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Top 6 Best Solar Companies in Maryland (2023 Reviews)
In this guide on Maryland’s best solar installation companies, you’ll learn:
- What are the best solar panel installation companies in Maryland?
- How can you save money when choosing a solar provider in Maryland?
- What factors are most important when picking a solar provider in Maryland?
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Each product and or company featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
What Are Maryland’s Top-Rated Solar Companies?
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are around 100 installation companies that serve Marylanders.1 Choosing the best of these for your purposes is challenging and time-consuming, and the effort required can be a deterrent for many would-be solar customers.
We’ve done a lot of the hard work for you, as we’ve researched the top providers in your area and have ranked them based on how likely they are to provide outstanding service and high-quality equipment. Below are the top six solar providers we have identified in Maryland:
- Lumina Solar: Outstanding Regional Installer
- Trinity Solar: Solar Veteran
- Solar Energy World: Outstanding Regional Installer
- SunPower: Best National Provider
- Celestial Solar Innovations: Outstanding Local Installer
- Edge Energy: Outstanding Regional Installer
You can use the convenient drop-down menus below to get more information on each of these providers to see which is best suited to meet your needs.
Lumina Solar
Outstanding Regional Installer
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Comprehensive service offerings
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- NABCEP-certified technicians
Cons
- Relatively young company
- Slightly limited service area
Lumina is a relatively young company, having been founded in 2018. However, its team is composed of solar veterans who have years of experience, hold certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and understand the local needs of Maryland residents. This is often hard to find in Maryland, despite there being so many installers.
The company carries high-quality solar brands that bring plenty of efficiency to the table. These include Tesla, REC, Silfab and Canadian Solar. It doesn’t carry Maxeon panels, which are the most efficient in the industry, but most Maryland residents don’t necessarily need these, as sunlight availability is about average relative to the rest of the country, as are energy needs.2
The panels it carries also come with robust, 25-year warranties for equipment and efficiency. It also carries a 10-year workmanship warranty. This is great in Maryland, where extreme weather like hurricanes, tropical cyclones and thunderstorms are prevalent and can put panels at risk of damage.3
Lumina is a young company without much of a proven track record. Still, the equipment and quality of service for the price are hard to pass up. It services MD, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.
Facts and Figures: Lumina Solar
| EcoWatch Rating |
|---|
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
| Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
| Solar Services |
| 4.5 |
| A+ |
| $$$ |
| Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, Energy-Efficiency Audits & Upgrades, Removal & Reinstallation |
Trinity Solar
Solar Veteran
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Many financing options
- Family-owned and -operated
- Makes charitable contributions
- Relatively short workmanship warranty
Cons
- Limited service area
We chose Trinity Solar because it has decades of experience helping solar customers just like you convert to renewable energy and save money. It provides Qcells solar panels, which have a high enough efficiency rating to help you offset your electricity bills. It also provides outstanding service, which is sometimes hard to find in Maryland, given the competition among companies.
Trinity Solar couples great physical and performance warranties with a 5-year workmanship warranty. 5-year workmanship warranties are a touch shorter than the industry average of 10 years, but it’s better than other local companies that don’t have a workmanship warranty.
Trinity focuses on solar panels and batteries, but it also provides energy efficient home improvements, which is a major plus in our book.
Trinity’s workmanship warranty isn’t the best, but its experience, the panel quality and customer service make it a great option, in our opinion.
Facts and Figures: Trinity Solar
| EcoWatch Rating |
|---|
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
| Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
| Solar Services |
| 4 |
| A+ |
| $$$ |
| Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades |
Solar Energy World
Outstanding Regional Installer
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Excellent reputation
- Independently owned and operated
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
Cons
- Some reported communication issues
- Less personalization than competitors offer
We picked Solar Energy World for its panel selection, overall customer service and range of services offered.
