Solar has arrived in Alberta, and it is here to stay. More houses and businesses alike across the province are adding solar to their rooftops – just look out for panels on your neighbours’ roofs the next time you take the dog out.
It is easy to see why solar is steadily growing in Alberta. The environmental benefits are clear. The price of solar has decreased to the point it has become increasingly accessible. Considering Alberta has some of the most expensive electricity and some of the most sunlight hours of any province, our province has one of the fastest payback periods for your solar installation in the entire country.
For the vast majority of Canadians, it makes more sense to hire a professional company to install solar on your roof than the alternatives. The task is not easy to start with, could have catastrophic consequences if something is not installed correctly, and needs to go through a few layers of red tape before you are ready to connect to the grid. However, with so many reputable installers operating within Alberta, the opportunity to shop around has never bore so many options!
Alberta’s best solar installation companies
Evolv solar
Regions: Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
EVOLV solar is a Western Canadian solar installation company that has served the region since 2016. With offices in Calgary, Penticton, Winnipeg and Regina, EVOLV Solar has installed over 1500 systems, for commercial, agricultural and residential purposes. With a Portfolio that includes Sunshine Village Ski Resorts in Banff to Freson Brothers supermarkets across the province, you can trust EVOLV.
EVOLV offers turn-key solutions for whichever type of solar installation you will need. Their team includes designers, engineers and tradesmen, with experience with every part of the solar installation process, including off-grid and grid-tied solar alike.
Albertans online found working with EVOLV solar to be favourable, and complimented their staff for their accommodations, knowledge and professionalism. EVOLV seems to be in the middle ground in terms of pricing – some have found their quotes with EVOLV were on the higher end, and some have found their quotes to be on the lower end. We have no reason to believe you would regret your decision to work with EVOLV, however, you should do your due diligence and get quote from their competitors too.
Great Canadian Solar
Regions: Alberta
Great Canadian Solar has been a mainstay in Alberta’s solar industry since 2009. Based out of Edmonton, they install throughout Northern Alberta. Great Canadian Solar has been behind over 500 solar projects throughout the province, including numerous solar farms and large-scale commercial installations.
Great Canadian Solar is partnered with Solar Offset to provide passive income for those who install solar with them through the customer selling the environmental attributes of their system.
Albertans who shopped with Great Canadian Solar were majorly positive. They described the company as transparent, responsive and professional. Great Canadian Solar was noted by its customers for their fair prices and strong customer service. From our analysis of what users had to say online, we did not see anyone who installed solar through Great Canadian Solar say anything but praise for the company.
Kuby Renewable Energy: Solar installation
Areas served: AB and BC
Kuby is one of western Canada’s most reputable solar installers, offering a wide range of renewable energy solutions including grid-tied and off-grid solar installations, EV charging, and energy storage solutions. Kuby provides installations primarily in Alberta and British Columbia, with their head office located in Edmonton and regional offices in Kamloops, Calgary and Lethbridge. Kuby offers both residential and commercial solar installations, with projects in their portfolio including The Edmonton Convention Centre and Red Deer Polytechnic.
Kuby maintains a strong reputation throughout Western Canada. Our analysis of reviews and comments about Kuby suggests that the majority of their customers online compliment their work. They are professional, knowledgeable and for the most part, prompt with responding to requests for quotes and questions.
Reviewing what people had to say online, users who had shopped around commented on the cost being on the higher end. Some have cited the company has long wait times for installation, which seems like a a symptom of high demand.
However, one note that we saw people online make was the recommendation to work with Kuby directly – as some companies work on behalf of Kuby to create new leads, sometimes going door-to-door. Some people online who were approached by these companies found the salespeople pushy and misleading, and the costs were also said to be higher than just shopping through Kuby directly. We suggest seeking Kuby out yourself and not going through a middleman or a salesperson.
Polaron
Region: Alberta, Ontario, BC, Nova Scotia and PEI.
