Before going solar, one of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is which equipment to install. But there are many different solar panels, inverters, and batteries (if you’re looking to install solar-plus-storage) products to choose from – so where’s the best place to start? In this article, we’ll explore the most popular solar system setups on the EnergySage Marketplace. If you want to learn more about the most popular equipment generally, check out our articles about the most popular solar panels, inverters, and batteries.
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Most popular solar systems: key takeaways
On the EnergySage Marketplace, the most popular solar systems mainly include Panasonic or REC solar panels and Enphase inverters.
In the first quarter of 2022, the most commonly quoted and selected solar systems on the Marketplace nationwide included Panasonic EverVolt solar panels (370 W) and Enphase IQ7 microinverters.
The most commonly quoted and selected solar-plus-storage system included Panasonic EverVolt solar panels (370 W), Enphase IQ7 microinverters, and an Enphase IQ 10 Battery.
Many factors impact a solar system’s popularity, including availability of equipment, distribution channels, preference, and cost.
Compare quotes on the EnergySage Marketplace to find the right equipment for you.
What you’ll learn in this article
Most popular solar systems on EnergySage
More and more new solar equipment becomes available every year, from solar panels to inverters to batteries. So, given the increasing variety of equipment options, what solar system setups do residential solar shoppers compare–and choose–most often on the EnergySage Marketplace? There are a few different ways to assess the popularity of solar system setups; below, we do so in two separate ways:
The solar systems installers most frequently quote
The solar systems shoppers most frequently select and ultimately install
It’s important to note that the top quoted and selected solar systems are not identical. So, if there’s an equipment brand that you’re particularly interested in but don’t see in your quotes, always make sure to ask your installer!
Most quoted solar systems
First, we’ll take a look at the top 10 quoted solar systems on the EnergySage Marketplace. Solar systems including Panasonic EverVolt solar panels (370 Watts, or W) and Enphase IQ7 microinverters come in first place. In fact, the first three most quoted solar systems all include Enphase inverters (though they’re all different models). The REC Alpha Pure Black panels (400 W) are also popular among installers, included in the second and third most quoted systems.
Top 10 solar systems (quoted) on the EnergySage Marketplace, nationwide RankSolar panel product & power output (W)Solar panel manufacturer Inverter product & maximum output power (kW)Inverter manufacturerRating solar panel/ inverter 1EVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 2REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ8PLUS-72-2-US (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 3REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ7A-72-2-US-240 (0.349 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 4LS 450BL (450 W)LA Solar GroupMI-1500NT (1.438 kW)HoymilesExcellent/very good 5SPR-X22-360-E-AC (360W)SunPowerSPR-X22-360-E-AC [240V] (0.32 kW)SunPowerExcellent/ excellent 6LS450HC(166) (450 W)LA Solar GroupSE7600A-US [240V] (7.625 kW)SolarEdgeExcellent/ excellent 7EVPV360 (360 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 8EVPV380 (380 W)PanasonicStorEdge se7600A-US [240V] (8.35 kW)SolarEdgeExcellent/ very good 9MF26-365W (365 W)Aptos SolarSE10000H-US [240 V] (9.994 kW)SolarEdgeExcellent/ excellent 10LS450HC(166) (450 W)LA SolarSE7600 [240V] (7.625 kW)SolarEdgeExcellent/ very good
Most selected solar systems
Not only is the Panasonic EverVolt solar panels (370 Watts, or W) and Enphase IQ7 microinverters combination the most quoted solar system – it’s also the most selected! Interestingly, the first three of the most popular systems are the same for both most commonly quoted and selected. Enphase dominates the most selected solar systems, with each of the top 10 system combinations including their microinverter products. On the solar panel front, both REC and Panasonic are popular options to be selected in solar systems.
Top 10 solar systems (selected) on the EnergySage Marketplace, nationwide RankSolar panel product & power output (W)Solar panel manufacturer Inverter product & maximum output power (kW)Inverter manufacturerRating solar panel/ inverter 1EVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 2REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ8PLUS-72-2-US (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 3REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ7A-72-2-US-240 (0.349 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 4REC365TP4 Black (365 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 5REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 6SIL-380 (380 W)Silfab SolarIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 7LG370N1K-A6 (370 W)LG SolarIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 8EVPV360 (360 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 9REC375AA (375 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent 10EVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-208 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent
Most popular solar systems by state
As with almost every data point in the solar industry, the results vary depending on state – so, we took a look at how the most popular systems different in some of the top solar states. Enphase once again dominates on the inverter front, with six of the top eight states including an Enphase microinverter in the most popular solar system. However, the solar panel selected in the most popular system varies widely from state to state. Both REC and Q CELLS are the most popular in two states, while Panasonic, LG Solar, SunPower, and Aptos Solar solar panels are included in the most popular systems in one state.
