LA Solar Group has been installing solar panels since 2011, with current installations spanning three states: California, Nevada, and Texas. Over the past 10 years, they’ve installed about 25,000 systems and approximately 625,000 solar panels and in recent years, they’ve expanded their business to offer their own line of solar panels as well. So why did LA Solar decide to join the solar manufacturing industry? And how do their panels compare to other leading panel brands? In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about LA Solar Group and the products they offer.
Key takeaways
- LA Solar Group is a popular West Coast installer that recently began manufacturing their own solar panels
- LA Solar entered the solar panel manufacturing industry so they could become vertically integrated, allowing them to offer more competitive system prices, be protected from supply chain constraints, and have an industry-leading warranty.
- Solar panels from LA Solar offer competitive wattages and efficiencies, as well as discreet aesthetic designs.
- LA Solar panels cost between $2.35 and $2.95/W on the EnergySage Marketplace – that’s $14,100 to $14,700 for a 6 kW system before the federal solar tax credit.
- Shop for LA Solar Group solar panels (and many other brands!) today on the EnergySage Marketplace.
What’s in this article?
- Quick overview of LA Solar Group
- How do LA Solar panels compare to other solar panels?
- How much do LA Solar panels cost?
Quick overview: LA Solar
LA Solar offers a number of services, from solar energy system installations, to roofing repairs, to battery storage installations. In 2019, they launched the LA Solar Factory to manufacture their own line of solar panels and racking equipment to become more of a vertically integrated company (meaning they produce as much of the equipment they use as opposed to relying on other manufacturers’ products). With this approach, LA Solar gains full control over the price of their systems (with the exception of inverters, which they do not manufacture), allowing them to offer very competitive prices.
It also helps to protect LA Solar from external supply chain constraints – a particularly important consideration based on recent disruptions to the solar industry. In fact, LA Solar states they’re not experiencing supply chain issues right now, unlike many installers and manufacturers in the solar industry and beyond. If for some reason you need your LA Solar panel replaced, this also ensures that they’ll have compatible solar panels in their inventory to fulfill their 25-year warranty.
The LA Solar manufacturing process
LA Solar manufactures their solar panels in Armenia, importing materials from Germany, China and Vietnam. The primary steps of solar panel manufacturing include: making the solar cell, making the lamination, making the frame, and then putting it all together; in the case of LA Solar, they complete all of these steps in house with the exception of the solar cells, which they purchase from a third-party. (Most solar panel manufacturers don’t make their own solar cells but rather all purchase from the same handful of cell manufacturers.) LA Solar also uses automated assembly lines, leading to low manufacturing error rates. Generally, it takes LA Solar about five to six months to procure raw materials, build the solar panels, and ship the panels out to installers.
How LA Solar Group solar panels compare to other panel manufacturers
There are four key metrics that you should review as you evaluate solar panel quality: efficiency, performance, warranties, and price. We’ve reviewed LA Solar Group solar panels for each metric to help make your solar decision easier. We’ve also created a comparison of LA Solar Group solar panels against other leading panel manufacturers that are frequently featured in offers to homeowners and businesses shopping for solar on the EnergySage Marketplace.
Efficiency
The term “solar panel efficiency” refers to how well a solar panel captures sunlight and converts it into useful electricity. In the same conditions, a high-efficiency solar panel will produce more electricity than a lower-efficiency panel of the same size. For this reason, a higher efficiency rating is generally preferable.
The efficiency of your LA Solar Group solar panels will vary depending on the specific model (and wattage) that you choose for your system. While the majority of solar panels fall in the 14 to 18% range, LA Solar panel efficiency can range anywhere from 17.52 to 20.93%. SunPower has the most efficient solar panels on the EnergySage Marketplace at 22.8%.
