- Why We Picked It: SunPower Solar is available in all 50 states plus Washington D.C., making it one of the largest companies on our list. It sells and installs its panels through local distributors.
Solar power has become increasingly popular in Maryland over the last few years. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, it’s ranked 18th in the United States for solar power as of 2022, up from 27th just a year ago. More than 81,000 solar installations have been completed in the state.
Maryland residents considering going solar have dozens of providers to choose from. We at the This Old House Reviews Team have reviewed the best solar installation companies across the country and highlighted our top recommendations for the Old Line State.
Compare Solar Companies Across MD
Star Rating | Superlative | Location Presence | BBB Rating | Link | ||
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SunPower |
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4.5/5
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Best High-Efficiency System | 50 States | A+ | Get Quote |
ADT Solar |
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4/5
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Best Solar Warranty | 23 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Sunrun |
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4/5
|
Best Solar Panel Leasing | 20 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Trinity |
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4/5
|
Best Certified Installer | 9 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Palmetto |
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4/5
|
Best Customer Support | 24 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Tesla Solar |
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4.5/5
|
Best Solar Tech | 50 States | NR | Get Quote |
SunPower | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.5/5
|
Superlative | Best High-Efficiency System |
Location Presence | 50 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
ADT Solar | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Warranty |
Location Presence | 23 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Sunrun | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Panel Leasing |
Location Presence | 20 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Trinity | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Certified Installer |
Location Presence | 9 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Palmetto | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Customer Support |
Location Presence | 24 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Tesla Solar | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.5/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Tech |
Location Presence | 50 States |
BBB Rating | NR |
Maryland’s Top Solar Energy Companies:
- SunPower: Best High-Efficiency System
- ADT Solar: Best Solar Warranty
- Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
- Palmetto: Best Customer Support
- Trinity Solar: Best Certified Installer
Our Top Solar Company Picks for Maryland
SunPower offers some of the highest-efficiency panels available. Its panels are produced by Maxeon, a former subsidiary of the company, and work optimally with its other in-house components.
SunPower offers a comprehensive 25-year warranty covering all system elements, including shipping and installation. The company claims that its panels will perform at 92% capacity after 25 years, higher than the average guarantee of 80.7%.
SunPower’s high-quality panels come at a premium price. The company also doesn’t sell directly to customers and operates through a network of local distributors instead. Edge Energy serves the Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. area. This company has an average rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) but high customer ratings on SolarReviews.
- Why We Picked It: The home security company ADT purchased SunPro Solar in 2021 and rebranded as ADT Solar. It now offers integrated smart-home solar energy solutions that can pair with its home security systems.
ADT Solar offers brand-name products including Tesla Powerwall batteries and Enphase microinverters. It offers maximum protection for your solar investment, including extended warranty coverage on labor, panels, and inverters. Its 25-year power production guarantee states that your system will produce a projected amount of energy throughout its lifetime or the company will pay you $.10 for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) that it falls short.
ADT Solar has multiple branches across the United States. Some customers have reported spam calls or high-pressure sales tactics, but this experience seems to vary widely, with others reporting good interactions with sales representatives.
- Why We Picked It: Sunrun, which recently acquired Vivint Solar, offers various financing options, including two lease types. Each option includes system monitoring and comprehensive insurance.
Sunrun offers full purchases, solar loans, and two leasing options for maximum flexibility. The first lease option is a monthly contract with little to no money down. The second option is a 25-year lease that allows you to pay in one lump sum. Both lease options include full maintenance and system monitoring.
In addition to solar panels, Sunrun offers leading solar panel batteries from LG Chem and Tesla. Solar batteries allow you to store energy to use at night or during low-sunlight hours. Sunrun’s bumper-to-bumper warranties cover the entire system plus roof leaks for 10 years.
- Why We Picked It: Palmetto Solar is our top choice for customer service. It offers comprehensive solar panel design and installation services, and its online savings calculator allows you to estimate how much money you’ll save by going solar.
Palmetto Solar’s expert team can guide you through the design, installation, and maintenance process. The company’s representatives will also help you sign up for available tax incentives and rebates. Palmetto doesn’t provide pricing information online, but its website claims Maryland homeowners can install solar panels for as little as $85 per month and save an average of $24,565 over 25 years.
Palmetto Solar’s 25-year performance guarantee is one of the longest in the industry. The company provides several additional services, such as the Palmetto Protect plan, which ensures your system works at peak efficiency. This plan starts at $8 per month for system monitoring and prioritized customer support.