Most popular solar systems (selected) by state on the EnergySage Marketplace StateSolar panel product & power output (W)Solar panel manufacturer Inverter product & maximum output power (kW)Inverter manufacturerRating solar panel/ inverter ArizonaREC400AA (400 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent CaliforniaEVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent FloridaDUO BLK-G6+ - 340 Watts (340 W)Q CELLSIQ8PLUS-72-2-US (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent IllinoisREC395AA (395 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent MassachusettsDUO BLK ML-G10+ 400 (400 W)Q CELLSIQ7PLUS-72-x-ACM-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent New JerseyLG370N1K-A6 (370 W)LG SolarIQ7A-72-2-US-240 (0.349 kW)EnphaseExcellent/ excellent New YorkSPR-X22-360-E-AC (360W)SunPowerSPR-X22-360-E-AC [240V] (0.32 kW)SunPowerExcellent/ excellent Texas144-MF26-440W Silver (440 W)Aptos SolarTSI-11.4 (11.4 kW)Tigo EnergyVery good/ excellent
Most popular solar-plus-storage systems
Storage is becoming an increasingly popular add-on to solar systems: in fact, according to our most recent Intel Report, 13 percent of residential systems installed through EnergySage included a solar battery in 2021, up from 9 percent in the second half of 2020. So, which solar-plus-storage systems are the most popular on the EnergySage Marketplace?
Most quoted solar-plus-storage systems
Once again, the Panasonic EverVolt solar panels (370 W) and Enphase IQ7 microinverters combination is in the most quoted solar-plus-storage system. This system also includes the Enphase IQ 10 Battery: the most popular battery on EnergySage. Not surprisingly, in each of the top quoted systems including an Enphase inverter, the IQ Battery is the quoted storage solution (as these two products integrate together). Overall, there’s a lot of diversity in the most quoted solar-plus-storage systems on EnergySage – the top 10 list includes five different solar panel brands, four different inverter brands, and four different battery brands.
Top 10 solar-plus-storage systems (quoted) on the EnergySage Marketplace, nationwide RankSolar panel product & power output (W)Solar panel manufacturer Inverter product & maximum output power (kW)Inverter manufacturerBattery product & usable capacity (kWh)Battery manufacturer 1EVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 2EVPV380 (380 W)PanasonicStorEdge SE7600A-US [240V] (8.35)SolarEdgeRESU 10H (9.3 kWh)LG Energy Solution 3LS450HC(166) (450 W)LA SolarSE7600A-US [240V] (7.625 kW)SolarEdgePowerwall 2 (13.3 kWh)Tesla 4EVPV360 (360 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 5LS 450BL (450 W)LA SolarMI-1500NT (1.438 kW)HoymilesPowerwall 2 (13.3 kWh)Tesla 6EVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicStorEdge SE7600A-US [240V] (8.35 kW)SolarEdgeRESU 10H (9.3 kWh)LG Energy Solution 7LS450HC(166) (450 W)LA SolarSE7600 [240V] (7.625 kW)SolarEdgePowerwall 2 (13.3 kWh)Tesla 8RECC365TP4 Black (365 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 9SIL-370 HC (370 W)Silfab SolarPWRcell 7.6 kW 10 (7.6 kW)GeneracPWRcell Battery (M3) (9.0 kWh)Generac 10DUO-G8+ - 340 Watt (340 W)Q CELLSSE7600A-US [240V] (7.625 kW)SolarEdgePWRcell Battery (M3) (9.0 kWh)Generac
Most selected system solar-plus-storage systems
The Panasonic EverVolt solar panels (370 W), Enphase IQ7 microinverters, and Enphase IQ 10 Battery is also the most selected solar-plus-storage system on the EnergySage Marketplace! However, unlike the most quoted solar-plus-storage systems, there’s much less diversity among the most selected systems: Enphase dominates eight of the 10 spots for inverters and batteries, while REC or Panasonic make up nine of the 10 spots for solar panels.
Top 10 solar-plus-storage systems (selected) on the EnergySage Marketplace, nationwide RankSolar panel product & power output (W)Solar panel manufacturer Inverter product & maximum output power (kW)Inverter manufacturerBattery product & usable capacity (kWh)Battery manufacturer 1EVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 2REC365TP4 Black (365 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 3REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ8PLUS-72-2-US (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 4REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ7A-72-2-US-240 (0.349 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 5EVPV370 WBS (370 W)PanasonicStorEdge SE7600A-US [240V] (8.35 kW)SolarEdgeRESU 10H (9.3 kWh)LG Energy Solution 6EVPV360 (360 W)PanasonicIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 7REC375AA (375 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 8REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ8M-72-2-US (0.366 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 9REC400AA (400 W)RECIQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 (0.29 kW)EnphaseIQ 10 (10.08 kWh)Enphase 10LS450HC(166) (450 W)LA SolarSE7600A-US [240V] (7.625 kW)SolarEdgePowerwall 2 (13.3 kWh)Tesla
Why are some solar system setups more popular than others?
Well, why is any book, TV show, or gadget more popular than others? As anyone who’s experienced the Twilight series knows, there isn’t always a perfect correlation between quality and popularity. Multiple factors impact the demand for particular inverters:
Distribution networks
Distributors serve as liaisons between manufacturers and installers. There are a few major solar equipment distributors in the United States, each with their own relationships to specific manufacturers and installation companies. If certain equipment brands are more popular in your area than elsewhere in the country, it’s possible that a distributor with closer ties to particular manufacturers has a stronger presence in your market – thus, your installer is more likely to carry and quote that equipment.
