Alchemy Solar
3.0
3.0
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Seeking to distinguish itself from what the company identifies as traditional solar companies with “pushy sales tactics” that take advantage of “unsuspecting customers,” Alchemy Solar has centered its mission on making solar simple and customer interactions positive. The solar provider was founded in 2020, but was built on the foundation of nearly two decades’ of industry experience. Alchemy Solar’s services are only available in California and Hawaii.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Solar Energy Solutions Company
- Full Financing Options Suite
- Top-Tiered Solar Equipment
- 25-Year Workmanship Warranty
Solar Energy Solutions Company
Alchemy Solar describes itself as a “solar energy solutions company” as opposed to a solar sales company, and follows a straightforward process to set customers on the path to solar power adoption:
- Consultation — Rather than push products, Alchemy Solar’s team will help customers explore all their solar panel system and backup battery options to see which solution is best for them.
- Contract — Whether through purchase, loan, PPA, or solar lease, Alchemy Solar will match customers with the right partner to ensure complete transparency and fairness.
- Survey and Permits — Alchemy Solar will survey the site to maximize its solar potential and pull all necessary permits to ensure the solar array is built to code.
- Solar Installation — Alchemy Solar partners with solar installers to make sure the solar energy system is built correctly.
- Utility Interconnection — After the design and implementation of the solar panel system has been approved by the city, Alchemy Solar will facilitate the system’s interconnection with the city’s utility grid.
- Monitoring and Savings — Once the system is plugged in, Alchemy will make sure customers have full access to their home’s consumption and their system’s energy output.
Full Financing Options Suite
Alchemy Solar is one of the few solar providers in the industry to offer customers a full slate of financing options. In addition to direct purchase and solar loans, Alchemy Solar has partnered with Sunrun to facilitate solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPA) as well. Both of these options come with a zero money down option and place all the responsibility of paying for and maintaining the solar power system solely on the installing company.
Top-Tiered Solar Equipment
Alchemy Solar installs premier solar equipment. In addition to solar inverter modules from industry leader Enphase, the company also installs solar panels manufactured by LG, one of the industry’s top solar panel brands for energy efficiency (an average of 22 percent, and second only to SunPower).
Alchemy Solar also installs LG Chem and Tesla Powerwall backup battery solutions. Both of these options allow homeowners to save and store excess solar energy that can be used during the night or in the event of a power outage.
25-Year Workmanship Warranty
A company’s workmanship warranty (also called a service, labor, or installation warranty) represents supplemental coverage that protects homeowners against defects in the system caused by installation errors. Some companies’ workmanship warranties last only 10 years, but Alchemy Solar’s goes for 25 years — essentially the life of the system.
The Bad
- Limited National Availability
- Does Not Conduct Its Own Installations
- No NABCEP Certification
- Time in Business
Limited National Availability
Alchemy Solar’s services are only available to communities in California and Hawaii, both of which are fruitful and highly competitive markets in residential solar. While Alchemy Solar appears to offer quality services, it’s just one of hundreds of solar providers vying for customer attention. Leveraging verified Alchemy Solar reviews from actual customers is one way the company can set itself apart from the rest of the field.
Does Not Conduct Its Own Installations
As mentioned above, rather than employ its own installation team, Alchemy Solar partners with other solar installation companies for that specific phase of the process. Subcontracting any phase of the solar installation process can sometimes, but does not always, lead to inconsistent results. Customers are strongly encouraged to vet Alchemy Solar’s chosen installation partner prior to signing a contract with the company. That said, the company’s 25-year workmanship warranty should put most of these worries to rest.
No NABCEP Certification
Because Alchemy Solar does not employ its own installation team, the company does not appear to have a certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), an industry-recognized certification organization that upholds and maintains best installation practices within solar. While this is in no way an indictment of the company, an NABCEP certification can indicate to customers that a company’s employees have received the latest training on solar installation and technology.
Time in Business
Alchemy Solar has only been in business since March of 2020, and would benefit from building its clientele and online reputation through verified customer reviews.
The Bottom Line
For such a young company, Alchemy Solar has checked several boxes for what a reputable solar company should be. The company conducts a thorough solar installation process, installs some of the best equipment on the market, and leverages several financing options to make solar energy as affordable and accessible as possible.
With that in mind, customers should be aware that Alchemy Solar outsourced its installations to partner companies, and may have some ground to cover in terms of building a solid online portfolio. Until then, California and Hawaii residents may want to explore other, more well-known options.
