How to Buy Solar and Battery Storage in the North Bay
Clean energy for your home, on your terms.
20-30% off Solar with the Prepaid PPA
Cash Purchase on a Solar & Battery System
Pay for the system outright, and you own it from day one, with no interest, no financing fees, and no third party involved. Over the life of the system, this is the option that costs you the least. The change in 2026 is that the 30% federal credit no longer applies to cash purchases, so the upfront amount is the full price. If you have the reserves and plan to stay in your home, this is still the strongest long-term return.
Apply for a Solar Loan
A home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC) may let you write off the interest (ask your tax advisor) and pay the balance down whenever you want. With the federal credit gone on financed purchases this year, the interest rate and any dealer fees carry more weight than they used to. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly payment.
Solar Lease & PPAs
Leases and power purchase agreements let you go solar with little or no upfront cost, but a third party owns the system, and long-term costs add up. We want you to see them clearly before you sign anything.
- Standard lease. Little or nothing down, but the finance fees are usually steep, and the payment often climbs every year over a 10 to 20-year term. SolarCraft rarely recommends one. The savings you forgo over the term, plus the friction it adds when you sell or refinance, tend to outweigh the initial ease.
- Standard PPA. Instead of a fixed payment, you pay for the electricity the system produces. The catch is the same as a lease: escalating rates and high-cost buyouts that can leave you paying far more than the system is worth, while keeping only part of the savings.
- The SolarCraft Prepaid PPA. This is the one third-party structure we recommend, and it is neither a lease nor a loan. You pay a single discounted price up front, with no escalators, no monthly solar bills, and no buyout, and the system is yours outright after six years. The discount, ranging from 20-30%, comes from a commercial financing partner that captures available tax incentives and passes them on to you. Coverage, warranties, service, and insurance are included, and one agreement can cover both your solar and your battery.
Adding a battery to your system, and how to pay for it
You do not have to treat the battery as a separate decision. Any of these three options can include storage, and the Prepaid PPA bundles solar and battery into a single agreement. Under NEM 3.0, the grid pays you less for the power you send back, so holding your own daytime production for the evening is how most homeowners get the most out of a system now. Our battery storage page covers how it works and how we size it.
Why homeowners buy from SolarCraft
Plenty of installers steer you to whatever financing pays them best. We would rather give you the straight version and earn the job. That is why we will talk you out of a bad lease, and why the Prepaid PPA is the only third-party deal we put our name behind.
Common questions about buying solar in 2026
Is it better to buy or lease solar in California in 2026?
If you can fund a purchase, buying with cash or a loan still wins over the long run. The wrinkle this year is that the 30% federal credit no longer applies to those routes, which is why the Prepaid PPA, where a third party captures that credit and passes it on as a discount, has become the better deal for many homeowners. It comes down to your cash and your tax situation.
What is a Prepaid PPA, and how is it different from a normal lease or PPA?
You pay a single discounted price upfront instead of monthly payments. No escalators, no monthly solar bills, no buyout, and the system is yours after six years. A standard lease or PPA keeps you in a long-term contract owned by a third party, usually with a payment that rises every year.
What is the difference between a solar lease and a solar PPA?
With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount to use the system. With a PPA, you pay a set rate per kilowatt-hour produced, so the bill tracks output. Either way a third party owns the system. We generally recommend ownership or the Prepaid PPA instead.
Can I finance solar and a battery together?
Yes. Any of the three options can include a battery, and the Prepaid PPA covers both solar and battery in a single agreement.
Is a solar battery worth it under NEM 3.0?
NEM 3.0 pays less for the power you export, so storing your own production for the evening is how many homeowners get more from a system. Whether it pays off depends on your usage and rate plan, which we work out during design.
