The 20 Best Solar Companies in the World

Solar power is increasingly becoming a popular energy source in many homes and businesses. Solar energy development started in the late 19th century but stalled in the early 20th century because of the increased availability of coal and petroleum. The 1973 and 1979 oil and energy crisis caused governments worldwide to look for alternative energy sources, which led to a reorganization of their energy policies. People started to embrace solar energy again, and the 21st century has seen an incredible boom in the use of solar power by many establishments.

Solar technology has drastically improved in the past few decades, and solar battery systems have made it a more efficient energy source. The rise of solar energy can be attributed to the ongoing climate change, and people now recognize the benefits of renewable energy to the environment. The International Energy Agency has said that developing clean and affordable solar energy can provide countries with cost-effective energy solutions. Despite the high cost of buying and installing a solar system, more and more companies are manufacturing solar systems. We can assume the increase in supply will lower the prices in the future. The increasing demand for solar systems has seen the rise of solar manufacturers worldwide. If you want to install a solar power system in your establishment, then here are 20 of the best solar companies in the world.

20. SunTech Power – China

Suntech Power is a Chinese company that manufactures and sells solar modules. It was established in 1963 by Dr. Shi Zhengrong. By 2011, the company was producing solar panels with an annual production capacity of 2,000 MW. Suntech has been in the photovoltaic production industry for over 20 years and has offices in nine other countries, including the U.S.A., Australia, Switzerland, and the U.A.E. It provides solar power solutions to commercial and industrial as well as residential clients. Its most notable installations are for the Arizona State University, Masdar City Solar Farm in Dubai, and the Alamosa Power Plant in Colorado.

19. First Solar – U.S.A

First Solar manufactures solar panels. It also offers utility-scale Photovoltaic power plants and other services like financing, installation, maintenance, and panel recycling once the current product cycle for existing ones ends. Harold McMaster founded the company in 1990, and True North partners acquired it in 1999. Numerous entities have recognized the company as a great renewable power company, including Forbes, Fast Company, and Solar Power World Magazine. The company is also listed on the Photovoltaic Global 30 Index. First Solar made revenue of $2.9 billion in 2021, and the company’s 2022 revenue forecast is $2.6 billion.

18. Zhongli Sci-Tech Group – China

Zhongli Group is a Chinese science and Technology company that provides a wide range of products. It was established in 1988 in China’s Jiangsu Province and has since become one of the biggest technology companies in the country. Zhongli designs and manufactures photovoltaic solar energy panels, fiber optic cables, and optical fiber cables, among other things. It recently built a photovoltaic research and development center in its main facility in China and the U.S.A, Germany, the U.K., Italy, and Japan, among other countries. Zhongli is listed in the Shenzen Stock market and recognized by numerous business publications as one of the world’s best science and technology companies.

17. AXITEC Solar – Germany

AXITEC Solar is a German company that designs and manufactures solar energy products. Established in 2001, the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of solar modules. AXITEC is headquartered in Boeblingen, Germany and the engineering plant produces solar panels with over 1.2 GWp. It is an all-around solar company offering services from designing, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and quality assurance of solar systems. AXITEC Solar products are best known for their affordability and mid-range capacity. In 2022, the company increased its product warranties to 25 years, up from 15 years.

16. L.G. Solar – South Korea

L.G. Electronics is an international South Korean company that manufactures and sells various electronics. The multinational corporation comprises four divisions focusing on home entertainment, home appliances, mobile communications, and vehicle components. The company recently moved into renewable energy with the production of solar panels. The company’s reputation and dependability helped its solar power division to take off. L.G. solar modules are averagely good compared to modules from other companies. Because of L.G.s large distribution network, their solar panels are readily available in most countries. Together with their affordability, L.G. solar panels have become popular options for people looking to install solar systems.

