Expert Solar Installation Services for Irvine Homeowners
Your system. Your roof. Custom-designed for your home. 25+ years experience. 15,000+ installations. 25-year workmanship warranty.
WHY SOLARTECH
Why Choose SolarTech for Your Solar Needs
Every Irvine solar installation is custom-designed for your home, your roof, and your energy needs.
SCE Rates Keep Rising - Solar Locks In Your Energy Cost
SCE charges Irvine homeowners an average of 31.2 cents per kWh – 95% above the national average of $0.16/kWh. Rates have been rising above inflation for years, and on SCE’s TOU-D plan, the 5-8pm peak window hits hardest – when households are home and demand is highest. Every rate increase raises the value of every kilowatt-hour your solar system generates. A system sized to your home locks in your generation cost and protects you against decades of future increases.
Solar + Battery: Built for SCE's Net Billing Tariff
SCE switched to NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff) in April 2023. Under NEM 3.0, excess solar exported to the grid earns variable credits – typically a fraction of what you pay to purchase power. The value is in the spread: store midday solar in a battery, discharge it during the 5-8pm TOU peak, and avoid buying SCE’s most expensive electricity. SolarTech installs battery storage systems sized for NEM 3.0 self-consumption.
25+ Years of Experience in Southern California
Over 15,000 solar installations across California and Arizona since 2001. 4.7-star Google rating with 800+ reviews, and 4.5-star Yelp rating with 400+ reviews. SolarTech has been installing solar across Orange County since 2001 – every SCE rate structure, every permitting cycle, every roof type. Your installation is backed by a 25-year workmanship warranty.
Full-Service Installation - From Design Through Activation
From your first assessment through SCE Permission to Operate, SolarTech manages the entire process. We file permits with the City of Irvine’s building department, handle all SCE interconnection paperwork, and coordinate inspections. You don’t chase a single form. Our team is experienced with Irvine’s permitting process and SCE’s interconnection requirements, which keeps your project on track from design to activation.
Experience & Expertise
Leading Solar Experts
- Designing and building solar systems since 2001
- Free consultations tailored to your home and energy needs
- SCE territory specialists - we handle Net Billing Tariff enrollment and interconnection
- Battery storage expertise for maximum self-consumption and backup power under NEM 3.0
- $0 down financing, lease, PPA, and cash options available
- 25-year workmanship warranty for solar energy systems
- Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer, Maxeon Preferred Partner, Enphase Preferred Partner
- CSLB licensed, bonded, and insured
- Serving Irvine and all of Orange County
Solar Incentives
Irvine Solar Incentives You Qualify For
Irvine homeowners have access to California’s strongest solar incentive programs. With SCE’s average rate at 31.2 cents per kWh, the economics are compelling – and a key incentive expires January 1, 2027.
SGIP Battery Storage Rebate
California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) pays $1.10/Wh toward qualifying battery storage systems – up to $14,300 back on a 13 kWh battery. Under SCE’s NEM 3.0, battery storage is the mechanism that converts your solar system from a grid-export asset into a peak-hour self-consumption tool. Understanding your home battery storage options is an important step before sizing your system.
California Property Tax Exclusion
Your solar installation is excluded from property tax reassessment. A $25,000 solar-plus-battery system adds $0 to your annual property tax bill. This exclusion expires January 1, 2027 – systems installed before that date lock in the benefit for the life of the equipment.
NEM 3.0 and Battery Strategy
Under SCE’s Net Billing Tariff, export rates are time-varying and significantly lower than retail. The most financially effective approach for Irvine homeowners is pairing solar with battery storage: generate during the day, store the energy, discharge it during SCE’s 5-8pm peak window. This avoids selling low-value export power back to the grid and avoids buying peak-rate electricity from SCE – capturing both sides of the TOU spread. A California court upheld NEM 3.0 in March 2026, making this the permanent structure to plan around.
Lease and PPA Options
The federal homeowner tax credit was eliminated in January 2026. Through a lease or PPA, the installer claims the Section 48E credit through 2027 and passes savings to you through lower monthly payments. This keeps the financial benefit accessible without requiring direct tax credit ownership.
Irvine Permitting
Irvine maintains streamlined solar permitting under Measure S. Residential solar permit fees run approximately $448 in FY 2025-26 per the Orange County fee schedule – a lower-cost entry point compared to many California markets.
