Founded in New Jersey in 2009, Momentum Solar has grown to offer solar panel installation in 10 states. The company offers several payment or financing options along with information on additional money-saving incentives. With an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, Momentum Solar has a good reputation in the solar industry.
Pros
- Offers highly efficient monocrystalline panels
- Mobile app integration
- Generous warranties
Cons
- Limited to 10 states
- Mixed reviews about the sales experience
- Battery storage only in five states
Table of Contents
Momentum Solar at a Glance
Momentum Solar was created in 2009 when the founders wanted a sustainable way to power a stereo system. Since those early days, Momentum Solar has evolved to offer solar panels, microinverters and solar batteries. Momentum Solar partners with Enphase, a company that makes high-tech microinverters and solar batteries.
Momentum Solar makes Forbes Homes’ list of the Best Solar Panel Installation Companies of 2023. The rankings are based on consumer reviews, available features and more. The company earned accreditation from the Better Business Bureau in 2015. Pushy or misleading sales tactics are leading to complaints among reviewers.
Featured Partner
1
SunPower
BBB Grade
A+
Financing Options
Flexible financing with zero down payment
Number of States Covered
50
2
Palmetto Solar
BBB Grade
A+
Financing Options
Purchase, loan, PPA
Number of States Covered
20
3
Blue Raven Solar
BBB
A+
Financing Options
$0 upfront for 18 months
Number of States Covered
21
Momentum Solar State Availability
Momentum Solar is headquartered in New Jersey and offers solar panel installation in a total of 10 states. This includes Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. Battery storage is available in five of those states: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
Other Benefits
Solar Batteries
Following its 2021 partnership agreement with Enphase, Momentum Solar has expanded to offer solar battery storage solutions in addition to solar panel installation. Enphase solar batteries integrate with home systems to provide power at night, during cloudy days or when backup electricity is needed. Unfortunately, solar batteries from Momentum are only available in five states at this point.
Microinverters
Top-of-the-line microinverters are another benefit from Momentum’s partnership with Enphase. The highly efficient microinverters are installed with every solar panel, which helps convert power. When you design a solar panel system with Momentum, you can discuss and select which microinverters are best suited for your needs.
Enphase Enlighten App
With the Enphase Enlighten app available for smartphones, customers can review the health and performance of their solar panel system. This includes managing energy-demanding appliances, monitoring the production of the solar panel grids and connecting with support if needed.
Concierge Service
From the design process to the installation and beyond, Momentum connects customers with a dedicated support team member. This ensures the concierge is familiar with the project and can make for a more seamless experience.
Momentum Solar Benefits
Momentum distinguishes itself from some other solar panel installation companies by offering Tier 1 panels from several different manufacturers. “Tier 1” means that the panels meet a set of bankability criteria outlined by Bloomberg News Energy Finance, which goes to show that the panels are widely accepted in the industry.
Further, the panels offered through Momentum are monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) panels. Monocrystalline panels are considered to be the most efficient on the market with a lifespan of 25 to 40 years.
Momentum Solar Installation Process
Momentum Solar offers free quotes. Using the online tool, you start by entering your zip code to determine availability as well as what local utility incentives are available. When you decide to move ahead with Momentum, your dedicated customer service team member will be your primary point of contact, which simplifies the question-and-answer process for you.
- Get a detailed quote: Although the free online quote provides a good estimate, you can get a more accurate quote by setting up a free phone consultation or contact-free Zoom meeting. During this call, the representative can also explain financing options as well as information on local and federal tax incentives.
- Momentum Solar team designs your project: The team of solar panel system specialists from Momentum will create a design that suits your needs and maximizes the energy efficiency of the system.
- Project managers sort through permitting: Necessary paperwork and permits vary in different locales—so it helps that Momentum’s team handles all of that for customers.
- Professional installation: After a final inspection of the property to assess if there should be any adjustments to the plan, a team of professional installers from Momentum Solar can get the system installed in about four to six hours. Once the panels and other accessories are installed, one of the experts will provide demonstrations on how to manage the system.
- Receive activation approval: The last step to get your solar panels up and running is getting Permission to Operate from your local utility company and/or government. Momentum Solar manages this process on your behalf.
Momentum Solar Cost and Financing Options
The best way to get a sense of what solar panel installation from Momentum Solar costs is by going through the quote process online, by phone or via Zoom. Momentum Solar offers highly efficient panels with greater than average lifespans, so costs can be expected to be on the higher end of the average range relative to other solar panels systems of the same size.
The professionals from Momentum Solar are well-versed in federal tax credits, such as the Investment Tax Credit, which provides homeowners with a 30% tax credit for solar energy systems installed through 2032. Sales reps can also help advise on local credits or incentives.
Momentum Solar has a few financing options in addition to cash payment:
- Solar Loans: Available through financing partners, Momentum Solar can help you get set up with a loan that doesn’t require an upfront payment. This still provides parts and labor warranties and allows you to benefit from tax credits or incentives.
- Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): With a PPA, you make a payment directly to Momentum based on the power that your panels produce during a given month. You only pay for panels that produce energy and don’t have an upfront payment. The catch is that you are leasing, not owning, the panels.
- Solar Lease: As with a car lease, a solar lease allows you to get solar panels at a low monthly rate for a designated period of time. At the end of that term, you can purchase the panels or get them removed. You will ultimately pay more for this because you don’t qualify for the federal tax credit with a lease.
Momentum Solar Warranties
Momentum Solar offers a 25-year warranty that covers parts and labor. This warranty helps protect your investment, including the solar panels as well as microinverters and solar batteries.
Best Solar Companies By State
Fine Print
Although the company has grown in its nearly 15 years, Momentum Solar is currently only available in 10 states and solar batteries are further limited to five states. The productivity of your solar panel system depends not only on the panels and accessories installed, but also on the specific conditions of your home and climate. Although solar panels can help you save on energy bills, most customers still have to pay for some electricity.
How Momentum Solar Stacks Up
Is Momentum Solar Right for You?
If you live in an area serviced by Momentum Solar and want top-of-the-line panels that you can reasonably expect to last for decades, then the company is certainly worth a look. Complaints are generally limited to communication issues and sales tactics rather than the actual performance of the solar panels or installation process.
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does Momentum solar make money?
Most homeowners can’t embark on installing solar panel systems on their own—which is where companies like Momentum come in. Although Momentum does not manufacture solar panels, they get them at lower costs and earn money on the sale. The company can also make money based on the financing option selected by the customer.
What’s the difference between Momentum and Enphase?
Momentum has a close partnership with Enphase, which enables Momentum to offer a wider variety of parts—like batteries and microinverters—as well as services. However, Momentum itself is the installation company.
Where is Momentum Solar based?
Momentum Solar is headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey.
How long has Momentum Solar been in business?
Momentum was founded in 2009 and has been accredited by the BBB since 2015.
Does Momentum Solar provide a good warranty?
Yes, Momentum Solar offers a 25-year warranty.
Do you really save money with solar panels?
Despite still paying an energy bill (albeit a lower one) and the significant upfront costs of solar panel installation, you can expect the solar panels to pay for themselves in time. Most customers break even on their solar panels within six to 10 years. From that point, the energy savings are purely money in your pocket.
