Blue Raven Solar
Blue Raven installs the best solar panel and solar battery technology on the market and has an excellent customer service record to back its services. Its in-house financing options make it a good choice for any homeowner — regardless of budget — to go solar.?
Our rating: 4.1
Best for: Customer support
Average cost per watt: $3.20 to $4
Blue Raven at a glance
Blue Raven has earned its way onto our list of the best solar companies. It is a highly rated solar company with high customer satisfaction, a good variety of solar products, unique financing options and a generous referral program.
Fast facts
- Blue Raven Solar has more than 3,200 team members across 19 states.
- Blue Raven was acquired by SunPower in 2021.
- Blue Raven partners with GivePower to help provide access to clean water for those in need.
- Blue Raven has a 4.36-star rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).*
What we like
Blue Raven scored high marks in our ranking methodology for a few reasons. The company has an A+ rating from the BBB* and a decade of experience providing installation services in 19 states. It uses solar panels from top equipment brands in its systems. We like that Blue Raven offers in-house financing options and has a real person on the other end of live chats. The company also has a generous referral program.
What we don’t like
Although Blue Raven Solar has many advantages for those looking to transition to solar power, there might be better choices for you. The company is only available in 19 states, so it might not service your area.
In addition, you can’t finance your panels through a solar lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA). You can only pay cash for your system or finance it through one of Blue Raven’s two solar loan programs.
Because Blue Raven doesn’t have an app for tracking your solar system’s energy production, it’s not a good fit for homeowners looking for all the bells and whistles of home energy monitoring.
* BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2024.
Blue Raven pros and cons
Blue Raven’s biggest advantages include the company’s in-house financing plans, referral program and solid customer reviews. If you choose its BluePower Plus+ plan, you’ll also receive 18 months of solar for free before you start paying a flat-rate fee for your panels. This allows you to take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit in advance.
Blue Raven’s Refer a Friend program allows you to earn $500 for the first friend you refer, followed by $1,000 for the second friend and $1,500 for additional referrals.
On the downside, Blue Raven is only available in 19 states. You also can’t lease or sign up for a PPA with Blue Raven. If specs matter to you, Blue Raven’s lack of a mobile app to monitor your services may also be a disadvantage.
Pros
- Stellar customer reviews on the BBB
- Unique financing plans with $0 down for 18 months
- Excellent Refer a Friend program
Cons
- Limited availability in only 19 states
- Fewer financing options: no leases or PPAs
- Has no mobile app monitoring services
How much does Blue Raven cost?
Blue Raven solar panels cost between $3.20 and $4 per watt, putting the average 6 kW solar system around $19,200 to $24,000 before deducting the federal tax credit. However, the cost of your Blue Raven solar system will depend on several factors, including the size of your panels, the manufacturer, your location and any add-ons you include with your purchase.
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Average cost range
|
|
|---|---|
| 3 kW | $9,600 - $12,000 |
| 6 kW | $19,200 - $24,000 |
| 9 kW | $28,800 - $36,000 |
What services does Blue Raven offer?
pro tip
- The best way to discover how much Blue Raven costs for your home is to complete its online form and speak with a specialist, who will answer questions that help estimate your installation expenses and potential savings.
Blue Raven offers several solar system services in addition to solar panels, including microinverters and solar battery installations from top brands. The company says its completely in-house installation team installs solar panels three times faster than competitors, which can also help you start saving on electric bills as soon as possible.
Blue Raven’s workmanship warranties are unique to the industry and showcase the company’s excellent customer support. Blue Raven will cover all repairs or will reach out to the manufacturer on your behalf for two years following installation,
Check out all the services Blue Raven offers below.
Blue Raven services
|
Offered?
|
|
|---|---|
| Solar panels | SunPower, REC, Qcells |
| Solar shingles | No |
| Microinverter | Enphase |
| String inverter | No |
| Solar battery | FranklinWH, Enphase, Tesla Powerwall |
| Full cash | Yes |
| In-house loan | Yes |
| Lease | No |
| Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) | No |
| Other financing | Yes |
| Free energy consultation | Yes |
| Inspection scheduling assistance | Yes |
| Permitting assistance | Yes |
| Roof repair | No |
| Power production guarantee | 2 years |
| Workmanship warranty | 10 years |
| Microinverter warranty | Manufacturer warranty |
Blue Raven add-ons and optional features
Blue Raven also offers several optional add-ons that pair well with solar panel installations.