It provides access to REC, Silfab, Longi and Qcells panels, all of which are plenty efficient to allow you to offset your energy bills in Maryland. All of these panels come with the company’s new, “triple-platinum” 30-year warranty that covers panels, inverters and labor. Be mindful that this warranty only covers the first year of energy production, but, the product warranties from the panel brands it offers will cover performance for 25 years. This is great to have in a place like Maryland, where extreme weather is common.
Solar Energy World is a regional installer, but it excels in offering great customer service. Maryland has an oversaturated solar market, so many companies provide less-than-ideal service after system installation and prioritize new projects. Solar Energy World still maintains a fast response time even years after installation.
Facts and Figures: Solar Energy World
| EcoWatch Rating |
|---|
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
| Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
| Solar Services |
| 4.5 |
| A+ |
| $$$ |
| Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, System Monitoring |
SunPower
Best National Provider
Pros
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
Cons
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
This is one of our top picks because of the outstanding warranty coverage it offers for all of its solar panel systems. It provides protection for the equipment, guarantees efficiency and covers its workmanship for 40 years.
This warranty coverage is a great option in Maryland, where extreme weather can put panels at high risk of damage. The lengthy workmanship warranty is uncommon, but it’s useful in areas like Maryland, where above-average annual rainfall puts roofs at high risk of leaking from poor panel installation.4
SunPower also manufactures some of the most efficient solar panels in the industry. Although Maryland residents see plenty of sunlight to make most panel brands suitable, high-efficiency brands can sometimes require fewer panels installed to offset energy bills. Given the above-average price of solar equipment in Maryland, this can help keep installation costs low for your system.
SunPower is also a national company that uses third-party installers to maintain a high level of availability. Although this can sometimes lead to below-average customer service, it’s mostly beneficial and can mean fast installation timelines.
SunPower is more costly than most competitors, but we believe the outstanding panel efficiency and the warranty coverage are well worth the investment.
Facts and Figures: SunPower
| EcoWatch Rating |
|---|
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
| Year Founded |
| Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
| Solar Services |
| Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
| Warranty Coverage |
| 5 |
| A+ |
| 1985 |
| $$$$ |
| Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, System Monitoring |
| SunPower Panels |
| 25-year all-inclusive warranty |
Celestial Solar Innovations
Outstanding Local Installer
Local Service
Average cost
Pros
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Many financing options
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
Cons
- Limited service area
We chose Celestial Solar Innovations mostly because it provides outstanding, localized service, and its techs understand the needs of Maryland homeowners. This company has nearly a decade of experience operating exclusively in Maryland, so it has designed countless systems for homeowners just like you in your area.
Celestial Solar provides access to some of the top names in solar panels, including Panasonic, REC, Solar Edge, LG and Solaria. These all provide above-average efficiency to help offset the above-average energy bills in Maryland.
These panel brands come with good warranty coverage that keeps your system protected through the often extreme local weather conditions. They also come with efficiency warranties that can help ensure you continue to save money on utility bills long after installation.
Celestial doesn’t offer any workmanship warranty, and it only serves Northwest Maryland. Still, we recommend this company for its products and product warranties to any MD residents in its service area.
Facts and Figures: Celestial Solar Innovations
| EcoWatch Rating |
|---|
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
| Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
| Solar Services |
| 4 |
| A+ |
| $$$ |
| Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, System Monitoring |
Edge Energy
Outstanding Regional Installer
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Offers products from SunPower
- Comprehensive service offerings
Cons
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
We chose Edge Energy because it’s an exclusive installer of SunPower solar equipment. That means that you get the highest efficiency possible for your panels, which is great for reducing your all-in costs of going solar down; a higher panel efficiency sometimes means you need fewer panels, which translates to a more affordable system overall.
Edge Energy can also provide the SunPower warranty, which is one of the best in the industry. It covers equipment, efficiency and workmanship for 40 years. This is outstanding in an area like Maryland, where extreme weather is common and above-average rainfall can expose issues with installation technique quickly.
Edge Energy comes at an above-average price because it provides costly equipment. Still, we think the efficiency and warranty coverage you get for the money is well worth the added investment.
