About Ben Zientara

Ben Zientara - Author of Solar Reviews

Ben Zientara

Solar Policy Analyst and Researcher

Ben Zientara is a writer, researcher, and solar policy analyst who has written about the residential solar industry, the electric grid, and state utility policy since 2013.

His early work included leading the team that produced the annual State Solar Power Rankings Report for the Solar Power Rocks website from 2015 to 2020. The rankings were utilized and referenced by a diverse mix of policymakers, advocacy groups, and media including The Center for American Progress, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the Solar Institute at George Washington University, PolitiFact, and The Guardian.

In 2020, Ben joined SolarReviews, and now lends his expertise to the annual Solar Industry Survey, Top Solar Manufacturers list, Top 10 Solar States list, and throughout articles and pages across the site.

Ben holds a B.S. in Scientific & Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota, with special coursework in Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainability Studies. He spends his time away from the solar power world cooking and eating delicious food or spending quality time with his wife, kids, and big brown dog in the mountains, woods, parks, and playgrounds of the Portland, Oregon area.

Recent articles by Ben Zientara

Expert review of the Franklin Whole Home battery and Home Power System

Ben Zientara

October 18, 2022

Expert review of the Franklin Whole Home battery and Home Power System

The FranklinWH Home Power System (FHP) is a new whole-home solar backup battery system that could be the most complete solution on the market.

NEM 3.0 in California: What homeowners need to know about Net Billing

Ben Zientara

December 16, 2022

NEM 3.0 in California: What homeowners need to know about Net Billing

NEM 3.0 is here, with a new type of solar rate plan called Net Billing. There's reduced compensation for excess solar energy and increased incentive to install batteries, but you can still save money with solar in California

Top 5 American solar panel manufacturers in 2023

Ben Zientara

May 10, 2019

Top 5 American solar panel manufacturers in 2023

Reviewing the top-rated U.S. solar panel manufacturers in 2023.

What happens if you have solar and the power goes out?

Ben Zientara

July 25, 2017

What happens if you have solar and the power goes out?

Typical home solar installations shut down during a blackout, but you can keep the lights on in 1 of 3 ways: a generator, battery, or a special solar inverter.

Expert review of the Enphase IQ battery system

Ben Zientara

October 15, 2023

Expert review of the Enphase IQ battery system

The Enphase IQ solar battery system can help you save money on energy and keep your home powered in an outage. Here’s our word on whether it’s the best solar battery available.

kW vs. kWh: Watts, kilowatts, and kilowatt-hours explained

Ben Zientara

April 3, 2019

kW vs. kWh: Watts, kilowatts, and kilowatt-hours explained

Watts and kilowatts (kW) are measures of power, or ability to do work, while kilowatt-hours (kWh) are measures of energy, which is power used over time.

Expert answers to Reddit’s most popular solar panel questions

Ben Zientara

September 29, 2023

Expert answers to Reddit’s most popular solar panel questions

SolarReviews’ in-house solar experts break down some of Reddit’s top solar panel questions so you can trust you’re getting the best advice.

Exciting new solar technologies that actually matter (and why they matter)

Ben Zientara

October 20, 2023

Exciting new solar technologies that actually matter (and why they matter)

There are breakthroughs in solar technology announced nearly every day from laboratories around the world. Here’s a rundown of solar technologies that will actually have an impact in the near future.

How heat pumps reduce energy consumption and work with solar panels

Ben Zientara

April 10, 2020

How heat pumps reduce energy consumption and work with solar panels

Heat pumps are the key to electrifying your home’s HVAC and water heating. They can be paired with solar panels and batteries to massively reduce emissions and change the way you use energy.