8MSolar vs NC Solar Now: Which NC Solar Installer Is Right for You?

Choosing a solar installer in North Carolina is one of the bigger decisions you will make as a homeowner. The panels going on your roof today will be there for 25 to 40 years, and the company you hire will be your partner for every service call, warranty claim, and system upgrade during that entire period. Get it right, and solar pays for itself many times over. Get it wrong, and you could be dealing with an underperforming system and a company that is hard to reach.

Two names often come up for North Carolina homeowners: 8MSolar and NC Solar Now. Both have been in the state for years, both serve residential and commercial customers, and both claim to prioritize your energy independence. But there are differences between them that matter when you are making a decision of this size.

This article breaks down both companies side by side so you can choose with confidence.

Key Points

• 8MSolar is the #1 residential solar installer in NC for both 2024 and 2025, and the #1 commercial and government solar installer in the state.
• Both 8MSolar and NC Solar Now hold Chapter 87 Engineering Firm licenses. What sets 8MSolar apart is having its own in-house licensed professional engineer who reviews and stamps every project plan.
• 8MSolar offers a Lifetime Workmanship and Roof Penetrations Warranty, a 5-year annual production guarantee, and a free 1-year post-installation performance report.
• Both companies are NABCEP certified and Tesla Powerwall certified installers based in Raleigh, NC.
• 8MSolar is fully licensed in NC, VA, and SC; NC Solar Now operates in North Carolina only.
• 8MSolar is hardware agnostic, giving customers real choice across multiple premium panel, inverter, and battery brands.
• 8MSolar won the NCSEA Sustainable Business of the Year award in 2024 and the EnergySage Local Installer of the Year in NC award for both 2024 and 2025.

Which Company Is Better for North Carolina Homeowners?

The direct answer: 8MSolar is the stronger choice for most North Carolina homeowners.

8MSolar installed more residential solar projects in the state than any other company, earning the #1 residential installer designation in 2024 and 2025.

• In 2024, 8MSolar installed over 8,414 kW of projects in North Carolina
• In contrast, NC Solar Now installed 5,828 kW of projects in North Carolina
  Source: (https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2025-top-north-carolina-solar-contractors/)

8MSolar is also the top commercial and government solar installer in NC, with clients that include RDU Airport, the City of Raleigh, the City of Durham, the Town of Apex, Caterpillar, Honda of NC, and bioMerieux, among many others across the Research Triangle. That level of commercial experience benefits residential customers, because the engineering rigor and quality control that major government contracts demand don’t disappear when the same team installs your home system.

NC Solar Now is a legitimate, certified company with genuine roots in the North Carolina market since 2009 – a strong track record. 8MSolar, having completed over 5,000. installations since being founded in 2015, does as well. They’re truly both great companies that do quality work. However the differences become more meaningful when you look at the depth of each company’s engineering capabilities, the breadth of their equipment options, as well as potential pricing differences and post installation support.

Expertise and Engineering

One of the most overlooked questions homeowners can ask a solar company is: “Who is designing my system, and what are their qualifications?” The answer matters a lot for long-term performance.

8MSolar is a Chapter 87 Engineering Firm, and the only local installer that has a licensed professional engineer (PE) on staff full time – reviewing and stamping the electrical plans of every project. That means every system design gets an internal review and official stamp from a licensed professional engineer (PE) on staff. This isn’t a third-party review or a rubber stamp from a contracted firm. It is in-house engineering accountability, which translates directly into better designs, fewer problems at permitting, and systems that perform as promised.

NC Solar Now also holds both an unlimited general contractor’s license and an
unlimited electrical license, which are solid credentials. They also are a Chapter 86 Engineering firm, yet do not have their own on-staff professional engineer (PE).

8MSolar’s expertise extends well beyond residential work. They are the #1 Commercial and Government Installer in NC, with completed projects for RDU Airport, the City of Raleigh, the City of Durham, the Town of Apex, Morrisville, Caterpillar, Honda of NC, and bioMerieux, among others. That level of commercial and government work demands rigorous engineering and project management. The processes and standards they bring to those projects carry over to every residential installation they do.

Warranties: Advantage 8MSolar

Warranties are one of the most important factors in any solar decision, and this is where the difference between these two companies becomes most visible.

8MSolar Warranty Package

Most solar companies offer a 10-year workmanship warranty. 8MSolar’s is lifetime. Every roof penetration made during installation is covered for the life of the system, not just a decade. That alone should get your attention, but the full package goes further:

• Lifetime Workmanship and Roof Penetrations Warranty
• 5-year annual production guarantee. If your system doesn’t produce the energy it was designed to produce in the first five years, 8MSolar stands behind it.
• Free 1-year post-installation performance report. 8MSolar’s internal service team reviews your system’s annual production at the one-year mark, verifies everything is working properly, and sends you a written production analysis at no cost.
• 90%+ output guarantee at 25 to 30 years on panels
• 30-year panel power output warranty from manufacturers
• 25-year mounting system warranty
• 10 to 15-year battery warranties

NC Solar Now Warranty Package

NC Solar Now offers standard manufacturer warranties, which usually include 25 years on panel power output and 10 years on workmanship. The company does not publicly advertise a lifetime workmanship warranty, a production guarantee, or a complimentary annual performance review comparable to 8MSolar’s offering.

