US residential solar prices increase as supply chain constraints bite

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Panasonic, REC and Silfab Solar were the panel brands with the highest market share in EnergySage’s report. Image: REC Solar.

The quoted price of residential solar in the US inched up in the second half of last year, most likely due to the effects of supply chain constraints and shortages, new research from marketplace provider EnergySage has revealed.

Median quoted solar prices increased over a six month period for the first time since EnergySage began tracking prices in 2014. They rose by 0.4% to US$2.68/W between the first and second half of 2021, according to the company’s latest Solar Marketplace Intel Report, which provides insight on pricing, equipment and consumer preference in the US residential solar and energy storage sectors.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

For the third half-year in a row, Arizona saw the lowest median quoted solar costs at US$2.25, while in H2 Indiana overtook Colorado for the highest median cost at US$3.27/W.

More than half of solar installers that responded to an EnergySage survey reported that supply chain constraints have either slightly or significantly harmed their company’s year-over-year change in sales, while about two-thirds of installers indicated that availability of solar panels and residential batteries has either slightly or significantly decreased.

The findings tally with research published last week by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which found that while a record 4.2GWdc of residential solar was installed in 2021, elevated component pricing and supply chain issues worsened throughout the year, with many industry players experiencing tight module and battery availability in Q4 and heading into 2022.

According to EnergySage, three panel brands – Panasonic, REC and LG Solar – dominated residential solar marketplace share in H1 2021, but each of their shares declined in H2, when Silfab Solar overtook LG Solar to tie with REC in second place.

In the second half of last year, six of the ten most frequently quoted solar panels on EnergySage were rated 360 – 370W, while panels above 400W accounted for 16% of all quotes, more than any other six-month period.

On the inverter front, Enphase maintained its growth on EnergySage’s marketplace with most of the market share, while SolarEdge lost some marketplace share, dropping from 32% in H1 2021 to 29% in H2 2021.

In terms of energy storage, financial savings overtook emergency backup power and resilience as the primary driver of storage interest in the second half of 2021, with 70% of all EnergySage solar shoppers requesting storage quotes when they register. For the year as a whole, 13% of residential solar systems installed through EnergySage included energy storage, up from 9% in 2020.

Nationwide, the installed cost of residential energy storage increased 5% between H1 and H2 2022 to US$1,289/kWh. The three most quoted battery brands – Enphase, LG Energy Solution and Tesla – accounted for 86% of all quotes submitted in the second half of the year.

Publication of the report comes a month after French electrical equipment group Schneider acquired a controlling stake in EnergySage, with the marketplace now looking to scale its operations globally.

Read Next

September 9, 2025
The US is forecast to reach between US$55-60 billion in clean energy tax credit monetisation in 2025, according to a report from clean energy financing technology platform Crux.
September 9, 2025
Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) broke records yesterday when renewables supplied 76.4% of total electricity demand, with solar power contributing nearly 60% of the record-breaking clean energy mix.
September 3, 2025
US residential solar prices have remained at historic lows in the first half of the year despite market uncertainty and continued high interest rates.
September 2, 2025
Spanish construction firm GES (Global Energy Services) has secured a contract to build a roughly 700MW solar-wind-storage hybrid project in Chile.
September 2, 2025
SMA Solar has forecast financial losses and further restructuring measures in 2025, as it responds to falling sales and a “challenging” market for residential and commercial renewable energy installations.
September 1, 2025
California's solar and storage association has called for US$10 million fines for PG&E and SCE for failing to approve residential solar and storage projects applications quickly.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA