Best 5 Solar Companies in Miami, FL

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Miami

The cost and effectiveness of solar panels often depend on the solar company that mounted them. Make your choice based on the following key factors.

Licensing and Training

Once an electrical professional in Florida has four years of field experience, including one year as an apprentice, they can pass two tests to earn a CV license with the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. Florida also allows electrical contractors to install solar panels, but they may need to subcontract some tasks to a licensed roofer. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private certifications. Two of the most prestigious are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, backed by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Some companies don't publish this information online, so you should also ask your estimator about them.

Cost of Solar Panels in Miami

The kind of solar panels you choose decides how much energy you can generate. Monocrystalline panels and high-quality and give you the best performance but cost more upfront. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but they're worth it if you want a traditional panel style without the high cost. Thin-film panels aren't the best for large residential installations, but they are excellent accessories for non-traditional roofs.

Additional system add-ons, such as battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) chargers, will raise your overall installation costs. However, they might make your solar system more efficient and convenient to use. Not every solar company includes these extras, so look for a company that installs them if it's a priority for you.

If you're a resident of Miami and want a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $16,050 for materials and labor. See more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Miami

There are numerous ways to pay for a new solar system, and the right one will minimize your overhead. A few of the most common options include loans, cash payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and leases. Though it involves a large up-front payment, cash is the most economical choice because it doesn't accrue interest and qualifies you for incentives. Solar loans are the next best option. As with a car or home loan, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for valuable solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) enables you to pay a monthly rate determined by the energy you use, as with an electric bill. We usually don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the panels and cannot use solar incentives. We advise working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Talk to each consultant about what's available, and obtain more than one estimate for the best odds of staying within your financial plan.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Miami.

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to recently-purchased solar equipment purchased through 2032. Extra incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.