GoGreenSolar review: our verdict

This GoGreenSolar review is for homeowners weighing a do-it-yourself solar installation against hiring a full-service installer. GoGreenSolar sells complete home solar kits, designed for your property, together with optional permit plan sets, utility interconnection help and phone support. The aim is to let you, or a contractor you hire, install a grid-tied system for less than a turnkey solar company would charge, without having to design it or fight the paperwork alone.

That combination is why GoGreenSolar ranks near the top of our solar list for DIY kits. Its strongest points are the custom system design, the permit service with a money-back guarantee if the permit is not approved, and kits that arrive with racking, monitoring and labelled parts. The limitations are just as clear: DIY solar involves roof work and electrical work that many homeowners should not attempt, independent review coverage of the company is thin, and the support model depends on you doing the physical work.

NerdBible did not buy or install a GoGreenSolar kit for this review. It is an editorial assessment built from GoGreenSolar's own pages, the US Department of Energy's homeowner guidance, and independent listings and reviews from EnergySage, BestCompany, MySolarFY and Customer Lobby.

What is GoGreenSolar and who is it for?

GoGreenSolar is the trading name of GigaWatt Inc, based in Fullerton, California, according to its contact page, which also notes that in-person visits need an appointment. Its homepage says it has helped homeowners go solar for more than 18 years and ships nationwide in the US.

The company sells three main kinds of system, according to its solar panel kits page:

  • Grid-tie kits, which offset your electricity bill and send surplus power to the grid where your utility allows it.
  • Kits with battery, which add storage for backup during outages.
  • Off-grid kits, for properties without a grid connection.

Kits come in sizes from about 2 kW up past 20 kW, with either microinverters or string inverters, and for roof or ground mounting. GoGreenSolar says each kit is customised to your energy use and home, and that panels are not sold separately from kits.

GoGreenSolar suits homeowners who are comfortable with practical projects or who already have an electrician or roofer in mind, owners of land who want a ground-mount array, and people who want to own their system outright rather than lease. It suits less well anyone who wants a single company to handle everything from design to switch-on, and anyone uncomfortable working at height or with electrical systems.

Key features

Custom design and installation guide

GoGreenSolar's comparison page says its engineers draft a code-compliant plan for your specific site, with forecast energy production, and that each customer gets an installation guide written for their exact system. The company also offers a free roof layout on request. This is the core difference between GoGreenSolar and a retailer that ships a generic box of parts.

Complete kits with labelled parts

According to the same page and the homepage, kits include panels, inverters, roof racking and wireless monitoring, with parts bagged and labelled to make installation and inspection easier. Optional batteries come from brands such as Sol-Ark, Enphase and Fortress, based on the kits the site lists. A GoGreenSolar buying guide on its blog says its ground-mount kits use IronRidge racking.

Permit plan sets with a money-back guarantee

The solar permit service page explains the process clearly. Before you build, you need a permit from your local building department, which will ask for a site plan, wiring diagrams, equipment spec sheets and certifications. GoGreenSolar prepares that package, makes corrections if the building department asks for them, and says it will refund your purchase in full if the permit is not approved, subject to its terms. The service is an add-on, costs extra for larger or more complex systems, and is only available to customers who buy a complete kit.

Utility interconnection

Grid-tied systems need the utility's permission to operate. GoGreenSolar says that after you buy a kit, its team works with your utility on the interconnection application, which is one of the steps DIY installers most often find confusing.

Support and financing

The company offers phone and email support through the installation, an online support hub with how-to videos, and loans for kit purchases, according to its comparison page and homepage.

How much does a GoGreenSolar kit cost?

Our product card covers current pricing. Structurally, GoGreenSolar sells kits priced by system size and configuration, with permit, interconnection and battery options added on top. Microinverter kits generally cost more than string inverter kits of the same size on GoGreenSolar's listings, and ground-mount kits differ again. Your total project cost also includes whatever you pay for labour, whether that is your own time or a contractor's, plus local permit fees and any roof work.

GoGreenSolar publishes pages about financing and solar incentives. NerdBible does not assess tax credits or incentives; if they matter to your decision, speak to a qualified tax professional before you buy.

Is DIY solar safe?

A solar installation combines roof work, structural attachment and high-voltage electrical work, so safety deserves more weight here than in most product categories. The US Department of Energy's Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar recommends working with a professional who holds the industry-standard NABCEP certification and offers tips on spotting bad actors in the industry. GoGreenSolar's model does not prevent that: its kits page describes them as easy for you or a contractor to install. For many buyers the sensible route is to use GoGreenSolar for design, equipment and paperwork, and hire a licensed electrician for the electrical connection. Your local building department's inspection is a further safeguard, and GoGreenSolar supplies the labels that inspectors expect to see.

