11 Best Solar Companies in Richmond, MI (Sep 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 11 in Richmond 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 9/16/2022
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Richmond
Finding the right solar panel installation company for your roof is a big decision, but it's one that can pay off big in Richmond. With high amounts of average daily sunlight in Richmond, the solar industry is doing fairly well. An underrated driver of this has been Michigan's statewide programs that help with residential and commercial solar panel installation.
In this article, we'll help you narrow down the best companies in your area. We advise shopping around for quite a few quotes and comparing them to see which is the best installer for your home. To get free quotes from pre-screened solar installers in Richmond, click the link below.
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Richmond
Local Service
Strawberry Solar
-
More transparent pricing than competitors - Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Commercial Solar Services - Solar Panels
Local Service
Oak Electric Service, Inc.
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Family owned and operated
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
The Green Panel
- Educational sales approach
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Has an online quote form
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Fast Solar Company
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
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
PowerPanel
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
GEM Energy
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
CRESIT Energy
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Sesame Solar
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Solar Source
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
Local Service
First Solar
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- 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 Richmond
When choosing a solar company, most homeowners or business owners wonder about the costs above all. There are several factors you should take into consideration when trying to figure out the overall cost and how much you can save, such as:
- Your income and budget: This determines what model of solar panels you can get.
- average energy usage: The more power your home uses on average and the steeper your current power bills are, the more benefits you'll see from switching to solar.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar system won't be able to generate as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on electric bills than a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a tax credit currently worth 30% of your total installation cost, your state or local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that will help you save even more. Excluding incentives, you can save an average of $16,000 over 20 years with your system, too.
So is a solar system worth it? Whether you hope to lower your electricity costs, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a solid investment for many Richmond homeowners.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
If you're wondering how much you could impact the environment if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Richmond, MI.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years. This means that with an average cost of {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }}, it would take {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years to recover the cost of of your solar array.
Solar Incentives in Richmond
If you're considering switching to solar power, various government incentives and subsidies can immensely bring down your project costs and expedite the return on your investment. These incentives normally consist of cash rebates, tax credits and/or performance-based incentives. They can reduce the cost of going solar by 26 to 50% in some cases. For more information about incentives for homeowners in Richmond, see the table below.
| Name | ITC |
| Type | Tax Incentive |
| Incentive Amount | 26% of installation cost |
| Website | Visit here |
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Richmond
One of the most compelling reasons to tap into solar power is to reduce your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are destructive for the environment. But you may be curious — how much exactly can you help by using solar power? The more power you use, the the more the environment will benefit from you switching to solar since you won't need to burn as many fossil fuels. Because solar panels don't release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they're a good substitute for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. The benefits of solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with committing to solar.
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
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
EcoWatch's Richmond, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Richmond?
In Richmond, Distributed Power, L.L.C. 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 roof.
What are a few of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of going solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your electricity bills, it's good for the environment, and it can give you a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't produce electricity at night, the startup costs are high and solar panels aren't always aesthetically pleasing.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 11.8 years, but the exact period varies by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
Although the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can opt to replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.