Best Solar Companies In Vancouver To Install Solar Panels

Best Solar Companies In Vancouver To Install Solar Panels (2025-2026)

Hello, I’m Vitaliy Lano, owner of SolarEnergies.ca. I’ve spent 12 years in the home improvement world, and my slogan is “Canada goes Solar.” My goal has always been to give you real, practical advice.

Let’s get straight to it. The entire solar industry in Canada just changed. The federal Greener Homes Grant and the 0% Greener Homes Loan are both closed to new applicants as of late 2025.

If you’re starting your solar journey today, all the old advice is wrong. The conversation is no longer about grants. The two new questions that matter most are:

1. How do I pay for it now? (Hint: The new BC Hydro rebate is key).
2. Who can I trust to be around in 25 years to service the warranty?

Your focus has to shift from “who is cheapest” to “who offers the best value and long-term security.” I’ve seen people get burned by a low quote from a company that disappears a year later.

I’ve re-researched the top installers in Vancouver and BC based on this new reality. This is a follow-up to my main guide to solar panels in BC. I’m looking at their business health, their real financing options (not just empty promises), and what customers say when things go wrong.

The New Rules for Choosing a Solar Installer in BC (Late 2025)

Your decision-making process has to change. Here’s what matters now.

Why Company Stability is Your #1 Concern

A solar panel system has a 25-year performance warranty. That warranty is just a piece of paper if the company that installed it is gone in 5 years.

You will have two warranties:

1. Manufacturer Warranty: This covers the hardware (panels, inverters). If a panel fails, the manufacturer (like LONGi or Enphase) will replace it.
2. Workmanship Warranty: This covers the labour from the installer. It protects you from roof leaks, bad wiring, or faulty racking. This is the one that matters most in the first 10 years.

If your installer goes bankrupt, your workmanship warranty is gone. You’ll be on your own to find (and pay for) another company to fix the install. It’s a nightmare. That’s why “Years in Business” and “Install Volume” are so important.

Financing is the New Grant (And It’s Complicated)

With the federal 0% loan gone, installers are offering three main paths:

1. In-House 0% Financing: Companies like Polaron offer this. It’s a fantastic tool for cash flow, but be aware: the cost of the financing is almost always built into the project’s total price. A “cash price” will likely be thousands cheaper than the “0% financed price.” This is a key difference in leasing vs. buying solar panels.
2. Third-Party Promos: Installers like Shift partner with lenders like Financeit, which often includes 0% promos for the first 12 months.
3. Rebate Stacking + Bank Loans: This is the most common model for technical installers (VREC, Hakai, Terratek). They help you stack the BC Hydro Rebate (up to $5,000 for solar + $5,000 for battery) with the PST exemption and then you get financing from your own bank or a credit union (like Vancity’s Planet-Wise loans).

The Workmanship Warranty: The Real Sign of Quality (2-Year vs. 25-Year)

This is the installer’s guarantee on their labour. It is a direct signal of their confidence. The difference is stunning:

• A 2-Year warranty (like Polaron’s) is the bare minimum. It’s not a good sign. It’s often a tactic used in potential solar scams.
• A 5-10 Year warranty is standard and acceptable.
• A 25-Year warranty (like Shift’s) is exceptional and shows massive confidence in their own work.
• A Lifetime/Bundled warranty (like Penfolds’) is in its own category for peace of mind.

My Criteria for This List

Here’s how I judged the companies for this new 2025-2026 reality. This is different from just picking the best solar panels in Canada, which is only about hardware.

• Financials: What are their real financing options today, not 2 years ago?
• Stability: How long have they been in business? How many installs?
• Service: What is their exact workmanship warranty? What do their bad reviews say?
• Quality: What hardware do they actually use? (e.g., APsystems vs. Enphase)
• 

The 7 Best Solar Companies in Vancouver & BC (The Detailed 2025-2026 Review)

Here is my updated breakdown, starting with the biggest players.

