Top 5 Best Solar Companies in Delaware (2023 Reviews)

How Can You Save Money When Hiring A Solar Company In Delaware

The typical cost of going solar in Delaware is around $24,510 — before any incentives are taken.

This average is based on the local cost per watt for PV equipment of $2.58. Although the cost per watt is lower than the U.S. average of $2.66, DE residents still pay a bit more than average for solar because they require larger systems — 9.5 kilowatts (kW) as opposed to 9 kW.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to keep the cost of your solar power system down. These include:

• Taking advantage of the solar benefit programs available in DE
• Choosing a company that offers a robust warranty
• Picking an installer that offers high-efficiency panel brands
• Getting a few solar quotes for your system

We’ll explain how each of these tips can help you save money below.

Take Advantage of the Solar Incentives Available

One of the easiest ways to bring down the effective cost of your panels and boost your energy savings over time is to take advantage of the solar incentives available to you in DE. Delawareans have access to a handful of benefit programs that can bring down the effective system cost quite a bit. We’ll explain the available incentives in the table below.

The company you choose can influence how easy it is to take advantage of incentives. Some of the companies with more local experience can often help you file for cash-back perks and tax credits for maximum savings.

For more information on the solar benefit programs available to you, you can read through our guide to taking solar tax credits and rebates in Delaware.

Choose an Installer With Good Warranty Coverage

Since the weather in Delaware can include hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical cyclones, intense thunderstorms and above-average rainfall, warranty coverage is another great way to save money when converting to solar in DE.

Specifically, we recommend optimizing for a lengthy labor warranty. Labor warranties will guarantee that your system is installed properly. That coverage means your roof penetrations will be less likely to leak, even during excessive rainfall, and panels will be installed to withstand the strong winds prevalent in the area.

You might end up paying more for a lengthy warranty option, but the money you spend on your coverage upfront can save you even more over time on system maintenance and replacement and property damage repairs if you do run into issues.

Choose an Installer That Offers High-Efficiency Panels

Next, we suggest choosing an installer that carries highly efficient PV panel brands. Most of the high-end panel brands top 21% efficiency, with SunPower/Maxeon panels being the most efficient at around 22.7%. Tesla, REC, Qcells, Panasonic and Canadian Solar are just some of the common options that should work well in DE.

The higher your system’s performance, the more power your system will produce. This is important in an area like Delaware not only because of the above-average energy needs of residents but also the slightly below-average number of sunny days per year.⁴ In these conditions, efficient panels may cost more but will often save you more over time.

Get Multiple Quotes for Your System

Finally, we suggest getting a few quotes for your solar solution from different companies. Every company offers different equipment brands and charges different prices for its labor. These variances can mean one company charges hundreds of dollars more for the exact same system than another company would.

We suggest getting at least three quotes from local installers to see where each one stands in relation to the average. You can then choose the one that fits into your budget and still provides good value for the money.

You can use our solar calculator for more information on how to calculate your estimated solar savings and what you’ll likely pay for your solar PV system.

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Delaware?

Yes! One of the most significant benefits of solar conversion for some Delawareans is the bump in property value the system provides. According to Zillow, homes with high-quality solar power systems installed are worth about 4.1% more.⁵ That means that the average home in DE — valued at around $363,000 — would see an increase of nearly $15,000.⁶

Some areas throughout Delaware are expected to see even greater value bumps. For example, one of the largest solar projects in the state was recently completed in Dover — this suggests that the city is a proponent of clean energy, which means additional incentives could be available in the future.⁷ That could, in turn, mean greater value attached to solar energy systems.

Similarly, Wilmington was recently named as one of the top cities for solar adoption by the Environment America Research and Policy Center. Awards like this also suggest that solar will be more popular and more valuable in the city in the coming years.

Should Delaware Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer Or DIY?

When aspiring solar customers see the price tag of a solar system in Delaware — an average of $24,510 before incentives — many wonder if a DIY installation — which typically totals closer to $10,000 — is a better option.

