5 Best Solar Companies in Michigan (2022 Rankings & Reviews)
We recommend vetted solar companies that have:
- Availability in your area
- Affordable pricing and financing options
- At least 5 years of experience
- Outstanding customer reviews
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Best Solar Companies in Michigan
You can turn to countless resources online for reviews on the best solar companies in Michigan, but few actually consider what’s most important to locals. For example, solar panels in Michigan typically need to have high efficiency to be able to support your heating system through the long, frigid winter, and not every installer offers panels that can produce enough power. The EcoWatch team considers this and many other important factors to determine which are the best solar companies in the state.
Jump to Section:
- Top 5 Solar Companies in Michigan
- The Green Panel
- Strawberry Solar
- Windfree Solar
- Michigan Solar Solutions
- SunPower
- Criteria for Selecting the Top Solar Company in Michigan
- FAQ: Best Solar Companies in Michigan
Nationwide Service
Average cost
SunPower
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Most efficient panels on the market -
National coverage
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Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
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Great warranty coverage
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Expensive
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Customer service varies by local dealer
Most efficient panels on the market 
Expensive Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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System Monitoring
Solar Panels 
Local Service
Average cost
Windfree Solar
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Excellent reputation
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Outstanding workmanship
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Slightly limited service area
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May be overqualified for residential systems
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No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
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Community Solar
Local Service
Average cost
The Green Panel
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Outstanding customer service
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Excellent reputation
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Great warranty coverage
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No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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Solar Carports
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Electrical Work
Local Service
Average cost
Strawberry Solar
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Outstanding customer service
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Representatives are experts on local policies
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Educational, no-pressure sales approach
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Limited warranty coverage
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No leases or PPAs
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Limited brands of solar equipment available
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
Local Service
Average cost
Michigan Solar Solutions
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Great warranty coverage
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Outstanding customer service
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Offers products from leading manufacturers
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Slightly limited service offerings
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No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
What Are the Top 5 Solar Companies in Michigan?
Below is a side-by-side comparison of each solar company that the EcoWatch team has reviewed and ranked. You’ll also find a link to our solar company matching tool to help you find the best installer for your needs. EcoWatch is often able to get some of the best pricing and deals from our partners because we maintain so much brand authority in the solar industry.
| Company | Solar Services | Warranty Coverage | BBB Rating | Year Founded |
The Green Panel |
Solar panel and battery installation, EV chargers, solar carports, electrical services, generator installation & repair | 25-year based on manufacturer’s warranty | A+ | 2007 |
Strawberry Solar |
Solar panel and battery installation, EV chargers | 10-year warranty on labor, parts and workmanship | A+ | 2010 |
| Windfree Solar | Solar panel and battery installation, solar monitoring | 15-year on workmanship, included monitoring for 2 years, 25-year on equipment from manufacturer | A+ | 2009 |
| Michigan Solar Solutions | Solar panel and battery installation, EV charging stations | 25-year on efficiency, 5-year on labor, 12-year on parts and labor for inverter, 25-year on parts and labor on optimizers | A+ | 2007 |
| SunPower | Solar panel and battery installation, EV chargers, solar maintenance and monitoring | 25-year on power production, equipment and labor | A+ | 1985 |
Looking to skip the specifics and find out which solar company will serve you and your family best? You can use our simple solar matching tool or complete the quick, no-obligation form below to connect with a professional in no time.
You may be surprised to find that popular companies like Vivint Solar and Titan Solar Power haven’t made it into our top five rankings. We have intentionally excluded these companies and some others because of ongoing lawsuits, below average customer service in Michigan specifically or other reasons that could affect how well they serve you.
1. The Green Panel
The Green Panel is a local solar company that was founded in Brighton, Michigan, and it has expanded since 2007 to serve all of Michigan. As a smaller company, it provides outstanding customer service and maintains over-the-top positive reviews from customers throughout the state. Most homeowners comment on the level of communication and expertise when it comes to the products and services the company provides.
The Green Panel handles solar panel and solar battery installations, as well as electric vehicle charging station and solar carport installations, generator installs and maintenance and general electrical work via its on-staff electricians.
The Green Panel has a 25-year warranty on its products that come from the manufacturer, and it doesn’t offer a warranty on the labor itself. However, multiple customer reviews have mentioned how positive of an experience they had with the company after installation, so the likelihood is that you’ll continue to get great service from Green Panel.
Pros for The Green Panel
The Green Panel brings outstanding customer service to the table, plus a nice array of services that aren’t common from other vendors. The company has positive reviews, good product coverage and financing options to reduce upfront costs.
- Excellent customer service
- Good reputation
- Good warranty and financing options
Cons for The Green Panel
The Green Panel doesn’t offer leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), so it will be prohibitively expensive for some Michigan homeowners. It’s also not accredited by the BBB.
- No leases
- No PPAs available
- No BBB accreditation
Summary Facts and Figures for The Green Panel
| EcoWatch Rating | 4.57 |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Year Founded | 2007 |
| Service Area | Statewide |
| Average Cost | $$$ |
| Solar Services | Solar panel and battery installation, EV chargers, solar carports, electrical services, generator installation & repair |
| Brands of Solar Equipment Offered | Panasonic, Evervolt, Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, SunPower |
| Financing Options | Cash purchase, financing |
2. Strawberry Solar
Strawberry Solar has a long-standing reputation for providing best-in-class customer service and maintaining constant communication with its customers before, during and after installation. It has overwhelmingly positive reviews from Michigan homeowners on nearly every review platform. Its customer-first approach also means it can help you take advantage of federal tax credits, rebates and local solar incentives.
Strawberry Solar offers solar panel installation, backup system installation and electric vehicle charger installations. Its services are a bit limited compared to some other companies, but it covers the basics that appeal to most residents.
Strawberry Solar’s warranties are only good for 10 years, which is significantly less than you’ll find from most competitors. However, given the company’s reputation for fast response times, any issues within those ten years will be handled promptly.
Strawberry Solar provides access only to Solar Edge panels, but it offers LG Chem and Generac batteries.
Pros for Strawberry Solar
Strawberry Solar has a long-standing reputation for outstanding customer service and fast communication times. It provides some of the top names in solar panels and batteries, and it has financing options to bring solar to more customers in Michigan.
- Best-in-class customer service
- Top brands of panels and batteries
- Financing options
Cons for Strawberry Solar
Strawberry Solar doesn’t have the best warranties at only 10-year coverage. It doesn’t accept solar leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and it doesn’t have the best selection of products.
- Only 10-year coverage via warranty
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited product selection
Summary Facts and Figures for Strawberry Solar
| EcoWatch Rating | 4.39 |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Service Area | Statewide |
| Average Cost | $$$ |
| Solar Services | Solar panel and battery installation, EV chargers |
| Brands of Solar Equipment Offered | Solar Edge |
| Financing Options | Cash purchase, financing |
3. Windfree Solar
Windfree Solar is a semi-local solar company located in Chicago, Illinois, and they have branches in Michigan to cover service throughout the state. This company maintains excellent customer service, and given its familiarity with the general region, it has some of the most reliable equipment and the best customization options, including good product selection and a hands-on and in-house solar project design and installation.
The warranties provided by Windfree Solar are promising, covering workmanship, labor, equipment and energy production. Perhaps most important in its post-installation coverage is the free 2-year monitoring service the company provides. This ensures your solar energy system is working as intended and is set up properly to save you the most money on your electric bill.
Windfree Solar provides solar panel and solar battery installation, solar monitoring and full-service solar system design to fit your home with the best equipment possible.
Pros for Windfree Solar
Windfree Solar is a local company with excellent customer service and the ability to design and customize your set up. It has a nice range of products available, and it includes good warranties and 2 years of monitoring.
- Great customer service and system customization
- Good range of products
- 2 years of monitoring included in installation cost
Cons for Windfree Solar
Windfree Solar doesn’t allow leases or Power Purchase Agreements. It also isn’t accredited with the BBB despite being in business since 2009.