How We Work
Our Solar Installation Process
01
Free Consultation
We evaluate your Irvine home’s energy needs, roof condition, and sun exposure. You get a detailed proposal with system size, projected production, and estimated savings based on your actual SCE bills and usage history. No obligation, no pressure.
02
Custom System Design
Our engineers design a system for your specific home and energy profile. For Irvine homeowners on SCE’s TOU-D plan, we factor in the 5-8pm peak window and size battery storage for maximum self-consumption during the most expensive hours. Each design accounts for your roof orientation, local shading, and Irvine’s coastal-adjacent climate.
03
Permitting & Approvals
We file your permit application with the City of Irvine’s building department. Irvine’s streamlined permitting process under Measure S keeps approvals efficient – we handle all paperwork, structural engineering documentation, and electrical plans. Permit fees run approximately $448 for residential solar installations in FY 2025-26.
04
Professional Installation
Our licensed technicians complete your installation, typically in 1-3 days, with minimal disruption to your routine. Every system uses Tier-1 panels backed by 25+ year manufacturer warranties, professionally mounted with code-compliant racking and wiring.
05
Inspection & Activation
After passing city inspection, we submit your SCE interconnection application and coordinate Permission to Operate. Total timeline from contract to activation typically runs 4-8 weeks. Once your system is active, it starts generating clean energy and reducing your SCE bill immediately.
our equipment
Quality Solar Panel Options for Irvine Properties
Premium Solar Panels
High-efficiency panels from Maxeon, REC, and Q CELLS – selected for Irvine’s climate and solar production profile. Irvine gets 300+ sunny days and 6.06 peak sun hours per day – one of California’s strongest solar resources. The coastal-adjacent climate keeps temperatures mild year-round, which maintains panel efficiency without the thermal degradation common in desert markets. A typical 7 kW system costs $17,500-$22,050; an 8 kW system runs $20,000-$25,200; a 9 kW system runs $22,500-$28,350. Most Irvine homes need 18-22 panels to offset their monthly SCE bill.
Battery Storage
Recommended for every Irvine homeowner under SCE’s Net Billing Tariff. Store your midday solar production and discharge it during the 5-8pm peak window – reducing grid purchases during SCE’s most expensive hours. We install Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ Battery systems alongside every solar installation. A 10-13 kWh battery adds $11,000-$15,000 to your project, partially offset by California’s SGIP rebate of up to $14,300 for qualifying systems.
Get Your Free Solar Quote Today
Join over 15,000 homeowners who chose SolarTech. Custom solar installations designed for your Irvine home, backed by our 25-year workmanship warranty.
GET A SAVINGS ESTIMATE
See How Much Solar Could Save You
Find out what solar can do for your Irvine home. Calculate your potential savings based on your actual roof and energy usage at SCE’s current rates – no home visit required.
Frequently Asked Solar Questions
Contact SolarTech Support
Phone
(619) 743 9193
sales@solartechonline.com
How much does solar installation cost in Irvine, CA?
A typical 7-9 kW system for an Irvine home costs $17,500-$28,350 before incentives based on current local installation data. California’s SGIP battery storage rebate ($1.10/Wh) can offset up to $14,300 of battery costs, and the property tax exclusion keeps your assessed home value unchanged.
How does NEM 3.0 affect Irvine homeowners with solar?
Under SCE’s Net Billing Tariff (active since April 2023), solar export rates are time-varying and significantly lower than retail rates. Adding battery storage lets Irvine homeowners store daytime solar production and use it during SCE’s 5-8pm peak window instead of exporting at low variable rates.
What solar incentives are available in Irvine, CA?
Irvine homeowners qualify for California’s SGIP battery storage rebate – $1.10/Wh for qualifying systems, up to $14,300 back on a 13 kWh battery. The state’s property tax exclusion prevents your solar installation from increasing your home’s assessed value; it expires January 1, 2027.
How many solar panels does an Irvine home need?
Irvine averages 6.06 peak sun hours per day – one of California’s strongest solar resources. A typical home using 800-1,000 kWh per month at SCE’s 31.2-cent average rate needs a 7-9 kW system, which works out to roughly 18-22 panels depending on panel efficiency.
How long does solar installation take in Irvine, CA?
Most Irvine installations take 1-3 days for the physical work; total timeline from contract to SCE Permission to Operate typically runs 4-8 weeks, covering system design, City of Irvine permitting, and utility interconnection. Irvine’s streamlined permitting under Measure S keeps the approval stage efficient.