPower Solar in 2021. The company works with GivePower, a nonprofit that aims to make the planet a cleaner world. The company states that more than 67% of the country’s electricity comes from the burning of fossil fuels, and Blue Raven wants to put an end to that, one solar panel at a time.
Some stand out features from this company include a free solar energy for 18 months policy that comes with the BluePower Plus+ plan, no installation costs, a 25-year manufacturer warranty and a two-year power production guarantee with every installation. The two-year power production guarantee means that if your system doesn’t produce the expected amount of energy, you get a free upgrade of your system.
Blue Raven Solar State Availability
Blue Raven Solar services 21 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Other Benefits
Blue Raven brings ease of service and saves you money. Here are some other benefits:
- Each buyer gets a custom designed system for their home
- The company handles all the system permitting for your city
- Customers get a manufacturer’s warranty and a production guarantee
- The company’s free ebook explains the ins and outs of solar panels
Blue Raven Solar Solar Benefits
Saving on electricity bills is a major motivation to go solar. And with Blue Raven, customers will get that and numerous other benefits. These include:
- Paying $0 upfront
- Getting 18 months free
- Company guarantees you will save money in comparison to previous annual utility costs
- 25-year manufacturer warranty
- Tax credit applicable
- Ability to monitor solar production with an app through tablet, mobile and desktop devices
- Large selection of multiple low-APR loan options to choose from
- Refer a friend program: First referral gets you $500, the second $1,000 and for the third or more $1,500.
Solar Panel Options
Going green and reducing the nation’s carbon footprint is the driving force behind Blue Raven Solar. Here are their solar options:
- Blue Raven Solar uses black-on-black monocrystalline, tier-1 panels that are between 315 and 335 watts and have an average lifespan of 25 to 40 years.
- Blue Raven Solar will contact your utility company to get you started in the net metering program. Customers get energy credit for the excess electricity their solar energy system is contributing to the grid.
Additional Solar Options
The company also offers some other features, which include:
- A SunPower SunVault solar battery that stores extra solar energy for later use, such as during power outages
- Company uses premium Enphase microinverters that are long lasting and reliable
- Ecobee smart thermostats that employ wireless remote sensors and are Wi-Fi ready available
Blue Raven Solar Installation Process
Blue Raven Solar’s installation process is very straightforward:
- A Blue Raven Solar representative will visit your residence to determine if you are a candidate for going solar.
- A survey team will check the electrical status and your roof condition such as the roofing type, angle and roof shading.
- The design team will create a custom, maximum efficiency plan for your house.
- The installation team will then create and sign the solar panel installation agreement, handle all necessary permits and install the panels.
Blue Raven Solar Cost and Financing Options
The national average cost of solar panels is about $16,000, or between $3,500 to $35,000 based on the type and model. Costs typically factor in location, current utility consumption, size of house and system installed, solar panel types and more. The national average cost for maintaining a custom solar system is between $140 to $180 for each service, or $280 to $720 annually.
Blue Raven has two financing plans:
BluePower Plus+
Using the BluePower Plus+ plan, homeowners don’t have to put any money down for the first 18 months. Customers get a fixed monthly payment and interest rate for the entirety of the loan with no penalty for prepayment.
Blue Solar claims customers can pay 33% of their system in the first 18 months when combined with the federal income tax credit along with any state credit.
SmartStart Program
Using the five-year SmartStart program, customers pay a low promotional rate for the first 18 months. Once the promotion ends, customers will get a check for 42 months to keep the rate the same.
Blue Raven does not offer solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs) and strongly promotes customer ownership, since customers can take advantage of federal solar tax credit and state and local incentives.
Blue Raven Solar Warranties
Blue Raven Solar has two options that provide protection to your system:
25-Year Manufacturer Warranty
The Blue Raven warranty covers manufacturing issues with your solar panels but not routine maintenance.
Two-Year Productivity Guarantee
After installation, Blue Raven guarantees its solar system for two years. Should your system not produce the expected amount of energy, the company will guarantee a free upgrade.
Fine Print
As a young company, Blue Raven aims to help more Americans get affordable solar energy and cut their carbon footprint. SunPower’s acquisition of the company has only helped bolster those goals. While it is still only available in 21 states, the company has more locations in the works.
Blue Raven Solar doesn’t offer leasing options and encourages customers to have full ownership of their panels in order to take advantage of federal and state tax credits. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and holds an A+ rating and gets good customer reviews.
How Blue Raven Solar Stacks Up
*While SunPower made our 2024 ranking, the company announced in July 2024 that it will be ramping down residential sales past July. All facts and figures were correct at the time of ranking.
Is Blue Raven Solar Right for You?
Forbes ranked Blue Raven Solar third on its list of best solar panel companies. Customers pay $0 upfront, get no cost installation, receive 18-months free and enjoy a 25-year manufacturer warranty. While the company only serves 21 states, it’s worth checking out for its personalized solar systems and flexible financing.
The company offers ebooks that break down the benefits of solar from Blue Raven and answer a broad range of customer questions. Determining whether Blue Raven is right for you depends on customer needs and preferences.
Best Solar Companies By State
Methodology
To determine the best solar panel installation company ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed 20 major companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
Customer Reviews (35%)
BBB customer ratings and accreditation as well as ratio of complaints to reviews, Trustpilot and Google reviews were all analyzed for each solar panel installation company for 35% total.
Customer Support Options (12%)
The editorial team analyzed all solar companies’ support options including live chat (pre-sale), phone service, FAQ page, knowledge base, community forum and blog for a total of 12% of the total ranking.
Number of States Covered (22%)
Nationwide availability of each solar panel installation company makes up 22% of the ranking. The more states a company covers (including D.C.), the more points it is awarded.
Extra Features (20%)
Extra important features like years in business, average warranty (in years) for products, whether financing is available, free energy consultation availability, home and commercial installation availability and vehicle installation availability, were considered collectively for a combined 20% of the total ranking.
Editorial Judgment Points (11%)
Other editorial judgments were offered for a variety of reasons, including improvement of customer rating and ratio of complaint to review scores from the previous year.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the benefits of Blue Raven Solar?
Going solar with Blue Raven means customers can reduce their energy bills and rely on clean renewable electricity. Customers pay zero upfront, get no cost installation, have 18-months free and enjoy a 25-year manufacturer warranty.
How long has Blue Raven been in business?
Blue Raven Solar has been in business for eight years and counting and has gone from three to more than 2,200 team members nationwide to become an experienced and professional company.
Who is Blue Raven owned by?
SunPower Solar owns Blue Raven.
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