- No leases
- No PPA options
- No BBB accreditation
Summary Facts and Figures for Windfree Solar
| EcoWatch Rating | 4.38 |
| BBB Rating | NA |
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Average Cost | $$$ |
| Solar Services | Solar panel and battery installation, solar monitoring, solar project design services |
| Brands of Solar Equipment Offered | Panasonic, LG |
| Financing Options | Cash purchase, financing |
4. Michigan Solar Solutions
As the company name implies, Michigan Solar Solutions is a local company that services all of Michigan. It is best known for its robust protection plans, which cover everything from installation labor to the equipment itself. You’ll get 25-year coverage on panel efficiency and optimizer parts and labor, 12-year coverage on parts and labor for the inverter and 5-year coverage on all labor.
Michigan Solar Solutions covers solar panel installation, solar battery hook-ups and installations for electric vehicle chargers. It covers most general services, although options like solar monitoring, repair and maintenance and energy evaluations aren’t provided.
This company has an excellent reputation for customer care and communication throughout the entire process of going solar. It maintains very positive reviews on most platforms and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Michigan Solar Solutions carries panels made by Enphase, Solar Edge, Panasonic, Jinko Solar, LG and Tesla.
Pros for Michigan Solar Solutions
Michigan Solar Solutions provides robust coverage on all equipment and installation for most solar products. It has good customer service and a nice product variety.
- Positive customer experience
- Robust warranty options
- Good product variety
Cons for Michigan Solar Solutions
Michigan Solar Solutions only offers standard solar services. It doesn’t provide access to lease options or Power Purchase Agreements.
- Only standard services
- No leases or PPAs
Summary Facts and Figures for Michigan Solar Solutions
| EcoWatch Rating | 4.36 |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Year Founded | 2007 |
| Service Area | Statewide |
| Average Cost | $$$ |
| Solar Services | Solar panel and battery installation, EV charging stations |
| Brands of Solar Equipment Offered | Enphase, Solar Edge, Panasonic, Jinko Solar, Tesla |
| Financing Options | Cash purchase, financing |
5. SunPower
SunPower is a large national company that services all cities throughout the State of Michigan. Its primary focus was manufacturing solar equipment, and it outsourced installation to local solar panel companies. This has changed, as SunPower can now do installations. The quality of their panels is excellent and features patented solar technology that is considered advanced, but the customer service can vary depending on if a third-party solar installation company is assigned to your solar project.
However, because it focuses on manufacturing, its products tend to have better availability than many others.
SunPower panels are relatively expensive, although they come with an appealing 25-year warranty for power production, efficiency and equipment. Your local installer might have varying coverage on labor. Additionally, leases and PPAs are available to help reduce costs.
SunPower is the oldest company to make it into our top 5 list, maintaining positive reviews for its equipment and an A+ rating from BBB since 1985 — an impressive feat in the solar industry.
Click here for SunPower’s full review.
Pros for SunPower
SunPower manufactures some of the highest quality equipment in the solar industry, and it’s backed by a long 25-year warranty on equipment and energy production. The company has a well-developed reputation and an A+ BBB rating.
- Top quality equipment with great availability
- 25-year warranty on power production and equipment
- Tons of industry experience
Cons for SunPower
SunPower outsources some installations to third-party companies, so customer service isn’t always the best. SunPower equipment is more expensive than many other companies. It only offers its own products, so there is little customization offered.
- Customer service varies
- Expensive
- Only one solar panel brand available
Summary Facts and Figures for SunPower
| EcoWatch Rating | 4.35 |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Year Founded | 1985 |
| Service Area | Statewide |
| Average Cost | $$$$$ |
| Solar Services | Solar panel and battery installation, EV chargers, solar maintenance and monitoring |
| Brands of Solar Equipment Offered | SunPower, Maxeon |
| Financing Options | Cash purchase, financing, lease, PPA |
EcoWatch Criteria for Selecting the Top Solar Company in Michigan
The EcoWatch team goes above and beyond to assess companies based on a wide range of criteria. The most significant factors will be discussed briefly below.
Warranty
Warranties on solar equipment are always important, but product guarantees are usually most important for homeowners in Michigan. Residents throughout the state contend with winter temperatures well below freezing for long stretches, as well as heavy snow and lake-effect snow storms that can cover panels. As such, it’s crucial to have highly efficient solar panels to maximize energy efficiency for when the sun is shining on them, and a production warranty guarantees that. This will help minimize your carbon footprint and your energy bills.
