Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.”
Michigan is a great state for solar energy despite its northern latitude. There are more top-notch solar companies available to Michigan residents today than ever before, and the state now offers solar property tax exemption for homeowners who install solar systems and a limited net metering program. This article provides a detailed look at the best solar companies available in Michigan.
Best Solar Installation Companies in Michigan
Featured Video: What Should You Expect When Going Solar in Michigan?
The Green Panel
4.0
Our Rating
The Green Panel is a local Michigan solar company that was founded in Brighton in 2007. In the 15 years since its inception, the company has grown to serve thousands of homeowners across Michigan from Ann Arbor and Detroit to Grand Rapids, the Upper Peninsula, and more. The company has a strong focus on using American manufactured solar products and choose Michigan-based products wherever possible. The company handles everything from sourcing equipment to installation itself, so you don’t need to deal with any independent contractors throughout your solar energy project. Customer reviews of The Green Panel are universally positive and the company maintains an A+ rating from the BBB, although it is not BBB-accredited.
Solar systems from The Green Panel are reasonably priced but skew slightly above Michigan’s statewide average.
The Green Panel is the epitome of a small business success story, so while it excels in certain areas like customer service and communication, its prices are somewhat high and it doesn’t offer the most financing options.
As a smaller company, The Green Panel’s warranty leaves a lot to be desired. The company’s installations are backed by a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty on equipment, but it doesn’t offer any guarantees for performance or labor.
The Green Panel offers solar panel installations, battery backups, EV chargers, solar carports, and miscellaneous electrical work through its team of certified electricians.
The company accepts cash and offers solar loans but doesn’t have any lease of PPA options.
As of this writing, The Green Panel offers $250 for any customer who signs up with the company on your recommendation.
All solar installations are handled in-house by the company’s team of certified expert installers and technicians.
The Green Panel has an impressive lineup of solar brands customers can choose from, including Panasonic, Evervolt, Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, and SunPower.
The Green Panel partners with several titans of the solar industry to bring its customers the best technology available today. Its professional network includes SunPower, Tesla, Enphase, and Panasonic.
Michigan Solar Solutions
4.0
Our Rating
Michigan Solar Solutions is another hometown Michigan solar company that offers stellar solar service throughout the state. The company was founded in 2007 and provides both basic and advanced solar installations. Michigan Solar Solutions has a similar brand variety to The Green Panel and offers similar pricing, but its warranties are slightly better, although still subpar compared to the warranties offered by larger companies.
Michigan Solar Solutions takes a less-is-more approach to solar, focusing on offering a small selection of solid products and delivering outstanding service and support rather than casting a wider net and letting the customer experience degrade.
Michigan Solar Solutions charges average Michigan prices. You might be able to find a better deal by shopping around, but you won’t find a better combination of customer service, selection, and support anywhere else.
Michigan Solar Solutions ups the ante on its solar warranty compared to The Green Panel, offering 25-year coverage for equipment, 12-year coverage for inverter parts and labor, and 5-year coverage for overall labor.
The company offers solar panel installation, battery backups, and EV chargers.
Customers can choose to pay for their solar panels outright in cash or leverage a solar loan to pay off the system over time. The company does not offer solar leases or PPAs.
You can receive a $250 bonus if you refer a friend or family member who signs up with Michigan Solar Solutions. The referral program is handled on the company’s website through a handy online referral form.
Michigan Solar Solutions is an end-to-end solar company, which means that all its installations are handled by an in-house team.
Michigan Solar Solutions uses the best equipment from top solar manufacturers, including Enphase, SolarEdge, Panasonic, Jinko Solar, and Tesla.
Michigan Solar Solutions partners with the Michigan chapter of the Sierra Club to help bring environmental awareness and clean, renewable energy to Michiganders.
Blue Raven Solar
4.3
Our Rating
Blue Raven Solar is a national company with a local office in Detroit. The company is an end-to-end, no-frills solar company that currently only provides solar panel installations, although battery backups are coming soon, according to the company’s website. Despite its small selection and limited service options, Blue Raven is still one of the best solar companies in Michigan for its competitive prices and best-in-class BluePower Plus+ financing program.
Blue Raven Solar is a big solar company that often feels more like a local shop. Its warranty and services are limited, and its customer support is very responsive, making it a great choice for anyone who wants a basic solar installation without many bells and whistles.
Blue Raven’s prices fall a bit below the statewide average, making the company a top candidate for Michigan residents on a budget.
Blue Raven’s solar warranty is solid, covering parts for 25 years and workmanship for ten.
Unfortunately, the company only offers solar panel installations, with battery backups coming soon as of mid-2022.
Blue Raven Solar’s BluePower Plus+ financing program is the best in the business. Financing is handled in-house, and customers can choose from an impressive list of options designed to suit most customers. The company offers delayed payment plans with 0% interest for 24 months as well as ordinary loans with varied terms. The bottom line is that Blue Raven almost certainly has a financing option that will work for you, making it the best company for people looking for more affordable rooftop solar solutions.
The company currently has a refer-a-friend program that offers $1,000 for your first two referrals and $1,500 for every subsequent recommendation.
Blue Raven’s installations are conducted by an in-house team of experts, so you won’t have to deal with any complications from a third-party contractor.
The equipment you receive from Blue Raven Solar comes from leading manufacturers like Silfab, Trina, and Q Cells, but the specific tech varies from one installation to the next.
Blue Raven is partnered with GivePower to help bring clean water to struggling areas through innovative solar-powered desalination.
Strawberry Solar
3.9
Our Rating
Strawberry Solar is a local company based in Detroit that brings serious innovation to the Michigan solar energy landscape. The company is dedicated to promoting clean solar energy throughout Michigan and helps Michigan residents make the switch to solar power through its use of innovative technology and expert technicians. Strawberry Solar is a turnkey solar provider, which means the company handles everything itself, including your system’s design, installation, and maintenance. The company uses high-tech 3D modeling to offer custom energy solutions that fit your needs.
