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Delaware solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels

Delaware State 34 solar panels available

  • $0.60/W Average gross price of a solar power system as of October 2022
  • 2 years Average system payback period
  • 58 625 / year Average savings from going solar in Delaware
  • 4 ¢ / kWh Levelized cost of solar energy
  • 6.13 kW Recommended system size
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What our happy customers say

Hi all, i wanted to share my experience of buying from a1solar. I needed panels for my yacht. I wanted to have only 3, but they have a minimum order size for delivery so I opted for pickup. It was good. It went smoothly. I appreciate the split payment that they offer. I basically went to the center, grabbed the panels, loaded ‘em in the truck and drove them home (gotta do it carefully though!). Nice guys too. peace, Carl
Caarl Arlac
Via Trustpilot
Oct 2, 2022
I did business with A1 about half a year ago (it’s september 22 atm) when I needed panels for my home in Phoenix. I took Panasonic, if anyone’s wondering. The system’s doing great, and I think I got really lucky with my installer and the shop as well. If I recall correctly, my order was indeed processed in 24h as promised, delivery took a bit longer than expected but it wasn’t a big deal, these were busy days for fedex. panels were in good shape. I myself checked them thoroughly.
Ryden R
Via Trustpilot
Sep 25, 2022
I like this company. Good service 👍
Daiga Ellaby
Via Google
Sep 19, 2022
i read too much about the broken panels and decided to go with the pickup option. Loved the experience overall. One of their centers was nearby, so I ordered some q cells for myself and drove there. They explained in detail how to drive the package home safely so I was really careful and yeah, now they are in my garage, waiting to be installed. Can’t really complain about anything, panels are fine, the service was cool, and the delivery was on me lol
loken
Via Trustpilot
Sep 19, 2022
So I did order a system, and everything arrived on time, and yes, one panel was broken. But you know what? I’m still going to give them 5 stars. Because 1) they warned me about the possibility of this happening and told me what to do in this case; 2) when I contacted them about it, they handled the situation professionally. I sent them all that they asked for and got a replacement relatively quickly. If it’s anyone’s fault that panels break, then it is the carrier's one. My impression: good service, great prices, commendable customer support.
Will Ghost
Via Trustpilot
Sep 14, 2022
I needed just a couple of panels for the boat, but the staff treated me like I was buying the whole warehouse. I decided to pick the order up myself, their center was within reach. Getting my panels and a Magnum inverter was easier than going for groceries. There is a lot of hard work behind this simplicity. This I know from experience
Filip Scot
Via Trustpilot
Sep 11, 2022

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Solar laws, incentives and rebates in Delaware you need to know

Save 26% of your PV system cost with Federal Solar Tax Credit

The main solar incentive that works across all United States is the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program. By applying to this program, all Americans can deduct 26% of the total cost of their installation from the income tax. The PV system cost doesn’t amount to only how much you’ve spent on your solar panels, but includes the shipping and installation as well. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes. It makes sense to hurry up: in 2023 the Tax credit decreases to 22% and after that it’s 10% for commercial systems only.

Join Net Metering program to cover your electric bills

Net Metering is the main way in which a solar system pays for itself in the US. The idea is always the same: you sell your excess solar energy into the commercial grid, gain credits and use them to cover your next electric bill.

In Delaware all utilities should offer net metering. Maximum sizes for a net-metered systems are:

  • 25 kW for residential customers;
  • 100 kW for farm customers on residential rates;
  • 2 MW per meter for non-residential customers of Delmarva Power and Light (DP&L);
  • 500 kW per meter for non-residential customers of Delaware Electric Co-Op, Inc.(DEC) and municipal utilities.

Contact your utility for exact rates and net metering conditions.

Save additional $400 to $2,000 a year trading SRECs

For generating clean electricity any person can get Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). Unlike with Net Metering, you don’t need to sell any electricity to get credits – the certificates are simply given to you. One SREC is granted for 1 MW of power produced. A 5kW system can generate over 7 MW over a year, so in theory it’s possible to get 5-7 SRECs in 12 months.

Delaware is a great place for trading SRECs. You can choose to store or sell these certificates using the PJM-EIS Generation Attributes Tracking System (GATS) platform. The price of a SREC in Delaware is fixed at $400 and its lifetime is 3 years. What is more, there are several credit multipliers that are effective in Delaware:

  • 10% bonus if at least 50% of your solar equipment is manufactured in Delaware.
  • Another 10% are granted if the system is installed with minimum 75% state workforce
  • 300% credit for PV systems installed on or before December 31, 2014. Doesn’t apply to SRECs that are used for compliance with the PV carve-out.

Overall, selling SRECs gained from a 5 kW solar power system in Delaware can bring you from $400 to $2,000 annually. To participate, register your system at PJM EIS platform.

Electric utilities offer rebates and grants for solar projects

You can apply for various solar incentives from utilities to offset the cost of your solar system in Delaware. Green Energy Program is available for customers of Delmarva power, Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) and municipal electric customers.

Delmarva Power, for instance, provides an incentive of $0.70 per watt for residential and commercial systems under 50 kW. The maximum size of incentive is $6,000 for residential installations and $30,000 for commercial systems. Find application forms and guidelines for different programs here.

DEC, on the other hand, provides $0.50 per watt for the first 5 kW of capacity (0-5 kW) and $0.20 per watt over 5 kW. Maximum incentive is $2,500 for customers with an average monthly peak demand of less than 50 kW over the prior 12 months (Class A) and $3,500 for commercial systems with an average monthly peak demand of 50 kW or greater (Class B). Find guidelines and apply for 2022 grants here.

Concerning municipal electric customers, it appears that Green Energy grants are now available only to Newark residents. Homeowners are paid $1.00/W for the first 5 kW, $0.50/W after 5 kW with a maximum incentive of $3,500. The guidebook and contact information can be found here.

Get a permit and install your solar panels in Delaware with no worries

Generally, in the US you would need a solar permit from your local authorities to install a solar system. Requirements, however, vary in different cities and counties and in Delaware there is no statewide policy. For example, in New Castle county you need a building permit for ground-mounted PV systems, but for solar panels on the roof the permit is not required.

We recommend checking with the officials of your county or municipality if it is legal to install solar panels on your house in Delaware without a permit. Usually your installer knows all the details about permits in your area and handles most of the process. Be aware that city or county officials can impose additional fees on you for inspections and documents.

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