While DIY PV panel installations are almost always more affordable in DE, we generally don’t recommend them for most residents. This is the case for a few reasons:

• Solar warranties aren’t as good for DIY panels
• PV panel efficiency is lower for DIY panel kits
• Mistakes are more likely among DIYers, which can lead to severe property damage, especially in Delaware

We’ll explain these downsides in greater detail below to paint a complete picture of why we recommend against DIY solar installations in DE.

DIY Panel Warranties Are Below-Average

Most importantly, the warranty coverage for DIY panels isn’t as beneficial as what you’d get from a professionally-installed system. Most DIY panels include:

• 10 years of coverage for the equipment
• 5 to 10 years of coverage for the panel efficiency
• No coverage for the labor

All of these are below the industry averages for professionally-installed panels, which include:

• 25 years for equipment
• 20 to 25 years for panel efficiency
• 10 years for the labor

The lack of a workmanship or labor warranty is the biggest downside to DIY panels, in our opinion. DIYers are more likely to make mistakes during the installation. In DE, this can mean an increased risk of roof leaks due to above-average rainfall and panel damage during storm activity and high winds, which are common in Delaware.

You might pay more for good warranty coverage from professionals, but you could also stand to save money in the long run if the professional installation helps avoid system damage, repairs and replacement.

Panel Efficiency Is Lower for DIY Brands

Another downside of DIY panel brands is the below-average efficiency rating. The top DIY panels — like some from Renogy and Grape Solar — have efficiencies of around 18%, but most fall closer to 15%. For comparison, the majority of the professionally-installed brands top 20% and reach as high as 22.7%.

The difference might not seem so significant, but even a single percent lower means significantly less energy production from each panel. Lower production rates mean fewer savings on your energy bills over time.

Again, you will pay more for a professional system, but you’ll also maximize your savings and often save more over time anyway. This is especially true in areas like DE, where energy consumption is above average, and sunlight availability is slightly below average.

You should also consider efficiency degradation, which is the rate at which panels lose efficiency as they function. Professional panels often have 25-year warranties that guarantee less than 20% efficiency loss. DIY panels more often have 5 to 10-year efficiency warranties, and the losses over that time are sometimes greater than 20%.

Property Damage Is More Likely With DIY Installations

Finally, even experienced DIYers are more likely to make mistakes during the installation process that can lead to expensive property damage over time. Roof penetrations always present at least a small risk of leaks and resulting water damage, but DIY installations lead to an elevated risk.

Roof leaks and property damage are more of a concern in areas like Delaware, where annual rainfall is above-average and extreme weather is common, especially during hurricane season. Even if paying for a professional installation isn’t worth the peace of mind, it can be worthwhile if it means avoiding expensive damages and property repairs.

What Should Delawareans Look For In a Solar Installer?

Choosing a solar installer to handle your solar project can seem intimidating, especially in Delaware, where there are 18 to choose from. We recommend prioritizing three important characteristics, which should help you narrow down your options quickly and find a provider that suits you well. These factors include:

• Labor warranty
• Panel brands offered and their efficiencies
• Longevity in the industry

We’ll explain why we believe these characteristics are most important in Delaware below.

Labor Warranty

First, we suggest choosing an installer that offers at least a 10-year labor warranty, which is the industry average. Longer warranties for labor are even better.

Labor warranties are so important in Delaware because they ensure your system is installed properly the first time around. It helps protect your home from roof leaks and helps avoid panels being pulled off your house during severe storms or strong winds, both of which are common in the region.

We also love to recommend companies that offer production guarantees, ensuring that your system produces the amount of energy as estimated in your proposal. Companies with confidence in their services will have no trouble offering solid warranties.

Panel Brands Offered

Next, we suggest narrowing your search based on the panel brands offered. Delaware residents have higher energy demands than most Americans and see slightly fewer sunny days per year than average. That means high-efficiency panels are ideal and can end up saving you more over time on your energy bills.

