9 Best Solar Companies in Detroit, MI (Jul 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 9 in Detroit based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated 6/24/2022
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Best solar companies in Detroit
When looking for the best solar companies in Detroit, combing through so many options can be taxing, but it can pay off since adopting solar energy can offer so many great benefits. With good levels of average daily sunlight in Detroit, the solar industry is growing steadily. An overlooked driver of this has been Michigan's statewide programs that support residential and commercial solar panel installation.
In this article, we'll give you a list of the top Detroit solar installers so you can make the best choice for your home's solar energy needs. To help you figure out if solar panels are worth it for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Detroit by clicking the button below.
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
4.5
Outstanding customer service- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
-
Limited warranty coverage - No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
4.5
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Detroit
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Local Service
Average Cost
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
Local Service
Average Cost
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
Local Service
Average Cost
The Green Panel
- Outstanding customer service
- Excellent reputation
- Great warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Carports
- Electrical Work
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
Regional Service
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Local Service
Distributed Power, L.L.C.
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Makes charitable contributions
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Roof Shingles
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Nihil Ultra Corp
- Educational sales approach
- Makes charitable contributions
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Sumpter Solar Services
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Solar Company Ranking Methodology
Click here to see a more detailed overview of our solar company ranking methodology.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Detroit
For many homeowners, whether or not to invest in solar panels boils down to the cost. The installation cost is just one important factor you should consider when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- How much power your household needs: If your household regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll benefit more from installing solar panels.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 26% of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Your current electric bills: Solar panels can greatly decrease, or entirely get rid of, your utility bills. In Detroit, you can save an average of $84 a month.
- The amount of sunlight your rooftop gets: Thanks to Detroit's relatively low amount of average daily sunlight, you might not see as many savings on your power bills.
So are solar panels worth it? Whether you hope to decrease your electric bills, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a good investment for many Detroit homeowners.
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Adopting green energy can significantly impact both the environment and your power bills. To see how much, check out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Detroit, MI.
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Solar Incentives in Detroit
Because solar power is better for the environment than traditional energy sources, there are some government incentives in place to encourage its adoption. You qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your solar panels. You can also potentially stack the ITC with other local rebates and benefits. In the table below, you can read about the incentives you qualify for near you.
| Name | ITC |
| Type | Tax Incentive |
| Incentive Amount | 26% of installation cost |
| Website | Visit here |
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Detroit
If you're thinking of adding solar panels to your home, one of the major reasons why may be to reduce your reliance on nonrenewable energy. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Detroit, though. Adopting solar power is a sustainable choice for the environment, due to the fact that the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation — all of which can be powered by solar instead. In Detroit, the average resident can reduce their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year after going solar. Since solar energy is renewable and makes electricity without CO2 emissions, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help protect the planet.
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
4.5
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
4.5
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Detroit, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
In Detroit, Distributed Power, L.L.C. is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.
Are solar panels actually bad for the environment?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they're made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my home?
Solar panels can be a good investment for a majority of homeowners, but admittedly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your power bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger level of energy production.
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.