Equipment availability
Like other products, the solar industry gets hit by supply constraints. Material shortages and shipping restrictions can impact the availability of solar equipment – just look at our latest Installer Survey in which almost 60 percent of installers said solar panel and battery availability had decreased! Even in a world without supply issues, you’d find that some products are more readily available than others simply because larger equipment companies have more factories and build more products.
Installer preference
Every type of contractor–solar installer or otherwise–has likes and dislikes towards the type of equipment they work with. In solar, you’ll come across installation companies that prefer and recommend installing certain products because of the ease of installation, quality, and/or cost (which we’ll dive more into later).
Brand loyalty is also prevalent in the solar industry: many reputable installers have direct relationships with manufacturers through their endorsement programs, meaning they can access special opportunities or better deals by selling products from a particular company. In fact, according to our most recent Intel Report, almost 50 percent of installers only offer one inverter brand, and over 30 percent of installers only offer one solar panel brand. This isn’t a bad thing; oftentimes, it means passing on cost savings, stronger warranty offerings, and their product expertise to you and other solar shoppers!
Consumer preference
Consumer demand plays a huge role in the popularity of a particular product or manufacturer. Think about it: if you really want to install a specific product and make those preferences known to your potential contractor, they will do what they can to provide you with that equipment – or at least, present an attractive alternative. The more solar shoppers ask for particular brands and products, the more likely installers to buy, store, install, and recommend that equipment in the future.
Cost
Another factor that influences the popularity of certain equipment is cost. That doesn’t mean cheaper equipment is more popular. In fact, most shoppers on EnergySage reject the lowest-cost option, and most installers on the Marketplace propose higher quality, more expensive equipment. Popular equipment often offers good value, balancing cost and quality.
There’s a pretty extensive range in cost among the most quoted and selected solar systems: the various systems spread out across a $1.24 per Watt ($/range) on the EnergySage Marketplace. The least expensive system includes 450 W LA Solar Group solar panels and Hoymiles microinverters. In contrast, the most expensive system includes SunPower solar panels and Sunpower inverters.
Average $/W of the most popular solar systems on the EnergySage Marketplace Solar panel manufacturer & modelInverter manufacturer & ModelAverage $/W REC REC400AAEnphase IQ8PLUS-72-2-US$2.76 Panasonic EVPV370 WBSEnphase IQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240$2.56 Silfab Solar SIL-380 BKEnphase IQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240$2.61 LA Solar Group LS 450BLHoymiles MI-1500NT$2.39 SunPower SPR-X22-360-E-ACSunPower SPR-X22-360-E-AC [240V]$3.63 LG Solar LG370N1K-A6 Enphase IQ7PLUS-72-x-US-240 $2.90 Q CELLS DUO BLK ML-G10+ 400 Enphase IQ7PLUS-72-x-ACM-US-240 $3.05
Is the most popular equipment the best equipment?
Yes and no – the equipment in the solar systems listed above wouldn’t be popular if they weren’t high-quality products with a proven track record. That said, whether you’re talking about solar panels, inverters, or batteries, there isn’t a single product that’s the best at everything. When deciding what equipment you want to install, you need to balance various factors based on your preferences and site-specific conditions. And naturally, some manufacturers outshine more in one category than others. Learn more in our overviews of the best solar panels, best inverters, and best solar batteries.
Key factors to consider when choosing a solar system setup
As we mention above, consumer preference is a driving force behind solar inverter popularity. As you’re choosing an inverter product, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Technology & performance of the individual equipment: what power output do you need from your solar panels and inverters? Do you need equipment with maximum efficiency? Do you care if you have module-level inverters or a central inverter with power optimizers? All of this may depend on your roof’s size, direction, angle, and shading.
Warranties of the individual equipment: do the equipment manufacturers offer comprehensive warranties for their products?
Overall system compatibility: how well do the individual products all work together? If you’re looking to install storage, is the inverter compatible with the battery you want to install?
Overall system monitoring: what do you think of the monitoring app for your inverters? If you’re installing a solar-plus-storage system, do you care if you have separate apps for your inverters and your battery, or do you want all of the information in one place?
Quality rating: how does the quality and durability of the inverter compare to other options on the market?
Manufacturer reputation: does the company standing behind the warranty offer good customer service? Are they bankable?
Country of manufacture: are you willing to pay more for American-made inverters?
Cost: will you get your bank for your buck? Is more expensive equipment actually worth the extra cost?
How to find the right solar system equipment for you
The most popular solar systems aren’t always the right ones for your home. The best way to make sure you’re installing the right equipment for the right price is to compare multiple options. Register for free on the EnergySage Marketplace today to get up to seven custom quotes from pre-screened, local installers. Already have a specific equipment in mind? Simply note it in your account so installers can include the panel in their quotes.
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