15. Elevation – U.S.A

Elevation is an American renewable energy company that manufactures and installs solar systems. The company’s focus is on providing residential homes with whole-home energy solutions. The founders, Brian Bair and Jerry Coleman, established the company after experiencing high electricity bills in their real estate investments. Elevation makes custom solar systems, installs them, and offers maintenance services to their clients. It also provides financing services for clients who cannot pay in full all at once. In 2020, the company acquired Curb Energy, a smart energy monitoring solution to help its clients track their energy usage.

14. AIKO Solar – China

Aiko Solar is a Chinese solar manufacturing company with its main focus on manufacturing PERC cells. PERC solar cells are more effective for making solar panels as they can produce up to 12% more energy than traditional solar cells. Aiko researches and develops, manufactures, sells, and distributes PERC cells to companies in Europe, Japan, South Korea, and India. It is one of the world’s leading PERC cell exporters and is fast becoming a trusted supplier worldwide. Aiko has production bases in Zhejiang, Tianjin, Foshan, Yiwu, and Zhuhai.

13. Trinity Solar – U.S.A

Trinity Solar is an American renewable energy company that installs solar systems. Its main focus is providing solar power for residential clients. It was founded in 1994 as a heating and air company, but it transitioned into the solar industry in 2004. According to the company’s website, Trinity solar has helped 77,000 households move into renewable energy through solar installations since it began its solar services. It is one of the largest residential solar installation companies in the U.S., with almost three decades of experience in the industry. Trinity Solar offers potential clients different financing options for their home installations, like paying monthly installments.

12. Palmetto Solar – U.S.A

Palmetto Solar is a solar installation company based in the U.S.A. that offers installation services and maintenance. The company installs Q Cell solar panels, one of the best in the industry, and has exceptional customer support. Palmetto’s main goal is to reinvent and reimagine the solar installation business, which it has done in a way by providing an online tool that calculates its client’s electric bill savings while using solar power. The Palmetto Protect coverage allows clients to safeguard their investments by monitoring their solar systems.

11. J.A. Solar – China

JA Solar is a Chinese solar manufacturing company that designs, manufactures, sells, and distributes solar cells and modules products. The company’s headquarters are in Beijing, China. J.A. Solar manufactures and markets monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cells. The company markets and distributes its solar cell technology to companies that manufacture solar panels. They then use the cells to make solar modules and systems. In addition to solar cells, J.A. also manufactures solar systems. Its products are available in China, Germany, the U.S.A, Sweden, Spain, and South Korea. Infolink shows that in 2021, J.A. Solar made $5.8 billion in revenue.

10. Momentum Solar – U.S.A

Momentum is an American Solar energy installation company. Established in 2009 and is one of the country’s biggest independent solar power providers, with its main focus being residential clients. Momentum does it all. It will custom-make your solar system from scratch and do all the hard work, from designing and filing paperwork to installation and maintenance. The company only provides solar systems from tier-1 manufacturers and only deals with monocrystalline solar panels, which are the most efficient and have the longest lifespan lasting up to 40 years. Momentum offers various financing options for its clients, including loans and leases.

9. Tesla Energy– U.S.A

Tesla is among the world’s biggest automotive and green energy companies, so it is a no-brainer that the company has a renewable energy division that provides solar power systems. It’s a subsidiary of Tesla that designs, manufactures, and sells solar power systems and battery storage products. The company sells and installs its solar systems for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Although Tesla Energy is only six years old, it is on track to becoming one of the most successful companies in the renewable energy industry.

8. Trina Solar – China

Trina Solar is a Chinese company that researches, develops, manufactures, and sells solar systems. It was founded in 1997 and is becoming a global leader in smart solar energy solutions. Bloomberg New Energy Finance ranks Trina Solar among the Tier 1 solar manufacturers. Trina Solar has gained a reputation for producing affordable and reliable solar panels, and it does not compete in the high-end market of solar systems. Its wide range of solar panels is suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Despite its product’s relatively low cost, Trina Solar has produced some of the world’s most powerful solar panels, like the Vertex series, which uses N-type TOPCon monocrystalline cells. According to PV-Magazine, Trina Solar made a revenue of $7 billion in 2021.

