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Delaware solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels

Delaware State 18 solar panels available

  • $0.48/W Average gross price of a solar power system as of May 2022
  • 2 years Average system payback period
  • 59 226 / 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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Delaware #30 in the US
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What our happy customers say

The website UI is really intuitive and I figured out what I want pretty quickly. Went for Canadian Solar panels plus a solaredge inverter. I went to their fulfillment center to grab my order, and they were very quick to bring it out. The staff really made sure to warn me that panels are fragile and I appreciate that. Drove the package home safely, unpacked, all good. Right now we’re in the middle of the installation process, they sent a letter asking how I’m doing and asked for a review. Here I am! The panels are nice and it was a pleasure doing business with you.
Lime
Via Trustpilot
Apr 7, 2022
Fantastic company. Everything went smooth and the shipped was fast. The customer service was great.
Joe M.
Via Trustpilot
Apr 5, 2022
So I’m from LA and everybody’s going solar here so though that I should too. But I was really afraid it would be too much of a hassle. Eventually i went on google and soon found a1store. They got a pretty website and lots of articles on solar, and I flicked through a couple. So I decided to contact them, they were very friendly and we scheduled a call with their engineer. He was very patient with me and explained all the basics that I needed to know.

So i made an order, one of their centers is nearby, so i ordered pickup. I drove there, and they warned me to drive the panels carefully and pack them well for the road. seems like it's a recurring thing that people break their panels on the way home. I was real careful and yeah, I got home safely. Panels are in my garage now. I already found the installer. we have to take care of some papers and then it’s on!
Jerry Burton
Via Trustpilot
Mar 23, 2022
Great selection of high quality solar panels, good pricing, fast shipping, everything arrived in great condition.
Paul
Via Trustpilot
Mar 8, 2022
I ordered some solar panels. The top 4 ones were damaged during delivery (A1 had emailed me in advance what to check for before I took delivery which I followed even though the truck driver was pushing not to inspect them as thouroughly) and A1 replaced them in a timely manner and kept me informed. The price on the panels were some of the best on the internet (delivered). I would buy from them again.
Robert Broughton
Via Google
Nov 27, 2021
I ordered some solar panels but during delivery, the top 4 were broken by the shipping department.

A1 replaced them and kept me informed when the replacements would be in. I would buy from them again.
Robert Broughton
Via Trustpilot
Nov 27, 2021

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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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