Wattage and efficiency of LA Solar panels by product
| Product | LS370 - 400ST | LS390 - 420HC | LS430 - 450HC | LS340 - 370ST | LS450BL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wattage | 370 - 400 Watts | 390 - 420 Watts | 430 - 450 Watts | 340 - 370 Watts | 450 Watts |
| Efficiency | 18.71 - 20.19% | 19.39 - 20.93% | 19.7 - 20.6% | 17.52 - 18.71% | 20.6% |
Performance of LA Solar panels (temperature coefficient)
To evaluate the performance of LA Solar panels, we’ll use the temperature coefficient: an indicator of how well your solar panel can handle less-than-ideal conditions. Solar panels, like other electronic equipment, perform better when they are kept cool (ideally around 25° C/77° F). The temperature coefficient tells you how much your panel’s performance will change during hot, sunny summer days.
For every degree above 25° C (77° F), your solar panel’s electricity production will decrease by its temperature coefficient. LA Solar panels have temperature coefficients of -0.37%/°C – this means that, if the panel’s temperature increases by one degree from 25° C (77° F) to 26° C (79° F), its electricity production will decrease by 0.37%. If its temperature increases all the way to 35° C (95° F), electricity production will reduce by 3.7%.
Your solar panels will likely see more than a few hot and sunny days over the course of each year, so ideally, they will have the lowest temperature coefficient possible. On the EnergySage Marketplace, the panels with the lowest temperature coefficient include Panasonic, REC, Axitec, and Solartech Universal at -0.26.
What about aesthetics?
Solar panel aesthetics are important to many homeowners – while most major manufacturers now primarily offer black solar panels for residential applications, the aesthetic design will still vary from panel to panel. In December 2021, LA Solar launched their first black-on-black solar panel: the LS450BL. Compared to LA Solar’s other solar panel models, this product offers the most discreet look if you’re concerned about aesthetics.
Warranty
Whether you’re buying a TV, a car, or solar panels, the manufacturer should stand behind their product with a strong warranty. A solar panel’s materials warranty (sometimes referred to as the product or equipment warranty) is a guarantee from the manufacturer that they will replace your panel if it fails as a result of manufacturing defects or environmental issues.
Most solar panel manufacturers offer a 10 or 12-year materials warranty, but some higher-end solar panels come with a 12, 15, or even 25-year warranty. LA Solar offers a 25-year power warranty that guarantees 90% production after 12 years and 80% production after 25 years. Their 25-year warranty also covers labor for any repairs or replacements, racking equipment, and roof leaks. Check out some other top warranties in our warranty comparison guide.
How much do LA Solar Group solar panels cost?
For many homeowners, the final decision around which solar equipment to choose comes down to cost. The total price you pay for a solar energy system with LA Solar panels will vary depending on the other equipment (such as inverters) used in the installation, as well as the characteristics of your roof. To identify the range of prices for LA Solar systems, we analyzed quotes from installers on the EnergySage Marketplace that included LA Solar Group solar panels throughout 2021. Most LA Solar systems are typically priced between $2.35 and $2.95 per watt – generally lower than the average price of solar quotes across the whole EnergySage Marketplace over the same time period.
This means that, for a 6 kW system, your gross cost (before you subtract any tax credits or other incentives) would be anywhere from $14,100 to $14,700. Additionally, most homeowners end up paying much less than the total gross cost. There are plenty of solar incentives and rebates to help you reduce upfront costs, including the 26 percent federal tax credit for solar.
LA Solar Group solar panels are some of the most competitively priced panels offered to solar shoppers on the EnergySage Marketplace. They offer some products with competitive efficiencies and power outputs for reasonable prices, especially when compared to industry-leading products like SunPower. Additionally, they have an impressive warranty of 25 years. Overall, there are plenty of compelling reasons to consider LA Solar panels for your home solar installation.
Comparing solar panels: the EnergySage Buyer’s Guide
Want to compare LA Solar Group solar panels to other popular brands in the market today? Using the EnergySage Buyer’s Guide, you can assess the warranties, performance, and aesthetics of top solar panels. There’s a lot in there, so we recommend using the filter and sorting functionalities to find the right solar panel for you.
How to find the best price on LA Solar Group solar panels
The best way to determine whether LA Solar Group solar panels are the best solar panels for your home is to review multiple quotes with different solar equipment options before making a decision. When you compare all of your options on the EnergySage Marketplace, you’ll find the right combination of price and quality that meets your needs. If you’re set on LA Solar panels, simply make a note in your profile so our qualified, pre-vetted solar installers are aware of your preferences.