The 1-year free performance report from 8MSolar is a standout feature. Most installers walk away after the job is done. Having the team that installed your system proactively check in, verify production data, and confirm everything is functioning correctly after year one is the kind of follow-through that pays off over a 25-year system lifespan.

For homeowners who want the most comprehensive long-term protection available, 8MSolar’s warranty package has no peer in this market.

Service Area

8MSolar serves North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina. For homeowners who live near state lines, own investment or vacation properties in multiple states, or operate businesses across the Southeast, having one trusted engineering-grade installer with established utility relationships in all three states is a real advantage.

NC Solar Now serves North Carolina only. Their Raleigh base and in-state relationships are genuine strengths for NC homeowners, but if your needs ever extend beyond the state, you start over with someone new.

Panel Selection and Hardware

Not all solar equipment (panels, batteries, etc.) is created equal, and the right equipment depends on your roof, your energy goals, and your budget. A good installer presents you with options and explains the tradeoffs honestly. A less thorough one steers customers to and recommends whatever they can get for a lowest price. 

8MSolar takes a truly hardware-agnostic approach. They regularly survey the market and identify the best panels for each customer situation. Their preferred brands include QCells (with a 25-year product warranty and 25-year power output warranty guaranteeing 90.58% output in year 25), REC Group (guaranteeing 92% of year-one output in year 25, with 8MSolar holding REC ProTrust Installer status), Silfab, and Hyundai. If you want the best of the best, 8MSolar is a Maxeon Preferred Installer – we’re talking Maxeon solar panels with the best efficiency ratings and a 40 year warranty. If you’re looking for the best value option, 8MSolar’s team may steer you towards a quality “best bang for your buck” option – such as Canadian Solar panels.   You get real options with real explanations and thought behind the recommendations made, not a single-brand pitch. Without significant thought behind a panel recommendation, homeowners run the significant risk of losing their long-term warranty if that manufacturer is no longer there.  

The same flexibility applies to inverters and batteries. 8MSolar helps you choose from multiple battery brands and inverter configurations based on what fits your home. If you want a Tesla Powerwall 3, they are a Tesla Premier Certified Installer. If another battery solution is better for your situation, they will tell you that too. Franklin (aPower2 or aPowerS), Enphase (IQ Battery 5p or IQ Battery 10C), Fortress Power (eBoost or eForce or eFlex), or even EG4 (GridBoss, FlexBoss, et al). A foundation of engineering expertise, knowledge, and consistent evolution allows 8MSolar to install anything under sun. Whether you’re looking for Enphase Microinveters, SolarEdge Inverter + Power Optimizers, a Sol-Ark Inverter, SMA, among many others – the same agnostic approach goes for inverters. 

NC Solar Now tends to stick to one or two options – both in terms of panels and battery options. Which isn’t necessarily a bad approach, installing what you know best, but if you want a truly comprehensive side-by-side comparison of battery and panel options or want to explore alternatives, the conversation at 8MSolar will go deeper.

Both companies offer and install quality equipment. The distinction is the degree of choice and the engineering rigor as well as expertise and thought behind the recommendation.

Engineering Depth: In-House PE vs. Licensed Firm

Both 8MSolar and NC Solar Now hold Chapter 87 Engineering Firm licenses, which is a meaningful baseline. A Chapter 87 designation from the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors confirms that the company is authorized to provide engineering services and that PE-reviewed plans are part of the process. Not every solar installer in NC can say that.

The difference is in how that engineering function operates day to day. 8MSolar employs its own licensed professional engineer in-house. That PE reviews and stamps every project plan that leaves the company. The roof load analysis, electrical design, interconnection plan, and mounting specifications are all the direct work of an engineer who is an 8MSolar employee and carries full professional accountability for every project the company completes.

When engineering is handled in-house rather than outsourced or contracted on a per-project basis, it stays embedded in the design process from the start rather than serving as a final sign-off step. For homeowners, the practical result is fewer permit delays, more precisely designed systems, and stronger long-term documentation if any issue ever needs to be revisited.

NC Solar Now holds the same firm-level license. What 8MSolar’s approach adds is the depth of having that engineering expertise integrated into their own team and present on every project from design through completion.

