There are various financing options for solar panels, such as credits, loans, leasing, renting, and public aid. The right choice depends on your financial situation, access to subsidies, and your preference for renting or owning the system. The terms of each option (interest, terms, ownership. The Residential Clean Energy Credit equals 30% of the costs of new, qualified clean energy property for your home installed anytime from 2022 through December 31, 2025. Power Purchase Agreements and solar leases require no upfront. Whether you should purchase or lease your solar panel system ultimately comes down to what matters most to you—maximizing lifetime savings or minimizing upfront costs and maintaining flexibility. Many of these also offer little to no down payment, allowing homeowners to make the switch even if they don't have a lump sum of savings to. Personal loans and home equity financing are two ways to pay for solar panels. NerdWallet is committed to editorial integrity Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our.