Polaron is a Canadian solar installation company that does Residential and Commercial solar installation projects. Founded out East over eleven years ago, Polaron now reaches across Canada with operations in Alberta, Ontario, BC, Nova Scotia and PEI. Over their eleven years, Polaron has installed over 111 megawatts of solar panels across the country in both residential and commercial installations, including over 12,000 Canadian households.
Polaron offers 0% financing on their Solar projects through their “Sunline Program”. This can be helpful for many Canadians who will likely need to pay off the solar project over time. However, it is important to note that this program includes Polaron claiming your solar credits from the system. Additionally, note that there are many different financing solutions available to solar installation, including the federally offered Greener Homes loan, which also offers interest-free financing. When shopping around for financing options, we recommend shopping around, paying close attention to the rates and the length of the term you will have to pay back, as well as any clauses about “Environmental attributes”.
One of the biggest benefits of choosing an established installer for your solar project is the certainty that they will be around to perform maintenance or honour the warranty. As one of the biggest solar installers in the country, Polaron is established for longevity. However, for even further peace of mind, Polaron has partnered with HSBC to provide further stability with a multi-billion Dollar Solar Fund. If you shop with Polaron, you can realistically expect to be supported by Polaron for years and years to come.
Shoppers online were overall positive about Polaron. In terms of costs, Polaron is routinely one of the cheaper companies when people shop around. However, some people have questioned the quality of customer service. One thing mentioned online to consider was that Polaron have been known to subcontract their work out, which has led to inconsistencies. Overall, Polaron’s has one of the widest reaches of Solar installation companies in Canada.
SkyFire Energy
Regions: Alberta and BC
Skyfire is a solar company that has been installing solar panels since 2001 – back when the technology was only in its infancy! With offices in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kelowna, SkyFire covers much of South-Western Canada- some of the best places in the country to install solar. Their expertise in residential, commercial, and even utility-scale solar projects means SkyFire is a company you can trust with any type of solar project.
SkyFire is an employee-owned company (Certified B Corp) with a strong social and environmental record. They are committed to the environment, offering Zero Carbon Solar options, where the carbon associated with mining, manufacturing and installation of solar is offset with SlyFire’s partnership with Radicle. SkyFire is a company that is on the cutting edge of solar in the country – they are involved in many different organizations, both within the solar and energy industries, as well as community support through The Calgary Interfaith Foodbank and The Mustard Seed.
Solar is an investment, but it can be a costly one. While there are ways to get loans or finance solar from the government or banks, SkyFire has partnered with Financeit to offer financing options for your solar installation.
Albertans who went with SkyFire were predominantly favourable. They praised the company’s professionalism, communication, and work. However, the quoted price for many of the systems was among the highest they received. This may vary from system to system, so do not hesitate on getting a quote from Alberta’s longest lasting solar company.
SolarYYC
Regions: Southern Alberta
For those in Calgary or the surrounding areas, you should reach out to SolarYYC for your solar installation project. SolarYYC is a truly local company with a strong reputation for everything they do, from residential solar to commercial solar, agricultural solar, and everything in between.
SolarYYC can take care of everything in terms of your residential solar installation, from the tedious paperwork to getting on your roof. Better yet, they boast an average residential installation time of only one day – meaning you can start generating your own photovoltaic energy right away. SolarYYC also offers EV charger installation!
SolarYYC provides a default 10-year warranty on the systems they install, with the option to extend the warranty to 25 years, when the solar panels will be approaching the end of their lifespan.
We looked online to find what people were saying about SolarYYC. Of the many that had chosen SolarYYC for their solar installation project, they complimented the company’s professionalism, communication, promptness in response and quality of work.
ZENO
Regions: Alberta, Ontario, BC
Zeno is an Alberta-based solar installation company that many in the province have talked favourably of online. Specializing in residential installations (but still available for commercial jobs too), Zeno also offer battery storage solutions, including residential EV charging, and solar builder projects. With offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Mississauga, Zeno is expanding across the country to provide dependable solar installation and more sustainable energy solutions.