1. Polaron

• My Take: Polaron is a high-volume, national installer. They are a financing company that installs solar panels. Their model is built on “zero down, low monthly payment.” If your only goal is protecting your monthly cash flow, they are a major contender.
• Quality & Equipment: They use solid, Tier-1 panels like LONGi. For inverters, they often use brands like APsystems and Hoymiles, not just Enphase.
• Financing: This is their 10/10 strength. They are experts at 0% or 0.99% long-term financing. They make the process simple. But as mentioned, this “0%” deal means you’re likely paying a higher total price than a cash quote from a competitor.
• Service & Guarantees: This is the big trade-off. Polaron’s standard workmanship warranty is only 2 years. This is one of the shortest in the industry. Their customer service reputation is famously polarized. The sales process gets 10-star reviews. Post-installation service, however, has a high number of public complaints on the BBB and Reddit, with many citing extreme difficulty getting problems fixed.
• Stability (25-Year Outlook): High. With over 12 years in business and 13,200+ installations across Canada (including 230+ in BC), they are a massive company backed by a large corporation. They aren’t likely to disappear. The risk here isn’t that they’ll be gone; it’s that their service department will be too overwhelmed to help you.

2. Shift Energy Group

• My Take: Shift is my go-to example of a company built on service and trust. They are a BC-based regional heavyweight, especially on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, with 15+ years in business and over 1,200+ installations.
• Quality & Equipment: They use high-quality Tier-1 panels (like Jinko, LONGi) and are well-known for using premium tech like Enphase microinverters.
• Financing: Shift is well-adapted to the new market. They actively help clients use the BC Hydro rebate and stack it with financing from partners like Financeit, which often includes 0% promos for the first 12 months.
• Service & Guarantees: This is their headline strength. Shift offers a 25-year labour and workmanship warranty plus a 25-year production guarantee. This is almost unheard-of. It means if the system doesn’t produce what they promised, they compensate you. This is a massive sign of confidence.
• Stability (25-Year Outlook): High. A company with 15+ years of sustainable growth (since 2010), over 1,200+ installs, and a stellar reputation is built to last.

3. Penfolds Roofing & Solar

• My Take: Penfolds is in a unique category. They are a massive roofing company (since 1937) with a serious solar division. Their main value is long-term, “bulletproof” stability.
• Personal Experience: I’ve seen $30,000 solar projects get delayed for weeks because the roofer and the solar installer were blaming each other for a leak. With Penfolds, that problem is impossible. One company, one warranty.
• Quality & Equipment: They use high-efficiency Tier-1 panels (often LONGi) with inverters from brands like SolarEdge. They have installed over 9,600+ solar panels in the Lower Mainland.
• Financing: As a large corporation, they have established channels. For homeowners, they combine the BC Hydro rebate with VanCity’s Planet-Wise Renovation Solutions. For commercial/farm clients, they partner with VCIB for large-scale loans.
• Service & Guarantees: This is their specialty. They offer a “Peace of Mind” lifetime warranty that covers both the solar system and the roof it’s on. One company is responsible for everything.
• Stability (25-Year Outlook): Extremely High. A company that has been around since 1937 is an institution. They are arguably the most likely company on this list to still exist in 25 years.

4. Vancouver Renewable Energy (VREC)

• My Take: VREC are the technical experts. They’re one of the original solar installers in Vancouver (since 2004) and operate as a worker-owned co-op. They are engineers first and salespeople second.
• Quality & Equipment: They use a wide range of Tier-1 hardware (Qcells, Canadian Solar, Trina, Silfab) paired with top inverters (Enphase, SolarEdge, SMA). They also install Tesla Powerwalls.
• Financing: VREC doesn’t push flashy 0% promos. Their model is to be honest technical guides. They help homeowners stack the BC Hydro rebate, PST exemption, and bank loans (like Vancity’s Planet-Wise). For commercial jobs, they offer solar leasing (PPA).
• Service & Guarantees: Strong reputation for flawless, clean installations and deep technical support. As a worker-co-op, their team is invested in the company’s long-term reputation, not a quick commission.
• Stability (25-Year Outlook): Very High. They have survived 20+ years of industry changes. Their deep expertise and co-op structure make them a very stable, long-term player. They’ve completed hundreds of systems.

