Where are solar panels made?

One of the things you may have questions about as you shop around for a solar system is where the solar panels are manufactured. This article will help you determine whether a panel's country of manufacture should be your key consideration.

Note: If you want information on the 30% tariff levied on solar panels by the Trump Administration, read our complete analysis.

Regarding quality, mentioning any country's name will evoke an association; each nation has its brand image, which may or may not be justified. However, as an intelligent solar shopper, you will want to look at the facts to make a more well-informed decision. Our recommendation is to judge each panel by its own merits.

American-made vs. imported panel costs

American-made solar panels generally cost $0.50 to $0.80 per watt (W) – about $0.10 to $0.30 more per watt than imported panels. The highest quality, 'premium' American panels may even come in around $1.00/W.

For a typical 6 kW system, an additional $0.30/W translates into about $1,800, a reasonable amount to pay if the 'Made in America' stamp is important to you. Also, remember that some states may offer rebates for locally-made panels that can offset some or all of the additional cost.

Check out our list of U.S. solar panel manufacturers for more information about companies that make solar panels in America.

Manufacturing location vs. headquarters location

If "country brand" is important to you, be aware that the location of a company's headquarters sometimes differs from its factories. (For example, SunPower is a premium American brand with manufacturing plants in the U.S. and the Philippines.) All else being equal, knowing that a company's head office is relatively close or in a familiar country could help you decide.

Below, EnergySage compiled a list of the leading solar panel companies active in the US market based on the most recently available data in 2018. The table is broken down by each company's market share, headquarters location, manufacturing facility locations, and overall quality ranking.

The key takeaways from the table below are that: 1) no single country dominates the market (although the US and China do appear most frequently), and 2) there is little to no correlation between the country of manufacture and the company's quality ranking.

List of U.S. solar panel manufacturers*

*2015 Data, Residential Solar Installations, Source: GTM / SEIA

For any homeowner in the early stage of shopping for solar that would like a ballpark estimate for an installation, try our Solar Calculator, which offers upfront cost and long-term savings estimates based on your location and roof type. For those looking to get quotes from local contractors, check out our quote comparison platform today.