Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • SPW State News Hub
      • IRA coverage
      • Solar tariffs
      • U.S. manufacturing updates
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • The Solar Policy Scoop
    • IRA Coverage
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • Winners of SPW’s 2024 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Electric Vehicle (EV)
    • Inverters
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
    • Racking and Mounting
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Trending in solar financing: Loans are leading as installers offer more solar financing options

By Kathie Zipp | June 19, 2017

Share
energysage solar loan financing

Most EnergySage users are choosing to own their systems, rather than use third-party owned financing.

With dropping solar equipment costs, solar arrays are becoming much more affordable for residential customers. As a result, more customers are opting to own their systems through cash or loans rather than through leasing or PPAs.

“For some customers, the monthly payment on a loan to own the system is about the same as what they’re paying on their energy bill, which is leading to a growth in solar loans,” said Mary Rottman, former president of the Solar Energy Finance Association, which has now merged with SEIA. “Customers are increasingly wanting to own their system and feel they’re getting 100% of the ITC benefits and the energy produced.”

In fact, more than half of U.S. residential solar capacity installed this year is expected to be purchased through customer ownership, according to GTM Research’s U.S. Residential Solar Financing 2016-2021 report.

Much of this comes from larger installers such as SolarCity and Sunrun moving toward ownership financing options, especially in California.

More loans being offered means additional competition, as more financing companies enter the market. In its Solar Marketplace Intel Report, EnergySage said that in 2015, more than half of the loans installer quoted on its marketplace came from just two loan providers. But as more financing companies entered the market in 2016, the two dominating providers only accounted for 17%.

To cater to changing customer preferences, installers are offering more financing options. EnergySage reported that the number of installers using three or more financing products in their quotes on the EnergySage marketplace grew from about 10% in the first half of 2016, to more than 37% in the second.

However, because the market has changed so quickly, installers will continue to play catchup to meet customer demand for ownership options.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

Flip your thinking — solar operators should stow for hail, not wind
North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and solar + storage is a lifeline
5 ways to deliver resilient solar projects in extreme climates and rough terrain
Op-ed: Don’t let Congress undo West Virginia’s energy progress
Solar Power World Digital Edition
Check in with the nation's leading solar construction magazine today.
 
“the-informed-solar-installer”
“solar
“spw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Solar Power Professionals.

Contractor’s Corner Podcast

“solar
Solar Power World
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar Articles
  • Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Leadership
  • About/Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • WTWH Media

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • SPW State News Hub
      • IRA coverage
      • Solar tariffs
      • U.S. manufacturing updates
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • The Solar Policy Scoop
    • IRA Coverage
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • Winners of SPW’s 2024 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Electric Vehicle (EV)
    • Inverters
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
    • Racking and Mounting
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe