Compare Local Pros
Clean Solar vs Cobalt Power Systems
Santa Clara Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Two highly qualified veteran solar contractors with similar credentials but different geographic focuses and slightly different specialization depths.
| Clean Solar | Cobalt Power Systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.5 | ★ 4.3 |
| Years Licensed | 18 years | 23 years |
| License # | 910849 | 820697 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Jose, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Website | www.cleansolar.com | www.cobaltpower.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Clean Solar
Clean Solar customers consistently emphasize thorough explanations and patient customer education, with detailed consultations and responsive communication throughout project stages.
Cobalt Power Systems
Cobalt Power Systems customers highlight collaborative design processes and multi-year relationships, including returns for system upgrades and willingness to tackle complex installations others declined.
Key Takeaway: While both receive positive feedback, Clean Solar is distinguished by educational focus during initial consultations, whereas Cobalt stands out for long-term customer relationships and handling technically challenging scenarios.
Customer Reviews
Clean Solar
Support group was very resonsive to my questions within hours. Great to have knowegeable help when it's needed.
Project: add whole-house battery backup to a 20 year-old home with existing solar PV system. I had three goals: 1. Load shifting (provide electricity during peak energy charges) 2. Provide backup pow...
My husband and I had a terrific and lengthy phone experience where Art explained in depth about solar panels and batteries. He was patient in answering all our questions and very generous with his t...
Cobalt Power Systems
Excellent experience from first phone call to utility interconnection. Collaborative design process, professional installation and coordinated scheduling throughout. Have referred my network, includin...
Truly solid company. Great installs. When is comes to what truly matters the work being done on your home is the most important. Less BS to deal with on the backend. Solar and battery stays for 25 yea...
I selected Cobalt Power Systems after noticing several projects in the neighborhood and speaking with a customer. After speaking with the Cobalt sales person (Jay), and receiving a detailed proposal,...
Consider Clean Solar if...
- ✓ Your project involves standard residential solar or battery backup on conventional roofing materials where Clean Solar's 18 years provides ample experience depth.
- ✓ You value detailed explanations and educational consultations, as Clean Solar consistently receives feedback about taking time to ensure customers understand technical details.
- ✓ You're located in San Jose or communities where Clean Solar's local presence may offer slightly faster response times.
- ✓ You want a company known specifically for responsive communication throughout the project lifecycle, not just during the sales phase.
Consider Cobalt Power Systems if...
- ✓ Your installation involves specialty roofing materials like tile or slate, where Cobalt's 23 years and track record with complex scenarios provides an advantage.
- ✓ You anticipate future system expansions, as Cobalt demonstrates a pattern of multi-year customer relationships with successful upgrade projects.
- ✓ You're working with a roofing contractor who may refer specific solar companies, as Cobalt receives referrals from roofing professionals for coordinated projects.
- ✓ You're located in Mountain View or northern Santa Clara County where Cobalt's base may offer logistical benefits.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask both companies about their specific experience with your roofing type and any installation challenges it presents, particularly if you have specialty materials.
- → If you anticipate future battery or panel additions, ask about their process for upgrading existing systems and whether current customers return for expansions.
- → Request references from projects in your immediate neighborhood to assess their familiarity with local permitting and utility interconnection processes.
- → Ask about typical project timelines from contract to final inspection and how they coordinate scheduling with utility companies.
The Bottom Line
You're choosing between two legitimately strong veteran solar contractors with proper insurance and similar service capabilities. Cobalt Power Systems holds a meaningful edge if your project involves specialty roofing, complex installation scenarios, or if you value their demonstrated pattern of long-term customer relationships for future expansions. Clean Solar is the better choice if you prioritize exceptionally thorough customer education and want a company specifically noted for patient, detailed explanations throughout the process. For standard residential solar on conventional roofing, both have more than adequate experience; choose based on whose communication style better matches your preferences during initial consultations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward installations on composition shingle roofs, both companies have more than sufficient experience. The gap becomes relevant if your project involves complications like specialty roofing, unusual roof angles, or coordination with significant electrical upgrades. Cobalt's additional years mean they've seen more technology generations and edge cases, but Clean Solar's 18 years is well beyond the threshold for standard projects.
Both companies explicitly handle Tesla Powerwall and battery backup systems in their service offerings and customer feedback. Clean Solar emphasizes customer education about battery systems, while Cobalt shows a pattern of customers returning for battery additions to existing solar arrays. Ask each company how many Powerwall installations they've completed in the past year and request a recent reference.
Cobalt Power Systems shows a stronger pattern of multi-year customer relationships with documented system expansions and upgrades over time. Multiple customers mention returning to Cobalt for additions years after initial installations. While Clean Solar also mentions system additions in their project types, Cobalt's feedback emphasizes this ongoing relationship aspect more consistently.
Both companies serve the same Santa Clara County market and handle permitting across the region, so location differences are minor. If you're equidistant from San Jose and Mountain View, proximity becomes essentially irrelevant. Focus instead on which company's approach to customer communication and project complexity matches your specific needs and concerns.
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See our ranked list of top solar contractors in Santa Clara.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 11, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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