Solar Batteries
In addition to your solar panels, Blue Raven carries solar batteries from three popular manufacturers: FranklinWH, Enphase and Tesla Powerwall. Solar batteries store the solar energy your panels produce so you can use them when you can’t generate electricity from your panels or there’s a grid power outage. Blue Raven states that solar batteries start at around $17,000 — the national average, according to Energy.gov, falls around $12,000 to $22,000.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
Blue Raven partners with Ecobee to provide smart-home solutions. Ecobee is a smart thermostat that lowers electric bills by using an internet connection to check and adjust your home’s temperatures from the convenience of your smartphone. Costs start at $149 but talk to your Blue Raven Solar representative to get a quote for your home.
What does Blue Raven not cover?
Although Blue Raven provides many services for people going solar, the company doesn’t offer everything. Blue Raven may not be the right solar panel company for you if you want all the bells and whistles of smart-home energy solutions, like monitoring your solar production and energy consumption from the convenience of your smartphone.
If you’re looking to install solar shingles instead of solar panels, Blue Raven does not have solar roofing technology or string inverters. It also doesn’t offer a power purchase agreement or solar leasing option for those who don’t want to buy their solar panels.
Some solar companies offer roof repair services, while Blue Raven doesn’t provide any such services. However, if Blue Raven damages your roof during installation, the company will pay to fix it.
Blue Raven customer experience
Blue Raven Solar has strong customer ratings from the BBB, with 4.36 out of 5 stars from 1,250 customer reviews. The company has a strong reputation as a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating. Blue Raven has a live chat with a human on the other end of the line so that you don’t have to jump through hoops to speak with an actual person. Its website is also full of resources to help you answer any questions.
At the same time, the company had 288 complaints closed in the last three years, which suggests that a fair number of customers weren’t 100% satisfied with their experiences. Of the lower reviews, many complaints involved pushy sales tactics and difficulties communicating with the team throughout the installation or afterward when submitting a claim.
Here are some Blue Raven reviews that best summarize a variety of customer experiences:
Understanding Blue Raven’s installation process
Every solar installation company has a particular installation process, making it important to understand what that might look like and whether the process fits with your lifestyle and availability. Here’s how Blue Raven Solar installs solar panels:
- Speak to a team member. Your consultant will ask about your energy usage, roof type, electrical status, credit score and income.
- Create a proposal. Work with the team to design a customized solar installation and develop a proposal.
- Agree to the installation. Review the installation agreement detailing your proposal.
- Site evaluation. Conduct a home and site evaluation with a site surveyor.
- Design finalization. Once the evaluation is complete and you get the green light, the solar design team will finalize your design.
- Permit acquisition. The team will then start a four- to six-week permit acquisition through your municipality.
- Prep work. After approval, solar technicians can begin preparing your roof for the installation.
- Walk-through. When the installation is complete, your solar installers will give you a walk-through of your solar system.
- Clean up. The crew will clean the site.
- Solar panel inspection. A city inspector and a utility representative must ensure that your installation is up to code before you can use your solar panels.
Blue Raven vs. competitors
Depending on your circumstances, some of Blue Raven’s competitors have strengths that could make them a better choice. For instance, Sunnova is available in 50 states, making it a more viable option for those who don’t live within the 19 states where Blue Raven operates.
Likewise, Momentum Solar offers solar leases, a financing choice Blue Raven doesn’t offer. If you want to install solar shingles, you may prefer to find a local solar company that carries the Tesla solar roof.
Blue Raven competitor comparison
|
Our score (out of 5 stars)
|
No. of states available
|
Years in business
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Raven Solar | 4.1 |
20 |
10 |
| Sunnova | 4.7 |
50 |
12 |
| Green Home Systems | 4.1 |
21 |
15 |
| Tesla Solar | 4.1 |
50 |
9 |
| Momentum Solar | 3.8 |
12 |
15 |
| NRG Clean Power | 3.8 |
2 |
7 |
| Lumio | 3.6 |
14 |
3 |
Methodology
The CNN Underscored team analyzed data from 18 solar installers based on which solar panel equipment they offered, their payment options, installation and service features, warranties, nationwide availability, customer reviews and years of experience. We scored each company using the quality and number of services provided and arrived at an impartial rating.
Bottom line
Overall, Blue Raven Solar is a reputable solar company that provides in-house services from start to finish for homeowners looking to go solar. This company may be the right fit for you if you want a solar installer that offers a variety of solar products, $0 down for the first 18 months, solid customer reviews and a referral program.
On the other hand, if you don’t live in one of the 19 states the company operates in, you’re looking to lease solar panels or you want a solar installer with more add-ons and specs, then you might be better off choosing another solar company near you, like Sunnova Solar.
