How To Get Free Solar Panels in Delaware
Are Solar Panels Free for Delaware Residents?
If you are a resident of Delaware, there is a good chance that you qualify to have free solar panels installed on your home.
In this overview, we’ll discuss the process of getting free solar panels installed for your home and business. We’ll break down the different options available to you, the process for qualifying for and choosing the best option for your home, and how to coordinate a state-licensed installation. Read on to learn more or contact our experts to discuss the details specific to your home!
No time to read? No problem! Get a customized solar quote to see if you qualify to have your solar panels installed, for free.
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Delaware Solar Incentives
Solar incentives are discounts on the price of solar panels, solar installation, and solar batteries. They may come in the form of tax breaks and credits, or in the form of rebates and up-front discounts. The goal of solar incentives is to make it easier for home and business owners to power their properties with solar panels, for less. Harnessing the power of the sun, especially in Delaware, is a win-win situation for all. It is a clean energy process which is better for our environment, and reduces the cost of power for the solar owners.
Fortunately, Delaware has been on the forefront of green energy initiatives and solar incentive bills to help residents and business owners covert to solar for less. Some of these Delaware solar incentives include the federal solar tax credit, sales tax exemption, and solar rebates from the Delaware utility companies.
Delaware goes one step further that most states by offering Delaware No Cost Solar Programs and Delaware Solar Grants to help reduce or eliminate the costs of solar for residents of The First State.
Related: The Complete Guide To Delaware Solar Incentives, Tax Credits, & Rebates.
Step 1: Review Your Options
Solar panels do not come in one-size-fits-all. There are many options you have when it comes to your solar panel system. Such as the type of solar panels you want, how many solar panels you need to power your home, and where you want your solar power installed. Many home owners are now using land and yard space to make room for a more powerful solar system.
In many cases, it's wise to have a preliminary solar evaluation done for your home or business. This solar evaluation helps you see what solar options you have and which solar panels are right for you. Fortunately, a home solar evaluation is completely free with EcoGen America. If you are interested in a free, comprehensive solar evaluation to fully discover your solar options, start here.
Get started with your free solar savings quote!
Delaware Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
One way that Delaware residents are getting solar panels installed for free, is using Power Purchase Agreements or “PPA”. A PPA is a contract directly between you and a state-licensed solar energy company. Under a PPA, a qualified solar company agrees to install your solar panels for little or no up front cost. Then you use that solar energy for your property and pay a reduced, usually fixed-price, for that solar power. This rate is usually much cheaper than average electricity costs.
The benefit of a PPA is the reduced or free up-front costs of installing solar panels in Delaware, and the reduced monthly energy bills. This can be a great option if you don’t want to or can’t afford the cost of buying the solar panels outright and paying for the entire installation. This is a very common practice and even though the homeowner isn’t purchasing the system, they are almost guaranteed to save money on their electricity bills.
At the end of this agreement, you can simply have the company remove the solar panels, or purchase them at a discounted rate and keep them. This leaves an element of flexibility for people who may want to sell their home or move their business in the future.
See if you qualify for Delaware Power Purchase Agreements!
Utility Solar Rebate Programs
Delaware does not offer a statewide tax credit or rebate for solar panels, however, multiple utility companies in the state offer rebates to their customers, including:
- Delmarva Power and Light: Customers of Delmarva Power in Delaware are eligible for a cash rebate from the utility to reduce the cost of their solar installation. The utility will pay $0.70 per watt of solar generating capacity installed up to 50 kW, up to a maximum of $6,000. Rebate values will be reduced as more homeowners install solar, so confirm the current value of the incentive with our experts.
- Delaware Electric Cooperative: Ratepayers receive $0.50/W of solar power installed (up to 5 kW), and $0.20/W for any additional solar capacity.
- Delaware Municipal Electrical Corporation (DEMEC): The Municipal Green Energy Program pays customers of qualifying Delaware municipal utilities a cash rebate for a portion of their solar installation costs. The value of the rebate depends on where you live, so review the program websites for specifics.
There are many eligibility requirements for each program in Delaware, so be sure to speak with our experts to help with your application and review all the best options available for your home.
Enter your zip code below to see if you may qualify for zero down solar!
Do I Qualify?
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Financial Benefits of a DE Solar Energy System
Besides the free solar panel installation programs, there are also other financial benefits available for homeowners in Delaware who choose solar energy. Some of the biggest benefits include:
- Sales Tax Exemption: Delaware is one of the few states that has 0% sales tax. That includes the cost of your solar panels, solar installation, and solar batteries. An instant 4% - 7% savings compared to neighboring states.
- Federal Solar Tax Credit: The Federal Investment Tax Credit, also know as the Green Energy Tax Credit can give you up to a 30% tax credit on the cost of your Delaware solar panels.
- Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs): SRECs are credits that can be sold to utilities in order to help offset the cost of installing a solar energy system. This is done via Net Metering which is available in Delaware, but not all states. Yet another advantage and reasons why solar panels do so well in Delaware.
See Also: Are Solar Panels Worth It In Delaware?
Step 2: Find Out if Your Home Qualifies
Depending on where you live exactly in Delaware and other details about your home and background, you may qualify for different programs with unique advantages. If you begin an installation without applying for the right programs, you may be losing out on massive savings!
Enter your zip code to see if you qualify for solar incentives!
Do I Qualify?
Please enter a zip code
Step 3: Get a State-Licensed Solar Installation
If you’re a Delaware resident and looking to get started with your free solar installation, it is very important that you work with a local installer who is state-licensed. This will ensure you qualify for the right programs, save the most money, and receive a safe and secure installation.
Contact our local Delaware solar experts at EcoGen America and we’ll walk you through the whole process, helping you apply for the best programs and providing a secure high-quality installation!
We are committed to bringing our customers the benefits of solar energy throughout the State of Delaware.
Get started with your free solar savings quote!
Key Takeaways
- If you are a resident of Delaware, there is a good chance that you qualify to have free solar panels installed on your home.
- Delaware has several solar incentives and tax credits for solar owners. Read more.
- Power Purchase Agreements are one of many ways to get solar panels installed for free in Delaware.
- Delaware energy companies offer solar grants and solar rebates for DE residents.
- Its best to start your journey to going solar with a free solar evaluation, to learn all of your options and see which solar discounts you qualify for.
If you are a resident of Delaware, there is a good chance that you qualify to have free solar panels installed on your home through one of the many solar incentive programs in the state. If you’re a DE resident and looking to get started with your free solar installation, it is very important that you work with a local installer who is state-licensed. This will ensure you qualify for the right programs, save the most money, and receive a safe and secure installation.
Delaware has a variety of ways to get free solar panels. Programs from Delmarva Power and Light, Delaware Electric Cooperative, and the Delaware Municipal Electrical Corporation (DEMEC) offer rebates to cover some if not all of the cost of installation. There are many eligibility requirements for each program in Delaware, so be sure to speak with our experts to help with your application and review all the best options available for your home.
