In a Nutshell
pros
- Calculators to help you understand costs and savings
- Preview your solar system using an online design tool
- 25-year warranty on parts and installation
cons
- Only available in 26 states
- Cannot get a quote online
Overview
SolarSesame at a Glance
What is SolarSesame?
SolarSesame is a San Mateo, California-based solar provider offering residential and commercial rooftop solar systems. It also offers community solar programs that allow you to purchase electricity from a solar panel farm to reduce your carbon footprint and electrical bill.
SolarSeasame stands out for managing all aspects of a rooftop solar installation. The company designs a custom solar system to fit your home and financial needs. It then works with trusted installers and financing partners to minimize the hassle of installing a solar system on your home.
You can create a mock-up of your solar system using a design tool on SolarSesame’s website. This is a great way to see how many panels you need, how much power your solar installation will produce, and what it will look like on your roof.
SolarSesame features
- High-quality components: SolarSesame only uses premium components in its rooftop solar installations, including Qcells 400W solar panels, Enphase IQ8 microinverters, Tesla Powerwall batteries, and Enphase Encharge 10 batteries.
25-year warranty: SolarSesame provides a 25-year warranty on your rooftop solar installation, including panels, inverters, racking, power monitoring, and workmanship.
0% down financing options: SolarSesame works with financing partners, including Goodleap, Sunnova, and Sunru, to help you finance the cost of your solar system. Financing options include 0% down loans and power purchase agreements. Not every home will qualify for financing.
Power production guarantee: For qualifying systems, SolarSesame will guarantee the power output of your solar system. If your system underdelivers, SolarSesame will pay for your additional electricity costs.
Fast installation: SolarSesame works with local installers to ensure your solar system moves from design to operation as quickly as possible. Most residential rooftop installations take a single day.
Online design tool: Preview what your solar installation will look like on your home using SolarSesame’s online design tool. You can add, remove, or move panels around your roof. The design tool shows the total power output of your system and how much you’ll save annually on your electric bill.
Online cost calculators: SolarSesame offers nine online calculators to help you understand the potential cost and savings of your solar system. Calculators include a solar savings calculator, an early loan payoff calculator, and a battery storage calculator.
SolarSesame panels
SolarSesame only offers Qcells 400W solar panels. These are monocrystalline solar panels that are more expensive than other types of panels, but also more efficient, with an efficiency rating of 20.9%.
These panels are rated for high snow and wind loads, making them appropriate for homes across most regions of the country. They also have a low temperature coefficient of −0.34, meaning that they perform relatively well at higher temperatures.
The panels come in a single size, 74 inches by 41 inches, and are not flexible. SolarSesame will work with you to determine the optimum number and layout of panels for your roof.
Qcells provides a 25-year warranty on these panels.
Is SolarSesame Safe and Reliable?
SolarSesame was founded in 2022 and has quickly earned accolades from customers. The company has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 4.4-star rating on Trustpilot. Customer reviews praise SolarSesame’s personalized service and highlight that most installations are completed in a single day.
The company is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the American Solar Energy Society, and the California Solar Storage Association. It works with several large solar financing companies, including Sunpower, Goodleap, Sunnova, Sunrun, Mosaic, and Sungage Financial.
The Qcells solar panels that SolarSesame uses are rated for high wind and snow loads. They also have a Type 2 fire rating, which is typical for high-quality solar panels and means they can withstand fires that start inside a building. The Qcells panels are assembled in the US and have achieved the Quality Controlled PV certification from TÜV Rheinland.
All parts of your solar system come with a 25-year warranty, including a warranty on workmanship and power monitoring. SolarSesame will also guarantee the power output for some qualifying solar systems.
How SolarSesame Works
SolarSesame guides you through the entire process of installing a rooftop solar system on your home. You’ll get expert advice from a solar energy consultant, and SolarSesame will design the optimal system for your home and financial needs. The company then works with financing partners to help you pay for your system and installers to get your solar system installed and operating.
Note that SolarSesame is currently available in only 26 states, including:
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
How to Get Started with SolarSesame
You can get started with SolarSesame by requesting a quote from the company. You’ll need to provide your name, email, and phone number, and a solar power consultant will get in touch within a few hours.
The solar consultant will ask about your current electricity bill and explain how much money a rooftop solar system could save you. They’ll also provide an initial quote for your installation and explain your financing options. Most SolarSesame solar systems are financed with a loan or power purchase agreement, although you can also pay for your system upfront.
If you decide to proceed, SolarSesame will design your solar system and provide a more detailed quote. A local solar installer may need to visit your home to inspect the roof as part of the design process. SolarSesame and the installer will work together to receive approval for the design from your local jurisdiction and homeowners’ association as needed.
Once your system is approved, SolarSesame will work with the local contractor to install it. Installation is typically completed in a single day. Then, your system will be connected to the power grid and you can start generating energy.
The whole process typically takes a few weeks, although it can be longer for complex installations. The time to operation also depends on your city’s and utility’s solar system approval process.
SolarSesame Customer Service
SolarSesame provides customer service by phone, email, and live chat from 8am-7pm (PT) Monday-Friday and 10am-6pm Sunday. I called and was connected with a solar power consultant in less than one minute. It took about two minutes to connect with a consultant using the live chat.
I like that SolarSesame’s website has a wide range of resources to help you understand the potential costs and benefits of a solar system. You’ll find a detailed FAQs page, calculators, a learning center with numerous articles, and more.
Is It Possible to Return SolarSesame Panels?
You can’t return SolarSesame panels once they’re installed on your roof. However, the company does provide a 25-year warranty on your panels and system workmanship. You also receive a 25-year warranty for your battery, inverter, and all other components of your solar system.
Is There a SolarSesame App?
SolarSesame offers a free mobile app for iOS and Android that you can use to refer friends and family to SolarSesame. The company’s referral program pays you up to $1,000 for each completed installation you refer. The app enables you to share contacts with SolarSesame and track how much you’ve earned from successful referrals.
SolarSesame Pricing
How Much Does SolarSesame Cost?
SolarSesame doesn’t provide any pricing information online. You must contact the company to get a personalized quote for your solar system. Typically, you’ll receive an initial quote followed by a more detailed one once SolarSesame has inspected your roof and designed your solar system.
I’ve found that this approach is common among solar companies since every rooftop solar installation is different. How many panels and how much battery capacity you need varies widely from one home to another. The cost of applying for a solar construction permit from your city and installation costs can vary widely as well.
SolarSesame works with partners to finance your solar system, and these partners typically offer loans or power purchase agreements. You can use calculators on SolarSesame’s website to understand how much you’ll pay out of pocket with either of these financing options.
Bottom Line (Is SolarSesame Worth It?)
SolarSesame is a California-based company that offers rooftop solar systems for residential and commercial buildings. You can work with SolarSesame to design a custom solar system for your roof and have it installed in just a few weeks.
I like that SolarSesame works with trusted local installers and financing partners to make the process of going solar as easy as possible. The company also offers a 25-year warranty for every solar system and a power production guarantee for qualifying systems. What’s more, it provides tons of educational resources and calculators to ensure you fully understand what you’re getting.
Overall, I think SolarSesame is a good choice if you want to go solar to cut your electric bill and help the environment.