Sunnova Solar review: Why it’s our No. 1 solar installer

Sunnova at a glance

Sunnova Solar is our highest-ranked solar installer, providing national coverage across 46 states and outstanding warranty coverage to protect your system for decades.

Fast facts

What we like

Sunnova stands out partly because of its robust protection plan with each system. All installations come with “Sunnova Protect,” which covers maintenance and repairs for free for 25 years and guarantees that your system will produce power as detailed in your initial quote. If not, the company will pay the difference. Sunnova also includes a 10-year roof penetration guarantee to provide maximum peace of mind that your installation will go smoothly.

Sunnova makes going solar more affordable by accepting a variety of financing options. You can pay in cash to maximize your return, or you can take out a solar loan, a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) to customize your down payment and long-term savings.

What we don’t like

Sunnova Energy reviews on Trustpilot are well above average, but it only scores a C+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)*. The BBB has noted a pattern of complaints about deceptive marketing practices and poor customer service following installation. Sunnova responded to the issue by detailing its steps to rectify the problem, but it’s still something to be aware of.

Also, Sunnova is the subject of a class-action lawsuit in which plaintiffs claim that Sunnova’s leadership purposefully deceived investors and shareholders to inflate the company’s stock price. This explanation doesn’t necessarily mean anything negative for customers, but if the claims are substantiated, it does call into question the company’s overall ethics and business practices.

* BBB ratings are accurate as of August 2024.

Sunnova pros and cons

Sunnova is a one-stop shop for solar installations, so it’s an option for customers who want panels, batteries, EV chargers, home energy efficiency upgrades or a combination of those options.

You can also bundle all the equipment you need into one warranty package. Sunnova Protect provides peace of mind that system maintenance and repairs are covered and that your system will perform as expected for 25 years (the duration of the warranty).

Sunnova doesn’t publish specific prices, but it notes that the average cost to go solar is between $3 and $5 per watt. In our experience, that range is above average, although pricing will depend on your specific home and system requirements.

Pros

Cons

How much does Sunnova cost?

Like most other solar installation companies, Sunnova doesn’t advertise pricing on its website. Solar installations differ from job to job based on roof size, energy demands, shading and more. The only way to get an accurate cost for your solar system is to contact Sunnova, have a representative complete an in-person home assessment and get a formal estimate.

Given Sunnova’s statement that the average cost per watt for solar is between $3 and $5, a 6-kilowatt (kW) system would put the price of a Sunnova solar array between $18,000 and $30,000 before incentives.

Savings and discounts

Sunnova’s website does not list discounts, but there are a few key ways to save when going solar with this provider.

Most importantly, all U.S. taxpayers transitioning to solar for the first time in their residence can take advantage of the federal investment tax credit (ITC). This nationwide incentive lets you reduce your tax liability by 30% of your system installation cost, including all equipment and labor costs. Provided you can take the entire credit, this perk alone would bring the range of a Sunnova system down from $18,000 to $30,000 to $12,600 to $21,000.

You may also have local and state incentives available. For a list of local solar costs, search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE).

Sunnova provides more robust warranty protection and better guarantees than many solar companies, all of which could save you money. The warranty covers repairs and maintenance for 25 years plus roof-leak protection for 10 years. So, any damage to your home or system because of your solar installation should cost you nothing.

The company also provides a production guarantee and will pay you the difference if your system underperforms. You could save more on your electricity bills than you would if you went with a competitor.

What services does Sunnova offer?

Sunnova is a full-service solar installer, with its primary offerings including solar panel installations, solar batteries and EV chargers. It doesn’t publish the brands of panels it installs, but it includes battery and charger options:

Solar batteries offered

EV chargers offered

Sunnova also installs auxiliary solar equipment, including inverters, mounting racks, wiring and conduit.

Sunnova services

Sunnova add-ons and optional features

The batteries and EV charger options mentioned above are sometimes considered add-on options, but these are becoming more standard offerings. Still, you can choose just solar panels or any combination of panels, batteries and EV chargers when going with Sunnova.

For less-common add-ons products and services, Sunnova provides:

What does Sunnova not cover?

Sunnova’s offerings are more robust than most competitors, with panels, batteries, EV chargers, professional services, financing and even energy efficiency upgrades, all offered in-house. What I’ve seen from other providers that Sunnova doesn’t deal with is roof replacement or repair.

If you have an older or damaged roof, most reliable installers will recommend a replacement before installing panels to avoid having to uninstall and reinstall them shortly after the initial installation. Sunnova doesn’t handle roofing work in-house, so you’ll have to coordinate with a third party, which is more of a hassle and could lead to delays in your installation.

Sunnova customer experience

Sunnova is easy to contact by email and phone, although it doesn’t have an online chat option. Once you’re a customer, you can also log into your customer portal to pay your bill, see your production history and contact support.

I called Sunnova as a secret shopper to test the company’s response time and customer service. After going through an automated menu, I was told I had an estimated wait time of two to five minutes to speak with a representative. The actual wait time ended up being just over three minutes, which was longer than I’ve seen with many competitors.

Once I connected with the rep, they were very friendly and helpful. They answered questions, proving they were knowledgeable about the company’s products and services.

To paint a more complete picture of the service you can expect, here are some customer reviews:

Understanding Sunnova’s installation process

Sunnova follows a standard installation process similar to most other installers. We’ll detail the process briefly below to give you an idea of what to expect.

Sunnova vs. competitors

Sunnova is one of the highest-rated solar providers in our rankings for many reasons, but one area in which it stands out the most is warranty coverage. Few other companies include a warranty package as robust as Sunnova’s.

You’ll always get a manufacturer’s warranty and sometimes a labor warranty. However, roof-leak warranties are rare, and free maintenance and repairs are usually only included in leases and PPAs to sweeten the deal.

Companies like Sunrun, for example, push leases and PPAs by offering free maintenance. With Sunnova, though, you get 25 years of coverage for the equipment and production, a production guarantee, free maintenance and repairs and a 10-year roof leak guarantee.

Overall, Sunnova is an outstanding option if you want robust coverage for your investment and are willing to pay slightly above-average prices for that peace of mind.

It’s also a full-service solar installer that serves 46 states and accepts all primary financing options. The only company on our list of bests that can beat Sunnova’s availability is Tesla Solar; no other provider can touch it.

Sunnova competitor comparison

Methodology

The CNN Underscored team researched 20 of the best solar installers in the United States and ranked them based on 27 criteria across seven categories:

The author of this article is also a solar and renewable energy expert with four years of experience researching and writing about solar equipment and installers. He has solar installed on his own home in New York and has helped friends and family members find reliable installers and secure high-quality systems that maximize savings and long-term benefits.

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