Facts and Figures: Edge Energy
| EcoWatch Rating |
|---|
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
| Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
| Solar Services |
| 4 |
| B- |
| $$$ |
| Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades, System Monitoring |
How Can You Save Money on Maryland’s Best Solar Companies?
The average solar energy solution in Maryland costs around $19,390 after the federal tax credit — or $27,700 before any rebates or tax credits. This price assumes that you need the standard 10 kilowatt (kW) system to offset your energy bills and that you pay the average of $2.77 per watt for your equipment.
The national average is a bit lower, mostly because the price per watt in Maryland is around $0.11 higher than in the rest of the U.S. Given the high cost of solar conversion in Maryland, most Maryland homeowners understandably look for ways to keep the installation price down. Below, we’ll share some tips for how you can do this when choosing an installer.
- Choose an installer that understands federal, state and local solar perks
- Choose an installer with robust warranty coverage
- Avoid installers that push solar batteries
Choose a Provider That Can Help You Take Advantage of Solar Incentives
Solar benefit programs provide the best ways to save money on your solar conversion no matter where you live. With the right perks, you can take thousands of dollars off of your effective system costs.
We strongly recommend choosing an experienced solar installer and specifically one that has local experience in Maryland and its SREC market. This gives you a better chance of getting a company that can help you take advantage of incentives to save money.
The table below provides a quick breakdown of the available solar incentives in MD.
| Incentive | Description |
| Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) | This federal solar credit is for 30% of your entire system price, including panels, inverters and batteries. It gets applied to your tax liability, which effectively saves you money on your installation costs. The average credit amount in MD is $8,310, making this one of the best benefit programs available. |
| Sales Tax Exemption | MD waives all sales tax on PV equipment. This helps keep the cost of converting to solar as low as possible. |
| Property Tax Exemption | This policy prevents your property taxes from increasing after going solar. Normally, any home improvement that raises your home value — like solar conversion — would bump up your taxes. |
| Net Metering | Solar net metering is a billing policy offered by utility companies. It lets you overproduce energy and bank the excess with your electric company for later use. Those credits can pay down future bills to help increase long-term solar savings. Net metering is mandated in MD, and credits are offered at the full retail rate, which is outstanding. |
| MD Energy Storage Tax Credit | This is a statewide tax credit for solar batteries. In addition to the ITC, you can take this credit for battery installation only. It’s for 30% of your total battery costs. For reference, the credit for a single Tesla Powerwall would be around $3,000. |
| SRECs | Although Maryland’s SREC market is oversaturated, homeowners can still secure decent value through the SREC market. The bid price at the time of writing was $59. This means that solar customers in MD can effectively make an additional $59 per each MW of electricity their system generates. |
Avoid Installers That Push Solar Batteries
Solar battery systems seem like a great investment in MD because power outages are more common than in many other states.6 While batteries will allow you to maintain electricity through outages, they really only pay for themselves in areas where net metering isn’t available.
Net metering is mandated for all utility companies in Maryland, and customers get credited at the full retail rate for excess energy, which is the best-case scenario. This policy helps reduce your panel payback period and maximize long-term savings. Batteries can do the same in states where this policy isn’t available.
If you’re dead set on installing batteries, by all means, choose an installer who offers them. You can even take advantage of the energy storage credit offered in Maryland to save money. However, if you run into a company that pushes solar batteries, we recommend opting for a different, more reliable one.
Choose a Solar Installer With a Good Warranty
MD residents experience their fair share of extreme weather, including hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical cyclones and severe thunderstorms. All of these weather events can put your panels at risk of damage from fallen trees and blown debris.
Choosing a company that offers a solid physical protection warranty will provide peace of mind that your solar investment is protected even in the most extreme conditions.
It’s also great to have a workmanship warranty, as this helps ensure that the installation process is done well. Maryland solar solutions are at high risk of roof leaks because of the above-average amount of rainfall — nearly double the national average.5 A company that offers a workmanship warranty is less likely to leave you with these costly problems.