Zeno employs trained, certified electricians and enforce high quality standards. Zeno backs their installations with a number of guarantees, including Lifetime Craftmanship Guarantee, ensuring your solar installation will be effective and durable throughout its lifespan. A 25-year production warranty is included on their solar installations. They even ensure you get a strong year one investment, even if you miss your targets, through their “Production Guarantee”: If you produce less than the expected output of your solar panels, Zeno will refund you the difference.
Online, there were mixed responses from Zeno, but there were some factors that were consistent.
While their communications were hit or miss between different customers, their professionalism and quality of work were consistently strong.
Zeno was consistently named as one of the most expensive installers in the province, but shoppers reported that they also erred towards bigger systems that generated more energy.
You can calculate your estimated savings using Zeno’s solar calculator.
What to look for in solar installers
We do not recommend one solar installer over another. Instead, we recommend you get a quote from as many solar companies as you can. This way, you can know if you are really getting the most value out of your dollar, reducing the amount of time it will take for you to pay off your solar panels.
When you are dealing with a solar installer, try to make your final choice a company that reflects the following in their business.
Professionalism
Let’s face it. Solar is still a developing industry, and there are some less than reputable players. There are excellent companies, and there are ones that are decent, albeit possess some flaws. Then there are the companies that border on the fraudulent. We have researched the online reputations of the companies we have vetted, but our research is not exhaustive; there are likely experiences shared by people online we have missed.
Proximity
Shopping local is rarely a bad move. While there are benefits of shopping with the nationwide or international solar companies that might exist, local installers can and often will do more for you.
By prioritizing local companies, you can avoid the delays associated with out-of-town companies doing your installation, troubleshooting, or repairs, or hiring a company that in turn hires a subcontractor that ends up doing suboptimal work.
Regardless, it is not a bad idea to get a quote from local shop and larger enterprises, alike.
Transparency
What information does the quote offer? How much electricity can your solar installation generate? When will the installation be? How long will it take? These are questions you will want to know when you receive a quote, and what you might get for your inquiry might vary from company to company. We respect any company that breaks down the costs of installing solar to their customers.
Price & Payment
We expect anyone will try to look for the best deal when shopping for something as expensive as a solar installation. $2/3 dollars per watt is the standard cost you can expect for solar installations.
Why it’s best to shop around
Like many investments one makes in their lifetime, it is best practice to shop around when looking for a solar installer. We highly recommend getting a quote from each of the installers in this list that serves your area.
Many of the companies in the solar industry today offer free quotes, so shopping around does not cost you extra – but not shopping around might. Different Systems can vary drastically in design, output, materials and costs. By shopping around for the best offer, you can ensure you are getting the most value for your money or getting the system that suits your home or electricity consumption best.
How to get solar panel installation certified?
There are many things that need to be accounted for in an installation to be certified in Alberta. First, the electrical permit needs to be pulled by a master electrician. You will also need the correct development or building permits. Finally, you will need to submit a micro-generation application to your electricity retailer. These steps are easier said than done, and since you need to hire a Master Electrician for the permit, it’s overall worth it to hire a company for the entire installation.
Frequently asked questions:
How much does solar installation cost?
Solar installation can be a complex installation, with many factors that play a role in the overall cost of the system, including material costs and labour. Other factors, such as the layout and design of the system, and any add-ons you can additionally purchase, like rodent guards (highly recommended).
Today, you can assume to pay between $2-3 per Watt installed.
How can I get a bigger solar installation?
Due to governmental regulations, Albertans can install solar that generates up to 110% of their annual energy usage. Some people have artificially inflated their energy usage in the months to a year leading up to installing solar, to increase the size of the system they can be approved for.
In which direction should your solar panel installation be orientated?
In the northern hemisphere, your panels should be orientated south for optimal generation. For more information, check out this resource.
How to cancel a solar panel contract before installation?
Ultimately, this seems like it will be dictated by the fine print on your contract. Carefully review the terms within your contract, looking out for any termination clauses and what the termination fee will be. Termination will likely need to be agreed upon by both parties. Please note that termination of a contract is a legal matter, and advice is best sought from a legal professional; we do not offer legal advice.
Keep in mind that in Canada, any product purchased from a door-to-door salesperson has a ten-day period where you can cancel for any reason.
