Solar Panel Cost Guide in Delmar, MD (2024 Update)
- Delmar Solar Installation Cost: $13,360
- 25-Year Savings: $13,272
- Payback Period: 14.1 Years
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in Delmar
Find out how much it might cost to go solar in Delmar.
Currently, the national average cost of solar panels is $2.66 per watt. However, in Delmar, the average cost of solar panels is 4 per watt.The average solar panel system size in Delmar is around 5.4 kilowatts, meaning a cost of about $13,360 for a solar installation, or $19,105 before the 0 federal solar tax credit is applied.
Remember that the numbers above are only averages. The price you’ll pay for solar may vary based on your household energy needs, the type of solar panels you want, your solar contractor and more.With average savings of about $17,000 on utility bills over 20 years, many homeowners in Delmar find installing solar panels has a decent ROI.
You can click the button below to get connected with a vetted solar company in Delmar that can help you get a more accurate cost estimate for your home.
Solar savings over time in Delmar
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-11,786 |
| 3 years | $-8,638 |
| 5 years | $-5,490 |
| 7 years | $-2,342 |
| 9 years | $806 |
| 11 years | $3,954 |
| 13 years | $7,102 |
| 15 years | $10,250 |
| 17 years | $13,398 |
| 19 years | $16,546 |
| 21 years | $19,694 |
| 23 years | $22,842 |
| 25 years | $25,989 |
Top Solar Installers in Delmar
When switching to solar energy, many homeowners choose to use a solar company since putting up a solar system yourself can be a challenging project. Because solar panels are exposed to temperature swings and extreme weather, warranties and repairs from your solar company can help you get the most out of your investment in solar panels by avoiding potential costs down the line.
If you’d like to start using solar energy but still aren’t sure which solar system installer to go with, here are our suggestions for providers near you:
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
See all of the solar companies in Delmar
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in Delmar
The cost of installing a solar system in Delmar can vary by more than $10,000 from home to home. Your actual cost depends on several factors. The largest one is the size of the system your household needs, and other factors include equipment choices, financing options and the solar company you choose.
Solar Equipment
One of the most significant factors to consider when it comes to the cost of going solar is the size of the solar system, which is measured in kilowatts (kW). The more electricity your household uses, the larger your system will likely need to be. You can expect to spend around $3,540 per kilowatt in Delmar.The kind of solar panels and equipment you get is another factor that will greatly influence costs. Solar panels that have higher efficiency, like monocrystalline panels, tend to cost more. Furthermore, solar equipment goes beyond just the solar panels themselves. You’ll also need to make decisions about the kind of racks used to mount the panels, inverters, solar batteries, etc. It’s important to take all of this into consideration when researching a solar system that’s in your budget.
Solar Financing Terms
If paying for solar panels in cash is difficult, solar loans are an affordable route because they lower your upfront costs and allow you to pay for your system over five to seven years on average.However, the interest on solar loans also increases your total costs, so it’s crucial to include that in your estimate as well. You can always lower the total you pay in interest and in some cases even your APR by making a larger down payment.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The last major cost factor you should take into consideration is the installer you choose. Given the booming popularity of clean energy solutions in Delmar, you’ll have lots of options to choose from, but each comes at different price points for labor and equipment.Companies that only sell products with high efficiency and therefore a higher price point — like Maxeon solar panels from SunPower or Tesla Powerwall batteries — so choosing those installers will generally come with an above-average cost. It’s best to do some research and decide on the company that offers the products, warranties and services you want and also fit into your budget.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $3.68 | $15,463 | $10,942 | 14.6 years |
| 8 kW | $3.61 | $20,220 | $14,986 | 14.4 years |
| 10 kW | $3.54 | $24,780 | $19,227 | 14.1 years |
| 12 kW | $3.47 | $29,141 | $23,668 | 13.8 years |
| 14 kW | $3.40 | $33,304 | $28,306 | 13.5 years |
| 16 kW | $3.33 | $37,269 | $33,143 | 13.2 years |
| 18 kW | $3.26 | $41,036 | $38,178 | 13.0 years |
| 20 kW | $3.19 | $44,604 | $43,411 | 12.7 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
The solar company you choose will affect not only your overall costs, but also the types of solar panel brands, warranties, and other equipment you can get. When choosing a solar company, there are some important things you should keep in mind, such as:
- Contract: It’s important to look over your solar installer’s contract carefully to understand what services they will provide, what the warranty covers and what you can expect about your solar system’s energy production.
- Reputation: The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a well-established certification organization for clean energy professionals. If your solar panel installer is NABCEP-certified, it most likely has a good reputation and is qualified to get the job done well. Another way you can check your installer’s reputation is by reading reviews.
- Solar Panel Brands: Not all solar companies carry the same brands of solar panels, so the brand and type of panel you want can play a substantial role in the company you hire.
- Warranty: An all-inclusive, 25-year warranty can help keep your solar panels running for a long time and save you money on part replacement and repairs.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Delmar, MD Solar Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to install solar panels in Delmar?
The average cost of solar panels in Delmar is about $17,700 for a 5-kW system and $35,400 for a 10-kW system before the ITC, but the actual cost will depend on certain factors like the model of solar panels you want, what size system you need and how much energy you consume.
Can you get solar panels for free in Delmar?
You can’t get solar panels for free in Delmar. However, you may still be able to afford them on a lower budget. You can lease solar panels for a low upfront cost or, if you’d rather own your solar panels, you can finance them with a solar loan.
Can solar panels eliminate my power bills?
Solar panels can potentially eliminate your electricity bills depending on your location and the efficiency of your system. Even if it doesn’t get rid of them completely, you can save a lot of money on your bills, about $880.15 per year.
How often do you have to replace solar panels?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they should be disposed of at that time. What this means is their energy production will have decreased significantly after that point. You can opt to replace them once you've had them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency.
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.