Solar installation companies typically offer four financing options: up-front purchase, solar loan, solar lease, or power purchase agreement (PPA). Up-front purchases require you to pay for your system in full, while solar loans allow you to space out the cost in monthly payments with interest. These are the only two payment options Palmetto offers, but both ensure you own your system and qualify for cost-saving tax incentives.
Other companies will install the system for free and allow you to lease the panels at a set monthly rate. You can also enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA), which allows you to pay only for the power you produce, similar to a monthly electricity bill. However, these options won’t grant you system ownership and disqualify you from tax incentives.
- Why We Picked It: Trinity Solar has been in the industry for nearly 30 years and is the only family-owned business on our list.
Trinity Solar has installed more than 77,000 solar systems in nine states, making it the most experienced company on our list. It’s been servicing Maryland since 2015, where it’s helping the state to meet its renewable energy goals by 2040. The company’s solar panel systems may be purchased, financed, or leased. You can also add battery storage and backup.
Trinity’s 5-year workmanship warranty is short compared to industry standards, and the company doesn’t guarantee savings on your electric bill. We still recommend the company because it has a good reputation and strong track record.
- Arizona Solar Companies
- California Solar Companies
- Colorado Solar Companies
- Connecticut Solar Companies
- Florida Solar Companies
- Georgia Solar Companies
- Illinois Solar Companies
- Maryland Solar Companies
- Massachusetts Solar Companies
- New Jersey Solar Companies
- New Mexico Solar Companies
- New York Solar Companies
- North Carolina Solar Companies
- Pennsylvania Solar Companies
- South Carolina Solar Companies
- Texas Solar Companies
- Utah Solar Companies
Solar Incentives in Maryland
Solar owners in Maryland may qualify for various state and federal rebates and tax credits. We’ve highlighted the key Maryland solar incentives below.
- Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC): The federal solar tax credit allows you to claim 30% of your solar installation costs on your federal tax return. This rate will reduce to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 before ending. You must purchase your system in full or take out a loan to qualify.
- Maryland Energy Storage Income Tax Credit: The Maryland Energy Storage Income Tax Credit provides a state tax credit of up to $5,000 to solar owners who install battery backup storage.
- Maryland Solar Property Tax Exemption: Maryland exempts solar customers from paying taxes on the increased home value from installing solar panels. Solar power equipment is also exempt from sales tax.
- Residential Clean Energy Rebate Program: Homeowners who install clean energy systems may be eligible for a $1,000 solar rebate from the Maryland Energy Administration.
- Net-metering: All investor-owned utilities in Maryland must offer net-metering programs, which allow customers to sell excess energy generated by their solar systems to the utility company at the retail rate.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs): You earn one solar renewable energy certificate for every 1 kWh of solar energy you produce. You can sell SRECs to participating companies looking to invest in solar energy. You must be registered with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to participate.
A few Maryland counties offer additional tax credits, including Harford County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Prince George’s County. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for more information.
Our Conclusion
We recommend getting at least three quotes from solar installers to compare pricing and services, as the price you’ll pay to go solar can vary significantly between installers. The providers listed above are an excellent place to start, but here are a few well-reviewed local Maryland solar companies to consider:
- Solar Energy World (Elkridge)
- Lumina Solar (Baltimore)
- Celestial Solar (Frederick)
- Solar SME (Annapolis)
- Aurora Energy (Columbia)
Our top pick is Palmetto Solar due to its well-rated customer service, 25-year performance guarantee, and comprehensive Palmetto Protect plan. Whichever provider you choose, consider product selection, financing, warranties, performance monitoring, and customer reviews.
FAQs About Solar Companies in Maryland
According to Berkeley Lab’s 2021 Tracking the Sun report, the median price of a solar panel system in Maryland is $3.20 per watt, below the national average of $3.80 per watt. That means a typical 5–8 kilowatt (kW) system would cost $16,000–$25,600 before applying the federal tax credit.
Yes, Maryland’s comparatively low solar panel costs and wide variety of tax incentives make it an excellent place to go solar.
Yes, solar panels will add value to your home. A 2019 report from Zillow found that homes with solar panels sold for an average of 4.1% more than homes without them. The exact increase in value will depend on several variables, such as market demand, panel efficiency, and utility bill savings.
Solar renewable energy certificates, or SRECs, are credits provided to homeowners who produce a certain amount of solar energy. Companies or government bodies can purchase these certificates from homeowners to show they’re meeting their regulatory solar energy goals.
Our Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:
- Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
- Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
- Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
- Financing options (15%)
- Experience (10%)
- Availability (10%)
Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.