Read Also: Calculate How Much You Can Save By Going Solar
Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Maryland?
Yes! Installing solar equipment on your Maryland home is expected to bump up your property value by around 4.1%, according to research from Zillow.7 In MD, where home values average around $406,000, that’s an average increase of around $16,500.8 This is well above the national average for value increase, making MD a great place to convert to solar energy.
Since solar provides value benefits based on home value, cities in MD that have above-average property values will naturally see more value increase. Below is a list of some of the cities in the Free State that should see more value from panel installation:
- Baltimore
- Gaithersburg
- Rockville
- Takoma Park
- Cooksville
- Garrett Park
- Brookeville
- Boyds
- Annapolis
Additionally, Maryland home prices have risen by over 8% in the last year or so, so the return on investment is just getting higher and higher.
DIY vs Professional Solar Installation in Maryland
DIY solar installation often seems like a great option in Maryland because the cost is significantly lower than hiring a professional. Unfortunately, there are some significant downsides to installing your own equipment. Below, we’ll provide some reasons why DIY installation can often end up costing you more and why we recommend against it for most residents.
- DIY installations lead to a higher risk of roof leaks
- DIY solar warranties are much less impressive
- DIY solar panels usually have a lower efficiency and poorer performance
DIY Panel Installations Are More Likely to Leak
Roof leaks are one of the most common issues solar customers experience. Thankfully, professional installers use high-quality materials and specific techniques to reduce the risk of roof leaks. The same cannot be said about DIY installations.
Roof leaks are always a concern, but they’re more likely to occur if an inexperienced DIYer completes the installation. While you’ll save money on labor, you could end up paying those savings or more repairing water damage or replacing your roof.
Roof leaks are especially prevalent in MD, where the average annual rainfall is nearly double the U.S. average. As such, we always recommend a professional installation in MD.
DIY Panel Warranties Are Less Than Ideal
As we mentioned above, solar warranties in Maryland are crucial. Physical warranties help protect your investment from damage from MD’s extreme weather, efficiency warranties help ensure your system will continue to offset the above-average energy bills in MD and workmanship warranties help prevent damage from the excessive rain in the area.9
Unfortunately, the warranties that come with DIY panel kits are far less robust and last for much less time than the ones you get with most professional installations. DIY kits usually come with a warranty for manufacturer defects only for around five years. Professional systems can have total coverage for up to around 25 years.
DIY Panels Aren’t As Efficient
Finally, since energy bills in Maryland are above the national average, most residents find it important to install efficient panels that can help offset the high energy costs in the area. DIY panels usually have lower efficiency ratings than most professional systems, which means your kit will generate less energy and offset less of your bill if you install it yourself.
Most solar companies also use advanced software to design systems to maximize sunlight exposure based on the pitch and azimuth of your roof. DIY installations will not be as effective in generating energy long-term.
While professionally-installed solar arrays almost always cost more, the average system in Maryland will pay for itself and save an additional $21,395, on average. This is typically above what a DIY panel kit will save due in part to the difference in efficiency rating.
What Should Marylanders Look For in a Solar Installer?
There are a few things we recommend you look for in a solar installation company if you live in MD. We’ll list the factors that we believe are most important below, and we’ll explain why each is crucial in the sections that follow.
- Good product warranties to protect against local extreme weather
- Good pricing and financing options
- Good customer service and fast response times
Product Warranties
We often advise prospective solar customers in MD to prioritize warranty coverage when choosing an installer.
The Free State sees frequent extreme weather that can put panels at risk of damage from fallen trees and other issues. A warranty that protects your panels from damage can provide peace of mind through hurricanes, tropical cyclones and other major weather events.
It’s also not a bad idea to look for lengthy labor warranties. Solar panel companies that guarantee their workmanship are more likely to carry out a successful installation that won’t be prone to water intrusion. This is especially important in MD, where the annual rainfall is significant.
