5 Best Solar Panels of 2023, According to Experts

Catch some rays and slash your energy costs with one of our top-rated rooftop solar systems.

If you’ve been thinking about installing rooftop solar panels to help power your home, there’s no time like the present. Thanks to economies of scale, today’s solar panels are cheaper than ever, even as their energy-generating capability continues to improve. What’s more, generous federal and state tax credits could lower the project cost by a third or more.

Our experts and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute have watched solar panel technology improve by leaps and bounds over the last decade. Still, some panels perform better than others; where you live and the orientation of your roof are important factors too. That's why it's vital to figure out the right solar panels for your home. “The purchase should last for 25 to 30 years, so you want to make sure you’re getting the best possible value and not just going with what the installer recommends,” says Spencer Fields, Director of Insights at EnergySage, an alternative energy marketplace that connects homeowners with pre-screened solar professionals.

To help streamline the process, our team of renovation experts and mechanical engineers in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab scoured the marketplace and consulted with several outside experts from the industry to identify the best solar panels available today.

Choosing the best solar panel is an important first step in the journey, but there’s more to the process. Once you’ve scrolled through our top picks, read on for more information, including details on what makes some panels perform better than others and how to decide if your home is a good candidate for the upgrade.

You probably know Panasonic for its consumer electronics, everything from cameras to hair dryers. But the century-old Japanese brand is also a pioneering powerhouse in the solar panel space, having entered the market way back in 1975. Though it stopped doing its own manufacturing in 2021, Panasonic panels still offer the best combination of performance and reliability, especially if you spring for the TripleGuard warranty, which provides a 25-year product, performance, and labor warranty on any panels installed by a Panasonic-authorized installer.

Our experts recommend EverVolt, Panasonic's premium line of solar panels with exceptional power output and efficiency. The HK Black Series is the newest offering and represents the best of the best, including 410-watt output and an extremely low degradation rate, meaning the panels will still be producing at least 92% of their original output after 25 years.

Canadian Solar entered the market in 2001 with the mission of delivering the best possible value to consumers. The average cost of installation starts around $16,100 (including tax credits), which is the cheapest of all national manufacturers reviewed by our experts. The low cost doesn’t come with a lot of compromise in quality either. Case in point: Canada Solar’s new HiHero 445H-AG solar panel has an impressive power output (410 watts) and temperature coefficienct (.26), which means it works well in all climates.

The big tradeoff is on the product warranty, which, at 15 years, is a decade less than other leading brands. "If you plan on being in your current home for more than a couple decades, it might be worth paying more for another solar panel," says Rachel Rothman, chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

SunPower has been around since 1985 with a proven track record — and that's significant, given the high rate of unscrupulous (or just plain inexperienced) companies in the solar panel space. What's more, SunPower is an installer with a history of manufacturing so they know the industry inside out, plus they're a one-stop solution for all your solar needs, including the panels and battery storage, all backed by one of the best warranties in the business.

Their products are superb too, none better than the M-line from its SunPower Equinox Series. The panels boast a maximum power output of 440 watts and efficiency rating of 22.8%, both best in class. "We also like the fact that SunPower uses microinverters behind each panel to convert sunlight into power for your home," adds Rothman. "Besides maximizing power and efficiency, it means the entire system won't shut down if there's an issue with one panel, which is the case with solar panels that use a central inverter." All that innovation doesn't come cheap, but our experts say it's worth paying a premium for SunPower, given the exceptional performance and peace of mind.

Europe’s largest manufacturer of solar panels, REC was founded in Norway in 1996, making it another brand that our experts say you can count on over the long haul. REC produces several lines of high-quality panels, all of which feature monocrystalline solar cell technology for maximum output and efficiency, even at higher temperatures. Though you’ll pay top dollar for it, our experts recommend the Alpha Pure-R, which can crank out up to 430 watts and will still be operating at 92% capacity after 25 years. "The all-black design also gives the panels a particularly sleek look," says Rothman.

The panel is backed by a 25-year warranty, provided you go with a REC-certified installer, and it’s guaranteed to produce 92% of its output by the end of its warrantied life. The one drawback with REC is it only produces solar panels, so if you want to add other components, like battery storage, you'll have to settle for a piecemeal system with different installers, service contracts and the like.

As we noted earlier, you shouldn’t automatically go with the solar panel recommended by your installer. On the other hand, it’s always good to know which brands pass muster with the pros. In the case of solar panels, that distinction belongs to Qcells, founded in Germany in 1999 and now headquartered in South Korea (though their factory in Dalton, Georgia is the largest solar manufacturing facility in the Western Hemisphere). Pros like Qcell because of its competitive pricing and wide availability. Homeowners like the low prices too, as well as the solid performance and clean aesthetics of Qcell's line of solar panels. Their aluminum alloy frame can withstand heavy snow and rain.The top-of-the-line Q.PEAK Duo BLK ML-G10+ series generates 41o watts, which is slightly less than other top picks, but still respectable. The panel's efficiency and guaranteed capacity are more middle-of-the-pack and power production might drop off in very hot climates. But for a dependable solar panel at an affordable price, Qcell is one to consider.

Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute stay on top of all forms of renewable energy for the home, from geothermal heat pumps to solar generators. For this report on solar panels, we pulled together insights from trade shows and industry events, like CES and the International Builders' Show, and interviewed various experts from the field. That helped us zero in on the brands with established track records for reliability — a crucial step in the vetting process since the solar industry has its share of fly-by-night operations.

While our experts were not able to do actual installations of the solar panels, the evaluation process included a thorough review of all technical data, including manufacturer specifications and third-party testing. For pricing information, as well as insights from solar panel installers, we worked closely with EnergySage, an alternative energy marketplace. We also pored over scores of user reviews to spot any red flags related to performance or reliability. Finally, we analyzed warranties and service agreements to ensure that our top picks are suitably backed by the manufacturer.

Researching solar panels can start to feel like a hair-pulling science project from high school with confusing concepts like cell technology and temperature coefficients. Relax: you don’t need to dust off your old textbooks. We’ve simplified the decision-making process into just three key considerations. Here’s what you need to know:

✔️ Solar panel performance: This comes down to two main criteria: power output (how much electricity a solar panel generates) and efficiency (the panel’s ability to convert sunlight into power). The best solar panels offer the strongest combination of the two, the same way the best cars on the road today deliver excellent fuel efficiency while still going zero to 60 in under five seconds. Like most electronic equipment, performance is impacted by ambient conditions, namely temperature. Here’s where temperature coefficient comes into play, which is an important factor to consider if you live in a warm climate.

✔️ Solar panel durability: For a solar panel to reach its maximum lifespan of 25 to 30 years, it needs to be well-built using quality materials. Spencer Fields of EnergySage says the method of manufacturing has a big impact. Brands that use automated manufacturing processes offer the most durable panels, without any of the cracking, delamination, and other premature failures that often afflict hand-assembled panels. While brands don’t necessarily advertise the fact that they use automation, it’s a good question to ask the salesperson or the installer who you’re working with on the project. As for specs, there are three to consider:

✔️ Solar panel reliability: While durability is part of reliability, this measure speaks to the brand as a whole and not just the solar panels that roll off their production line. Warranty is the key factor. Rooftop solar systems have come down in cost, but it’s still a huge investment, so you want the peace of mind of the strongest possible warranty.

Though solar panels have become better looking in recent years, the systems still impact the look of the home, especially if they’re installed on a street-facing roof. That’s the appeal of solar roofs, in which all the energy-generating technology is integrated into shingles or tiles. The result is a less obtrusive design with an installation process that can be more cost-effective than that of rooftop solar panels, which often require additional mounting mechanisms that make the systems even more cumbersome.

Tesla created a stir with the launch of its Solar Roof in 2016, though rollout of the system has been much slower than expected, so our experts have not yet seen it up close. We have reviewed another solar roof system, GAF Energy's Timberline Solar, which is billed as the world’s first nailable solar shingle. GAF, a sister company of GAF Energy, is a Good Housekeeping Seal holder, so our engineers have done in-depth reviews of Timberline’s strength and durability. A thorough Lab analysis of the new solar shingle found the same quality of materials and construction. The streamlined installation should help offset the cost, which GAF Energy says is "typically comparable to a new roof plus traditional rack-mounted solar."As for performance, while solar roofs often use the same basic cell technology found in the best solar panels, their sleek design impacts production. Solar roof power output is typically between 50 and 100 watts per shingle or tile, while efficiency hovers between 15% and 20%. That could be an issue if you have limited roof space, since you might not be able to generate enough power to make it a worthwhile investment. Solar Roofs Pros✔️ Slim profile✔️ Easy installation✔️ Durable design Solar Roofs Cons✔️ Expensive upfront cost✔️ Lower power output and efficiency✔️ Not as widely available

This also gets a tad technical, but it’s worth having a baseline understanding of the different ways solar panels are constructed, since it's another indicator of quality and performance. There are two main types: monocrystalline, which are composed of a single crystal of silicon and polycrystalline, in which many silicon fragments are melted together. The best solar panels are almost always monocrystalline, because the structure allows sunlight to be converted into electricity far more efficiently.

You might come across a third type called thin-film solar panels. Also known as “flexible” or “peel-and-stick” solar panels, they’re a cheaper alternative to traditional solar panels, but they’re not as efficient or durable, with lifespans of around 10 to 20 years. That’s why you don’t see them on a lot of residential roofs, though they can be a good solution for more portable applications, for example on the rooftop of a boat or RV.

To answer this question, you need to consider a few factors, starting with your home’s specific circumstances.

Dan DiClerico has covered the renewable energy market for nearly 25 years, working closely with agencies like the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as well as leading brands in the alternative energy space. He also keeps up with the latest innovations by attending trade shows and industry events. In his role as Director of Home Improvement & Outdoor at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Dan oversees the testing and evaluation of any alternative energy equipment that passes through the Lab. He also runs the Good Housekeeping Home Reno Awards, which surfaces many of the latest innovations in energy efficiency.

For this report, Dan worked closely with Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman. Leveraging her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics, Rachel brings extensive knowledge and hands-on testing of alternative energy technologies. She leads efforts for the constant evolution of Good Housekeeping’s technical and testing protocols, responding both to market drivers and growth opportunities.

Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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