7. Zenernet Solar – U.S.A

Zenernet is a solar power installation company based in the U.S.A. The company offers numerous solar systems that are selected based on the clients, needs, and budget. Although it is a new company founded in 2017, Zenernet has fast grown into a reputable solar company in the country. The company sells various solar brands, including Trina, Canadian Solar, Q Cells, L.G., and Jinko. Zenernet offers two financing options to clients, including loans, and is popular for its amazing customer service and communication skills. Potential clients always leave their consultation knowing all the costs, maintenance needs, and other issues affecting their transition into solar power.

6. Blue Raven Solar – U.S.A.

Blue Raven is one of the fastest-growing solar installation companies in the United States. The company was founded in 2014, and its initial team of three has now grown to 2,000 employees. Blue Raven was acquired by SunPower solar in 2021. Although it is now under the industry giant’s wing, its original business model has not changed, with its amazing financing options still in place. Its huge popularity and success can be attributed to its unique financing program, which does not require clients to pay any money for the first 18 months. The program allows clients to experience the advantages of switching to solar by saving huge amounts on electricity bills.

5. Jinko Solar – China

Jinko Solar is a Chinese solar modules manufacturer and the largest solar panel manufacturer in the world. It was established in 2006 and has experienced immense success in the P.V. industry, employing over 15,000 people in more than 60 countries worldwide. Jinko Solar has manufacturing plants in China, U.S.A., and Malaysia. It produces and sells affordable and reliable solar systems to residential and commercial clients. In recent years the company has put a lot of focus on research and development, quality control, durability, and performance testing on its solar panels, which has seen it get top rankings from numerous testing companies.

4. Canadian Solar – Canada

Canadian Solar is a P.V. modules manufacturing company based in Ontario, Canada. Shawn Qu established it in 2001, and it manufactures solar panels for residential and commercial clients and installs large-scale solar power plants. Canadian Solar has numerous manufacturing plants in China, Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia, which make several solar products, including solar panels, solar cells, ingots, and solar systems. They use both monocrystalline and polycrystalline cells to make their standard panels. Their affordability and great performance have made Canadian Solar quite popular. Canadian Solar made $5.3 billion last year, a 52% rise from 2020.

3. Hanwha Q Cells – South Korea

Hanwha Q Cells is a South Korean solar cell manufacturer. It is commonly referred to as Q Cells, one of the most loved solar brands in the United States. Q cells is a Tier 1 company in the photovoltaic industry. Its products are supplied to residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Q Cell solar panels are at the top of the list of the world’s most efficient and powerful solar energy solutions. Anyone who has tried to purchase solar systems has come across Q cells quoted by their installers. The E.Q. Magazine says Q cells has the biggest market share in solar panels in the U.S.

2. ADT Solar – U.S.A.

ADT Solar is an American solar installation company with over 15 years of experience installing solar systems for residential and commercial clients. Previously known as Sunpro Solar, it was acquired by the ADT corporation in 2021 and changed its name to ADT Solar. It is known for providing quality services, with its installation and maintenance services at the top of the list for solar installers in the U.S. The company primarily uses L.G. solar panels, and before any installation, their partners, Buildpro Roofing Specialists, repair any roof damage.

1. SunPower – U.S.A.

SunPower is an American company that provides residential photovoltaic solar power systems and battery storage products. Richard Swanson founded it in 1985, and TotalEnergies acquired SunPower’s controlling interest in 2011. Although the company has been manufacturing and selling its products to commercial and industrial clients since it started, it sold that business to TotalEnergies in 2022. It decided to focus only on residential clients. SunPower designs and sells solar power products and services, including financing, installing, and maintaining its solar panels, batteries, and software. Although SunPower panels are a bit more expensive than other solar products in the market, they are known to be more energy efficient. SunPower primarily sells in the U.S. and has become quite successful, generating $1.32 billion in revenue in 2021.