# EnergySage Solar Data Scraper (`crawlergang/energysage-scraper`) Actor

Scrape EnergySage.com - America's largest solar marketplace. Get solar panel rankings, state solar cost data, news articles, and installer directory information.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/crawlergang/energysage-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Crawler Gang](https://apify.com/crawlergang) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, E-commerce, News
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 11 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## EnergySage Solar Data Scraper

Scrape [EnergySage.com](https://www.energysage.com/) — America's largest solar marketplace and consumer resource. Get solar panel brand rankings, state-by-state solar cost data, news articles, and installer directory information.

### Features

- **Solar cost by state** — average cost per watt, system size, total cost, savings, and payback period for all 50 US states + DC
- **Solar panel rankings** — top-rated panel brands with efficiency, price, warranty, and wattage data
- **Solar news articles** — latest articles and guides from the EnergySage blog
- **Installer directory** — solar installer listings from the EnergySage marketplace

### Input

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `mode` | select | `solarCostByState`, `solarPanelRankings`, `solarNewsArticles`, `installerDirectory` |
| `state` | string | Filter state cost data by 2-letter state code (e.g. `CA`, `TX`) |
| `panelCategory` | select | Panel category: `all`, `best-overall`, `best-value`, `most-efficient`, `best-warranty` |
| `maxItems` | integer | Maximum records (default: 51 for all states) |

### Output (State Cost Records)

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `state` | Full state name |
| `stateCode` | 2-letter state code |
| `averageCostPerWatt` | Average installed cost per watt (USD) |
| `averageSystemSize` | Average system size (kW) |
| `averageTotalCost` | Average total installed cost (USD) |
| `averageSavings` | Estimated 20-year savings (USD) |
| `paybackPeriodYears` | Average payback period (years) |
| `pageUrl` | EnergySage state solar cost page |

### Output (Panel Records)

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `panelBrand` | Manufacturer brand |
| `panelModel` | Model name |
| `rank` | EnergySage ranking |
| `efficiency` | Panel efficiency (%) |
| `pricePerWatt` | Average price per watt (USD) |
| `warrantyYears` | Product warranty (years) |
| `wattage` | Panel wattage |
| `panelType` | Cell technology (Monocrystalline, etc.) |
| `category` | Category (best-overall, best-value, etc.) |

### Example Input

```json
{
  "mode": "solarCostByState",
  "maxItems": 51
}
```

### Example Output

```json
{
  "state": "California",
  "stateCode": "CA",
  "averageCostPerWatt": 3.09,
  "averageSystemSize": 7.1,
  "averageTotalCost": 21939,
  "averageSavings": 50000,
  "paybackPeriodYears": 6.5,
  "currency": "USD",
  "pageUrl": "https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-cost/ca/",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-06-02T10:00:00+00:00"
}
```

### FAQs

**How accurate is the cost data?**
Data is based on EnergySage's marketplace quotes database covering 100,000+ quotes annually. Figures represent averages before federal tax credits.

**Does the cost include the 30% federal tax credit?**
No. The `averageTotalCost` is the gross cost before incentives. After the federal ITC (30%), typical net costs are ~30% lower.

**What is cost per watt?**
The total installed cost of a solar system divided by system wattage. The US average is around $2.75–$3.50/watt.

**How do I find the best solar panels?**
Use `mode=solarPanelRankings` with `panelCategory=best-overall` for comprehensive rankings, or `most-efficient` for highest efficiency options.

# Actor input Schema

## `mode` (type: `string`):

What to scrape from EnergySage.

## `state` (type: `string`):

Filter cost data to a specific state (2-letter code). Leave empty for all states.

## `panelCategory` (type: `string`):

Filter solar panel rankings by category.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of records to return.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "mode": "solarCostByState",
  "state": "",
  "panelCategory": "all",
  "maxItems": 51
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `solarData` (type: `string`):

Dataset containing all scraped EnergySage data.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "mode": "solarCostByState",
    "state": "",
    "panelCategory": "all",
    "maxItems": 51
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("crawlergang/energysage-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "mode": "solarCostByState",
    "state": "",
    "panelCategory": "all",
    "maxItems": 51,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("crawlergang/energysage-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "mode": "solarCostByState",
  "state": "",
  "panelCategory": "all",
  "maxItems": 51
}' |
apify call crawlergang/energysage-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=crawlergang/energysage-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/cEXNKsCotS2795VAA/builds/IBauwQP05tFGamHQG/openapi.json