Price and Financing Options
The average cost per watt for solar equipment in MD is around $0.11 higher than the national average. For the typical 10 kW system, that comes out to a total of $1,100 more that you’ll be paying than what other U.S. residents would pay for the same system.
Since local prices are relatively high, it’s wise to look for companies that keep costs low by discounting equipment or offering deals for installation. It might also behoove you to choose an installer that accepts financing, leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs), as these payment options are more accessible than cash payments.
Customer Service
Finally, in an area like MD, where there are so many solar installers available, many companies fight for new customers and fall short on service for existing customers.
We recommend choosing an installer that provides good customer service through the installation process and beyond. This helps ensure you have a positive experience and get a fast response to any warranty claims you may need to make. You can gauge a company’s service by reading through some positive and negative customer reviews.
Methodology: How We Ranked Maryland’s Solar Companies
When we conducted our research on solar providers in MD, we looked for a few specific things that are likely to lead to you having a positive experience when you do decide to go solar. We’ll list some of these characteristics below and explain why we believe each is important in the sections below.
- Local experience and knowledge of solar incentives in MD
- Years in the industry
- Commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness
Warranty Coverage
One of the first things we look at when assessing Maryland solar providers is the warranty coverage provided. Maryland solar systems are at high risk of damage due to the extreme weather in the area, and poor workmanship can lead to roof leaks, especially since Maryland sees more rain than most states.
Companies that provide robust warranty coverage — including warranties for your equipment, panel efficiency and labor — are best, especially if they have a history of responding quickly to warranty claims.
Knowledge of Local Incentives
Next, we prioritize companies that have localized experience and teams that are knowledgeable when it comes to federal, state and local incentives.
Companies that understand the needs of Maryland residents, in particular, are more likely to provide you with an appropriately-sized system that will serve you well for decades.
Additionally, companies that are new to Maryland may not understand the local incentives like SRECs that can save you money. As such, we push companies that are familiar with the area and can help you take advantage of benefit programs and rebates to keep costs down.
Overall Mission Statement and Commitment to Sustainability
Finally, we give preference to solar companies that push sustainability and are in the industry for more than just profit. Recommending companies that care about the environment and energy efficiency means you’re more likely to get an installer that sizes your system appropriately, doesn’t overcharge you for your equipment and provides high-quality panels.
It’s challenging to identify these companies, but we look for signs that an installer cares about the environment. These include affiliations with organizations and non-profits in the solar industry, certifications from organizations like NABCEP and a high overall value-to-cost ratio.
Read More About Going Solar in Maryland
FAQs: Best Solar Companies in Maryland
Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we see about the prospect of going solar in MD.
The most reputable solar provider in MD may be SunPower, due to its size and national acclaim. However, there are plenty of reputable local companies as well, including Lumina and Solar Energy World.
Though there is no statewide tax credit, MD offers direct payments of $1,000 to property owners that install solar via its residential clean energy grant program. The federal solar tax credit is also available to residents of MD, along with SRECs, net metering, and sales and property tax exemptions.
Yes, MD is an outstanding state to go solar. While the cost of PV equipment is a bit higher than it is in the rest of the country, MD has great incentives to help reduce the upfront cost of your system and maximize long-term savings.
Plus, MD receives around the average number of sunny days per year, and solar customers in the area experience a panel payback period that’s in line with the U.S. average. The typical solar customer in MD also saves an average of over $21,000 converting solar, and that’s after the panels pay for themselves in energy savings.
Most MD residents pay around $19,390 for their panels after the federal solar tax credit, or $27,700 before the credit. This assumes you need the average system size of 10 kW and pay the typical local cost of $2.77 per watt for your equipment.
Top Installers For Maryland
Comparing authorized solar partners
Average cost
Pros
Cons
BBB Rating
Year founded
Service Area
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Warranty Coverage
-
- Comprehensive service offerings
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Relatively young company
- Slightly limited service area
A+Outstanding Regional Installer
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