How to compare solar quotes properly

Start with the same size: capacity in kWp

The first line to find in any quote is system capacity in kilowatts peak (kWp). If one quote is larger, it will naturally cost more and produce more, so comparing totals alone misleads you. Divide the price by the capacity to get the cost per kWp in each quote, then ask why they differ.

Ask each installer how they arrived at the size. A serious one bases it on at least a full year of bills, since summer use in the Kingdom is very different from winter, on the usable roof area after shading and walkways, and on the connection limits that apply. If two installers propose very different sizes for the same building, ask each to explain the calculation. Our guide to sizing a system from your bill helps you follow the logic first.

Same equipment class, not the same name

Next, compare the equipment. We don’t name brands, and what matters is the class, not the name: panel type, power per panel, efficiency and heat tolerance; inverter type (central, string or micro) and number; mounting material and corrosion protection; and cable and protection type. A quote that just says “high-quality panels” with no specification can’t be compared with anything.

Ask for the datasheet of every major component, and check that panels and inverters are from approved classes for grid-connected systems and meet Saudi standards. The whole price gap between two quotes can sit in the inverter or the mounting — parts that affect system life more than most people expect, especially with summer heat, dust and coastal humidity.

Expected production: ask about the assumptions

Almost every quote gives an expected annual production figure, and some turn it straight into savings in riyals. That figure is only useful if you know how it was calculated. Ask which sun hours were used for your city, the tilt and orientation, the losses from heat, dust, cabling and the inverter, and whether panel degradation over the years is included.

A quote that assumes permanently clean panels or ignores summer heat will show a higher number than a more realistic quote for the same system. The difference isn’t equipment quality — it’s optimism. Any savings estimate also depends on the electricity tariff and how exported surplus is credited, so ask for those assumptions in writing. For an independent first estimate, try the solar calculator.

Warranties: same types, same clarity

Quotes word warranties very differently. Compare four separately: the panel product warranty, the panel performance warranty, the inverter warranty, and the workmanship warranty from the installer covering mounting, connections and roof leaks. Don’t assume any period is standard — ask for the length of each in writing, who gives it and who handles a claim.

Look at what is said about maintenance too: does the quote include visits, cleaning or remote monitoring in the first year, and what do you have to do to keep the warranty valid? More in our warranties and maintenance guide.

Grid connection: who is responsible for what?

For grid-connected systems, much of the project happens off the roof: the application to the Saudi Electricity Company under the small-scale regulation, the drawings, the inspection and the bidirectional meter. Some quotes include all of this; others leave it to the customer without saying so clearly.

Ask for the quote to state who submits the application, who deals with any technical comments, who pays any fees, and whether the timeline includes the approval period. Don’t accept a promised connection date the installer doesn’t control. If the building is leased, sort out the owner’s consent before signing. Read our grid connection guide for details.

Payments and contract terms

The payment structure tells you a lot. Payments are commonly split into stages tied to real progress: one on signing, one when equipment is delivered to site, one after installation, and a final part after commissioning, connection and handover. We don’t suggest percentages, but the simple rule is that a meaningful share should stay tied to the system actually running.

Check that the contract lists the equipment with the same specifications as the quote, prevents substitution with a lower class without your consent, sets out what happens if work is delayed, and states what you receive at handover: as-built drawings, panel and inverter serial numbers, warranty certificates and monitoring login details.

Red flags and checking the installer

Some signs are enough to make you stop and ask more before signing:

• Promises of big savings or a “zero bill” with no written calculation based on your bills.
• A final quote without a site survey, based only on photos or a phone call.
• Generic specifications with no datasheets for panels and inverter.
• Pressure to sign quickly because the offer “ends today”, or a request for most of the money upfront.
• Vagueness about who handles the grid connection and who pays the fees.

Before signing, check the installer yourself: are they qualified with the relevant authority to install and connect grid-tied systems? Do they have a commercial registration with the right activity, and is electrical work done by a licensed electrical contractor or classified engineer? Is the proposed equipment on the approved lists? Ask for the numbers and documents and verify them at the source, not from a photo of a certificate. When you’re ready, send your request to qualified installers and run their quotes through these steps one by one.