Post-Installation Support

8MSolar maintains an in-house service team that handles equipment warranty replacements, remote monitoring, diagnostics, and response to service requests after installation. The company offers industry-leading response times and remote monitoring capabilities as part of its standard service model.

The free annual performance report is a particularly strong differentiator. Most solar companies consider the job done once your system is turned on. 8MSolar’s service team proactively checks in on your system at the one-year mark, reviews the production data, verifies components are functioning properly, and delivers a written analysis to you at no charge. For homeowners who are not monitoring their app daily, that review catches problems before they become expensive.

NC Solar Now also emphasizes ongoing customer support and transparency about tax credits and rebate programs after installation. Customer testimonials reflect genuine post-sale responsiveness. But their post-installation support is not as formally structured as 8MSolar’s dedicated service team and annual review program.

Honesty and Transparency

Both companies emphasize transparency with customers, and both appear to follow through based on publicly available reviews. 

8MSolar has built its whole reputation on this. Every question gets answered with expert knowledge, and every step of the process is explained clearly. There are no hidden fees, no bait-and-switch on equipment, and no inflated production estimates to win a sale. Their engineers and project managers – even your initial sales consultant – are available for detailed and thorough explanations throughout the process. 8MSolar’s transparency is backed by an engineering firm’s accountability. When a PE stamps your plans, they are personally and professionally liable for those drawings. That is a level of built-in honesty that no amount of good intentions can replicate.

NC Solar Now’s educational approach and detailed pre-sale consultations help customers understand what they are buying before they sign. Their testimonials reflect genuine openness about tax credits, rebate programs, and what to expect after installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes 8MSolar the #1 installer in North Carolina? 8MSolar installed more residential solar projects in North Carolina than any other company in both 2024 and 2025. The company is also the top commercial and government solar installer in the state, with clients that include RDU Airport, the City of Raleigh, Caterpillar, and Honda of NC. External organizations including EnergySage and the NCSEA have recognized 8MSolar’s quality with top installer and sustainable business awards.

Both companies hold Chapter 87 licenses. What is the difference? A Chapter 87 Engineering Firm license confirms that PE-reviewed plans are part of the process, and both 8MSolar and NC Solar Now hold this designation. The distinction with 8MSolar is that their licensed professional engineer is employed in-house and embedded in the design of every project, rather than engaged on a per-project basis. That means engineering oversight is part of the process from start to finish, not just a final review step.

Does 8MSolar serve Virginia and South Carolina? Yes. 8MSolar is fully licensed and operates in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina. NC Solar Now serves North Carolina only.

What does 8MSolar’s Lifetime Warranty actually cover? The Lifetime Workmanship and Roof Penetrations Warranty covers the quality of the installation work and every roof penetration made during the process for the life of the system. Most competitors offer 10-year workmanship warranties. 8MSolar’s is lifetime.

What is the free 1-year performance report? One year after installation, 8MSolar’s internal service team proactively reviews your system’s production data, verifies all components are working properly, and sends you a written production analysis at no charge. This is not standard in the industry and reflects 8MSolar’s commitment to long-term customer support rather than just completing the sale.

Can I choose between different battery brands with 8MSolar?
Yes. 8MSolar helps you choose from multiple battery brands and inverter configurations based on what fits your home. If you want a Tesla Powerwall 3, they are a Tesla Premier Certified Installer. If another battery solution is better for your situation, they will tell you that too. Franklin (aPower2 or aPowerS), Enphase (IQ Battery 5p or IQ Battery 10C), Fortress Power (eBoost or eForce or eFlex), or even EG4 (GridBoss, FlexBoss, et al). 

Does 8MSolar offer a production guarantee? Yes. 8MSolar backs the first five years of system performance with an annual production guarantee. If your system does not produce the energy it was designed to produce, 8MSolar stands behind it. NC Solar Now does not publicly advertise an equivalent guarantee.

How do I get started with 8MSolar? The easiest first step is to schedule a free virtual consultation at 8msolar.com or call (919) 948-6474. 8MSolar’s team will evaluate your home, walk you through hardware options, and provide a detailed system design with engineering-grade accuracy and a guaranteed price.

Take the Next Step Toward Energy Independence

NC Solar Now is a solid North Carolina solar company with real community roots and a commitment to their customers. They are not a bad choice.

But 8MSolar is the best choice. The #1 residential and commercial installer in NC. An in-house PE whose stamp appears on every project plan. A lifetime workmanship warranty. A 5-year production guarantee. A free annual performance review. Two consecutive EnergySage Installer of the Year awards. Government clients including RDU Airport and the City of Raleigh. Real hardware choice across multiple premium panels and two battery systems. Honesty and transparency at every step of the way.

If you are ready to stop paying rising electricity rates and start generating your own clean energy, 8MSolar is where that journey begins. Contact 8MSolar today for a free consultation.