Some of the top solar panel brands that work well for Delaware property owners include:

• SunPower/Maxeon
• Tesla
• Panasonic
• REC
• Qcells
• Canadian Solar
• Trina Solar

Experience and Longevity in the Industry

Finally, we suggest choosing a company that has at least five years in the industry and ruling out most providers who have less. New companies pop up in Delaware all the time to meet demand, but they’re usually less experienced with installations and may cause delays or issues that lead to property damage.

Additionally, longevity suggests that the company will remain in business for years to come. New companies are more likely to leave the industry and take your warranty coverage with them.

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Methodology: How We Ranked Delaware’s Solar Companies

Our goal when ranking solar providers in Delaware is to bring you the top companies in your area that provide outstanding service but also the warranties and equipment that fit the needs in Delaware, specifically. To that end, we use a custom rating process that we believe highlights what’s most important to Delaware property owners. That process is detailed below:

• Solar Warranty & Customer Support (20%)
• Solar Equipment Cost & Financing Options (20%)
• Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications (20%)
• Solar Services (10%)
• Experience (10%)
• Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Factors (10%)
• Availability (10%)

Additionally, we never let commercial partnerships or relationships with installers affect our methodology. We’ll explain the factors we use to rank companies below, and you can rest assured that these are assessed without bias.

Solar Warranty & Customer Support

Our first order of business when assessing solar panel installation companies is to look at the warranties it offers. We use the industry averages to rank companies below, at or above average. These include 25 years for equipment, 20 to 25 years for efficiency and ten years for labor.

We give preference to companies with a longer labor warranty, specifically. A lengthy labor guarantee helps ensure that the excessive rainfall and extreme weather that are common in Delaware don’t expose any issues that arise from a poor installation.

Solar Equipment Cost & Financing Options

Next, since PV equipment is more costly in Delaware than in most other states, we assess each company’s typical price range and its payment options.

Companies that have average or below-average pricing take precedence in this category because customers are more likely to be able to afford a solar array through them.

Additionally, we rank companies higher that accept various payment options, including cash, loan, lease and PPA. However, since we typically recommend against leases and PPAs, we don’t dock companies that don’t offer these options.

Overall, we look for companies that provide flexibility to their customers — knowing that every customer has different needs and budgets.

Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications

Since the solar market is competitive in Delaware, we look for companies that differentiate themselves with special certifications and qualifications. Some things we look for in particular include:

• Certification from NABCEP
• Certification from the Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
• Accreditation from the Better Business Bureau
• Electrician or general contractor licensing

Some of these certifications — like from NABCEP — also help ensure that your solar panel system is installed properly to stand up to the extreme weather in Delaware.

We also look for positive company reputations using Google reviews — at least 100 reviews at over four stars — and a positive BBB rating with few customer complaints.

Solar Services

Most Delaware residents opt out of battery installations because of the excellent net metering program in the state and the low occurrence of power outages. However, since some customers do want energy storage solutions, companies that offer panels and batteries get ranked higher.

Similarly, companies that offer additional installation services will score higher, as they will appeal to more solar customers. Some services we look for include EV charger installations, solar shingle installations, energy audits, system monitoring and generator installation.

Experience in Delaware

We also consider the experience each company has in the industry as a whole and in Delaware, specifically.

Companies with longevity — at least five years of experience — are less likely to go out of business and void your warranty coverage in the process. Companies with ten or more years of experience score the highest.

Local experience also plays a role in this rating category. Companies that have worked in DE for years are more in tune with what locals need in terms of energy production and warranty coverage.

Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance Factors

As an eco-friendly website, we rank companies higher if they have an overall positive impact on the environment. We look for companies that use sustainable business practices, address things like panel recycling and take an educational approach to selling solar systems.

We also rank companies higher if they make charitable donations, associate with companies that help make solar more accessible to low-income individuals and take other actions to improve the communities they serve.

Availability

Finally, we consider each company’s service area. Delaware is a relatively small state, so most installers can provide service anywhere within state lines. However, we rank companies lower if they focus on specific cities or regions, as they are less likely to serve our readers.