15 Best Solar Companies in Wilmington, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Wilmington based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Wilmington, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Wilmington homeowner saves $1,120/year with solar panels
Updated February 01, 2024
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Best Solar Companies in Wilmington
Searching for the best solar companies in Wilmington? Installing a solar panel system is an exciting venture that many homeowners find rewarding for their wallets, communities and the planet. Thanks to government support encouraging a growing clean energy market, homeowners in Wilmington have access to some of the best solar companies in the nation.
As you start your search for the best solar companies in Wilmington, you might notice that there are a lot of providers to choose between. So, we’ve accumulated an expertly curated list of the top solar companies in the area.If you’re ready to start receiving free, no-obligation quotes from the top Wilmington solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Wilmington
SunPower by Sun N Us
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
YellowLite
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Permit Assistance
Summit Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
Solar Service Solutions LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Residential Panels
Solar Joe's Inc
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Community Solar Projects
- Maintenance
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
Solar Power Midwest LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Maintenance
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
Reficiency Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Commercial Panels
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Residential Panels
- EV Charger
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Permit Assistance
Safeguard Solar LLC
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
- Commercial Panels
- Cleaning
JD Pro Electric Inc
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- EV Charger
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
Ailey Solar Electric, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
SolarShift
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Community Solar Projects
- Commercial Panels
- Maintenance
- Residential Panels
FreeWorld Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Commercial Panels
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
WindSoleil Solar and Wind Energy Services
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Energy Efficiency Audit
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
Kapital Electric, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
- EV Charger
- Commercial Panels
- Permit Assistance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Tesla Powerwall
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Wilmington
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Wilmington based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Wilmington
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Illinois solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Wilmington
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you first need to pay to set up your panels.The cost and possible savings vary depending on some important factors such as:
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, along with your roof configuration, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can generate.
- Your energy consumption: If your home uses a lot of energy, you'll benefit more from going solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you decrease your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and city may also have incentives and rebates that you can use. In addition, you can save about $13,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, not including incentives.
- System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
As a result of the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a solid investment for most homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Wilmington
Adopting solar power has many wonderful benefits. Not only can it help protect the environment, but you can also save a decent amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.You qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar panel system. You can also potentially pair the ITC with other state and city rebates and benefits. You can learn about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Wilmington
There are many reasons to trade traditional energy for solar power, like saving money on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.You may be trying to figure out – how much do solar panels do for the planet anyway? As stated by the EPA, electricity production is the second greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. Installing solar panels and switching to renewable energy can help bring down that statistic in a city like Wilmington that accounts for a sizable amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.Since solar panels don’t release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they’re a good swap for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. Since energy from the sun is plentiful and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help protect the planet.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Wilmington, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best in Wilmington?
In Wilmington, SunPower by Sun N Us is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your home.
What are the pros and cons of solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lowers your power bills, it’s environmentally friendly, and it gives you a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels aren’t always aesthetically pleasing.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a good investment for many homeowners, but frankly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your energy bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on how much power they generate under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average household will need 20 to 35 panels.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.