Warranties offering physical protection are also great but are typically not as important for Michigan homeowners.
Year Founded
Residential solar systems are becoming more and more popular throughout Michigan, and with the spike in demand come many “fly by night” companies that are just looking to turn a profit. We assess companies on other factors while keeping in mind how young they are to ensure those that we rank have a proven track record of excellent service.
Services Offered
Some solar companies only provide panel and battery installations, which appeal to most customers. However, the companies that offer additional services, like EV chargers, solar monitoring and tree removal to expose your roof, tend to rank higher. This is because they are more likely to be able to meet your needs and exceed expectations.
Solar Panels Offered
Solar installers often have deals or contracts with different manufacturers and can provide products from those companies to consumers. Generally speaking, a wide range of solar panels offered will appeal to more Michigan homeowners in terms of power production, longevity and budget. The more options a company provides, the higher it will rank.
Industry Affiliations
Many solar companies are founded with strong mission statements about bringing renewable energy solutions to consumers to better the environment, and some non-profits are even philanthropic in their endeavors. We assess companies based on their affiliations with solar organizations, like the Michigan Community Solar Alliance (MCSA), Michigan Saves and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Affiliations like these are a good sign that a company is motivated by making clean energy more accessible and reliable rather than profit alone.
Size of Company
The size of the solar installation company you choose matters, so we assess companies based on this metric as well. Larger companies tend to have lower prices and better financing options, while smaller local companies often have better customization options and customer service.
Solar Pricing and Financing
One of the least significant factors we assess is a company’s price for solar panels and financing. Solar installers naturally vary in price based both on the equipment they sell and their labor charges. More affordable companies usually rank higher because they appeal to more consumers.
Additionally, we consider the financing options available, which can affect upfront and long-term pricing. Companies that provide access to cash purchases, solar loans, leases, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) usually rank higher because more homeowners can afford them.
EcoWatch FAQ: Best Solar Companies in Michigan
The EcoWatch team gets questions from Michigan homeowners all the time about installing photovoltaic equipment. Below are some of the ones we see most often, along with our responses.
Based on our review above, the EcoWatch team believes that The Green Panel is the most reputable solar company in Michigan. This company has stellar reviews on every platform, a staunch record of excellent customer service and response times, good warranties, affordability, and a solid reputation throughout the state.
The EcoWatch rating considers over 30 different factors to rate solar companies in your area. These include all of the criteria mentioned above along with many other factors that help us determine how likely a solar installer is to provide outstanding service.
Yes, absolutely! Your solar panel system will only ever be as good as your panels, so these play a major role in your energy production and system longevity. There are many manufacturers to choose from, all of which bring varying durability, energy efficiency, and prices to the table. Most installers only carry a handful of brands, so you might want to base your choice of installer on the brands it carries, to some extent.
Finding the best solar company to meet your needs can be challenging, and it really requires a ton of research and comparison by a number of factors. These include pricing, value, customer service, warranties offered, services offered, and more. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you, and our EcoWatch rating gives you a quick snapshot of how likely a company is to meet your solar needs.
Based on the fact that SunPower is the largest solar company in Michigan, it probably also has the most experience in terms of installations.
For many Michigan homeowners, the most important factor when choosing a solar company is customer service. A company that provides fast responses and good customer care provides more value and fewer headaches, making customer service more important than solar panel cost in most cases.
It might surprise you not to find popular companies like Vivint and Titan Solar Power in our ranking. These companies, along with some others like J Ranck Electric, have been excluded from our rankings. This was an intentional decision based on one or more factors, including ongoing lawsuits with customers, minimal service area throughout Michigan, and poor customer service.
Not very much. Most Michigan homeowners don’t choose their solar installer based on their utility company. Better established solar companies are more likely to be able to expedite connection to the grid and get net metering set up for you. Additionally, some smaller companies have fewer resources and might experience longer delays if they run into roadblocks from your electric company. However, this is only a minor factor to consider when choosing a solar installation company.
