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Solar panel and inverter equipment quality
All types of solar equipment, from solar panels to inverters, have a long list of technical specifications that help you understand the performance, quality, and durability of the piece of equipment. With the thousands of products out there, it can be difficult to determine which equipment is best for your needs, or whether you’re paying a fair price for it.
In collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), EnergySage developed a straightforward, industry-standard system for classifying and comparing solar equipment by evaluating key performance criteria and metrics for different equipment. You can find the ratings for individual products in our Buyer’s Guide. We also display product-specific ratings in your solar quotes on EnergySage.
Learn more about our equipment rating system
Rating scale
Excellent
Equipment earning the Excellent rating is ideal for maximizing the performance of your solar energy system. The criteria vary for each type of solar equipment and represent the best available technology in the U.S. market.
Very Good
Equipment earning the Very Good rating performs above average across a range of criteria, and may only miss out on the highest ranking due to a shorter warranty, lower efficiency, or decreased performance under sub-standard conditions. You can expect strong performance at lower costs than associated with Excellent equipment.
Good
Equipment earning a Good rating is a safe and solid choice for your solar energy system under most circumstances. This equipment is in the average range for most or all technical criteria analyzed, though may offer a shorter-than-average warranty. Good solar equipment is ideal for solar shoppers seeking a bargain for their solar energy system or with enough space available for solar that the highest quality equipment isn’t necessary.
Poor
Solar equipment receiving a Poor rating is at the bottom end of the spectrum of solar equipment, and should be priced accordingly if at all available. This equipment has been surpassed by advances in technology and performance of other equipment available in the industry.