5. Hakai Energy Solutions

• My Take: Hakai is the specialist for complex jobs. Based on Vancouver Island, they are renowned for high-end, off-grid, and battery-backup (like Tesla Powerwall) systems. They are the largest solar company owned and operated in BC.
• Quality & Equipment: Top-of-the-line. These are the people you call for difficult projects. Their portfolio includes Vancouver Fire Hall 17 and BC’s largest microgrid at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge. They are certified Tesla Powerwall installers.
• Financing: Like VREC, Hakai is not a financing company. Their strength is helping you stack the BC Hydro rebate (up to $10,000 for solar + battery), the PST exemption, and any local grants. You would then use cash or a bank loan.
• Service & Guarantees: Excellent. They offer a 25-year warranty package. Their deep expertise in off-grid systems (where reliability is critical) means their support is robust.
• Stability (25-Year Outlook): Very High. Founded in 2011, their 13+ years of specializing in high-demand, complex projects (batteries, microgrids) has secured their future.

6. Solarcor Energy

• My Take: Solarcor is a Western Canada installer, but their primary focus and most visible work is in Alberta and Saskatchewan. While they can work in BC, they don’t have the deep local presence of the others on this list.
• Quality & Equipment: They use standard Tier-1 panels and grid-tied inverters.
• Financing: This is a major change. Solarcor’s signature “SolarFinance” and “SolarLease” programs are both listed as “Currently Unavailable” on their website as of late 2025. This removes their main competitive edge.
• Service & Guarantees: Their workmanship warranty length is not clearly published online. You must get this in writing in your contract. Reviews are mixed, with some happy customers and some detailed complaints about performance.
• Stability (25-Year Outlook): Medium. They’ve been around since 2015, but with their main financing tools offline and a primary focus outside of BC, they are a less certain long-term bet for a Vancouver homeowner.

7. Terratek Energy

• My Take: Terratek is another one of the true BC veterans, founded in 2005. They are a highly experienced, owner-led electrical contractor based in Abbotsford (not Summerland). They have completed hundreds of homes and over 50 school projects across BC.
• Quality & Equipment: High-quality, reliable equipment. They are a fully licensed electrical contractor with in-house certified installers (not subcontractors) and deep experience with Tesla Powerwall.
• Financing: Like VREC and Hakai, their model is built on technical expertise, not in-house loans. They will help you stack the BC Hydro rebate and PST exemption, which you’d combine with your own bank or credit union financing.
• Service & Guarantees: A strong 20-year reputation for honoring their warranties and providing good, personal service from an expert team.
• Stability (25-Year Outlook): Very High. A 20-year history with deep roots in commercial, municipal, and residential projects (especially schools) proves their business model is sustainable.

Comparison at a Glance: Which Installer is for You?

Here’s a simple table based on the new 2025-2026 reality.

Key Questions to Ask Every Installer Before You Sign

When you get your quotes, you are now in charge. Ask them these direct questions.

1. What is your total cash price? And what is your total 0% financed price? (This reveals the cost of financing).
2. What is your workmanship warranty? How many years, and what, exactly, does it cover? Get this in writing.
3. Are you using Enphase, or another brand like APsystems or Hoymiles? (All are fine, but it should be clear).
4. If my system fails, do I call you, or do I call the manufacturer? What is your guaranteed response time?
5. Do you handle 100% of the BC Hydro Net Metering application (and learn about how net metering works in Canada) and all permits?

Tip for Getting Quotes: Get at least three quotes from different types of companies. For example:

• Quote 1 (Financing): Polaron
• Quote 2 (Warranty/Service): Shift Energy
• Quote 3 (Stability/Technical): Penfolds or VREC

This will give you a true sense of the market.

My Final Thoughts

There is no single “best” solar company in Vancouver. (If you want to see the cost for solar in Vancouver, I have a separate calculator for that). There is only the best company for you.

The market has clearly split.

• Do you want the absolute easiest, lowest-payment financing and are willing to accept a 2-year warranty and a risk on service? Polaron is built for you. Don’t fall for a “free solar panels” pitch.
• Do you want the strongest possible warranty (25 years) and a company with a great service reputation? Shift Energy is your clear choice.
• Are you getting a new roof anyway, or do you just want the most stable company possible? It’s a no-brainer to call Penfolds. This also has a big impact on your home’s value.
• Do you want a technical expert, a battery system, or an off-grid setup? Call Hakai, VREC, or Terratek.

My final piece of advice: Don’t just pick the cheapest quote. Pick the company you trust to answer the phone in 10, 15, or 25 years.

I’m Vitaliy Lano, and I hope this helps you make a confident choice. Canada goes Solar.