What could be better

  • Thin independent coverage. EnergySage's profile shows only a handful of user reviews and notes that the company is not in its network, and BestCompany's profile has too few reviews for a ranking. There is far less third-party evidence than for the large installers.
  • You do the hard part. The physical installation, including working on a roof, is your responsibility or your contractor's.
  • Add-on costs. The permit service and interconnection help are optional extras rather than part of the kit price, and complex systems cost more to permit.
  • Guarantee terms matter. The money-back promise applies to the permit service under GoGreenSolar's terms and conditions, which require you to follow the proper steps. Read them before relying on it.
  • Ownership only. GoGreenSolar sells systems for you to own; the pages we read do not offer a lease or power purchase agreement, so if you want someone else to own and maintain the system, this is not the right model.

Who should choose something else?

If you want one company to design, install, inspect and maintain your system, use a full-service installer and compare several quotes, as the Department of Energy suggests. If your roof is complex, steep or due for replacement, start with a roofer and an installer rather than a kit. If you only want backup power for outages and not lower bills, a portable power station or standby generator may be simpler. And if you rent, a DIY rooftop system is not an option without the owner's agreement.

Is GoGreenSolar worth it?

For capable homeowners, or those who will hire a local electrician for part of the job, GoGreenSolar is one of the more complete DIY options available. You get a custom design, a full kit, permit documents with a guarantee and help with the utility, which removes most of the reasons DIY solar projects stall. The value depends on how much of the work you can do or source cheaply. If you would end up paying a contractor for everything, compare that total against full-service quotes before deciding.

What other reviewers found

  • EnergySage lists a low average rating based on only four user reviews, and notes that the company is not in its installer network and has not been screened by EnergySage.
  • BestCompany marks GoGreenSolar as having insufficient reviews for a ranking, shows a positive average from five users, and describes the company as selling DIY solar equipment rather than offering professional installation. Its profile is several years old.
  • MySolarFY includes GoGreenSolar's grid-tie kits in its DIY kit guide as an option for offsetting a home's bill with microinverters and racking, noting that these kits need a permit and utility interconnection.
  • Customer Lobby hosts several hundred customer reviews of GoGreenSolar with a high overall rating, including praise for the sales experience and products, and at least one comment about parts being out of stock when ordering.

Where they agree and disagree

Every source agrees on what GoGreenSolar is: a supplier of DIY grid-tie and battery kits with design and paperwork support, not a full-service installer. The difference lies in what customers report. The large pool of reviews on Customer Lobby is strongly positive, while the tiny sample on EnergySage is negative, and BestCompany does not have enough reviews to say much at all.

For a buyer, the honest conclusion is that there is no large body of independent testing behind GoGreenSolar, so you should judge it on what you can verify yourself: ask for the custom design and quote, read the permit guarantee terms, confirm who will do the electrical work, and compare the total against at least two installer quotes. Its long trading history and detailed permit process are reassuring, but they do not replace your own due diligence.

Frequently asked questions

Does GoGreenSolar install the system for you?

GoGreenSolar's core business is selling custom DIY kits, with design, permit plans and interconnection help. Its kits page describes them as easy for you or a contractor to install, and BestCompany describes the company as selling equipment rather than providing professional installation. Expect to install the system yourself or hire a local contractor, and confirm current options directly with the company.

Is the GoGreenSolar permit guarantee real?

GoGreenSolar's permit service page says it will make corrections requested by your building department and refund your purchase in full if the permit is not approved, subject to its terms and conditions. The service is only available with a complete kit purchase and costs extra. Read the terms carefully, because the guarantee assumes you follow the required steps and provide accurate information.

What comes in a GoGreenSolar kit?

According to GoGreenSolar, kits include solar panels, grid-tie inverters (either microinverters or a string inverter), roof or ground racking and wireless monitoring, with labelled parts and a custom installation guide. Batteries are optional on many systems. Permit plan sets and utility interconnection are available as add-on services. Panels are not sold on their own outside a kit.

Can I install solar panels myself?

In many areas homeowners can, but it depends on local rules, your skills and your roof. A permit and inspection are normally required, and the utility must approve a grid-tied connection. The Department of Energy recommends using a NABCEP-certified professional. Many DIY buyers handle the mounting and hire a licensed electrician for the electrical connection. Check with your local building department first.

Is GoGreenSolar legitimate?

GoGreenSolar is the trading name of GigaWatt Inc, lists a California address and phone line, and says it has been operating for more than 18 years. Customer Lobby hosts hundreds of mostly positive customer reviews, while EnergySage and BestCompany have too few reviews to draw conclusions. As with any large purchase, get a written quote and read the terms before paying.

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