Strawberry Solar’s prices are in line with the Michigan average. Some reviews suggest that the company’s prices may dip slightly below average occasionally.
Strawberry Solar is a small local installer, so you can expect to pay a bit more for the luxury of excellent service and personalized attention. The company’s warranty and service options are typical for a smaller solar provider, so be aware of these concessions you’ll have to make before you commit to a contract.
The company’s weakest offering is its warranty, in our opinion. Strawberry Solar only covers its installations for ten years, which is well short of the standard 25 years for equipment most companies provide.
Strawberry Solar offers the main solar services most homeowners desire, including panel installation, battery installation, and EV chargers.
Customers who don’t want to pay in cash can take out a solar loan, with zero money down and low rates for those who qualify.
Strawberry Solar handles its installations in-house via its own installation team.
The company only offers SolarEdge panels, so customers who value variety may be disappointed.
Strawberry Solar works with the non-profit Cass Community Social Services to bring solar power to low-income families in the Detroit metropolitan area as part of the Tiny Homes Detroit initiative.
Windfree Solar
4.0
Our Rating
Windfree Solar is a regional solar company based in Chicago, Illinois, with local offices throughout Michigan. The company brings extensive regional experience and is familiar with Michigan solar rules and rebates. It’s also accustomed to the challenges of installing solar systems in the Great Lakes region and can help you design a system that will hold up to fierce Michigan winters. The company offers a standard lineup of solar services, along with two years of free monitoring.
Windfree Solar’s prices are average to below average for the level of workmanship you receive. The company gets a significant fraction of its business from commercial solar projects, which may help drive the cost of its residential services down.
Windfree’s solar warranty is a solid 25 years for equipment and 15 years for workmanship.
The company offers solar panel installations, power storage solutions (like the Tesla Powerwall), EV chargers, efficiency upgrades, and two years of free system monitoring. The company also offers customizable system design services.
Windfree accepts cash payments and customers can choose to finance their solar system through a solar loan.
Windfree Solar is an all-in-one solar company that handles its installations internally.
The company uses Tier 1 solar equipment from trusted manufacturers like Panasonic and LG.
Windfree Solar has several industry partnerships with several companies, including Panasonic, LG, ChargePoint Inc., and Unirac. It also has professional relationships with certified architectural firms and is certified by NABCEP.
More Michigan Resources
Final Verdict: The Best Solar Company in Michigan
If you prefer to go with a local company, The Green Panel and Michigan Solar Solutions are excellent options. Both companies provide access to a variety of top-notch solar equipment brands and offer outstanding customer service and support.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Solar Company in Michigan
Choosing a solar provider is a big deal to most people. If you’re not sure which of the above companies is the best choice for you and your home, check out the following tips for some general advice about the most important factors to think about before making the switch to rooftop solar.
Cost of Services & Installation
The biggest concern most people have when switching to solar power is the cost. Solar systems are expensive, and most people can’t afford to purchase them outright without taking advantage of federal solar tax credits or taking out a solar loan. Keep in mind that most people who purchase solar panels don’t buy them outright in cash, so you shouldn’t settle for the cheapest panels from a subpar company. After local rebates and incentives in Michigan, most people are left with very reasonable monthly payments, especially when you factor in the money they’re saving on their electric bills.
Equipment and Damages Warranty
Another big concern new solar customers have is damage. In a state like Michigan, where the weather can get hairy, it’s especially important to make sure your solar energy system is covered by a solid warranty. The best solar warranties cover labor, parts, and performance for 25 years. Companies often offer shorter, more restrictive warranties to lower their prices, but choosing such a company may wind up costing you more money in the long run if your panels get damaged and need to be repaired or replaced.
Solar Services Offered
Choosing a company based on the services it provides is a surprisingly easy part of the process. If you know you want advanced features like solar shingles or EV chargers, you’ll narrow down the field considerably. On the other hand, if all you need is a basic solar panel installation, you can choose virtually any company.
Financing Options
If you can’t afford to pay for your solar system all at once, don’t worry. Most people who invest in solar do so through a solar loan. While leases and PPAs seem attractive because they have low or zero upfront costs, they also won’t save you as much money over the course of your solar system’s life. Solar loans are the better option if you can’t afford to pay the full cost of a solar installation upfront, and many companies offer flexible options that make it easy to find something that works for your financial situation.
Do They Contract Installation?
Some companies contract out to independent installation businesses, although most perform in-house installations these days. In general, third-party installations are more difficult to manage and prone to issues, so we recommend sticking with an end-to-end solar company if you can.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Solar equipment has been getting better for years. These days, any Tier 1 system will provide you with solar panels with outstanding energy efficiency and substantial savings over what you pay to your utility company. However, top brands like Tesla and Maxeon are still ahead of the game and offer better technology than most other companies. Panasonic, LG, and Q Cells also make high-quality panels, and Enphase sets the industry standard for inverters.
Average Online Rating and Customer Reviews
You should read as many customer reviews and online reports as you can before settling on a solar company. The internet is a great place to hear from real customers to get a sense of what it will be like to be a customer before you’re stuck with a company. Pay attention to both positive and negative reviews and be wary of any company that doesn’t have any reviews.
Industry Partnerships
Partnerships are a good indicator of a company’s standing in the solar industry. Forward-thinking companies are always looking to form relationships with other businesses in the solar field and strengthen their community standing by partnering with community projects and charitable initiatives. A company without many partnerships may struggle to stay afloat, so you should think carefully about the long-term prospects of doing business with any solar providers that appear to operate in a vacuum.
Size of Company
There are advantages and disadvantages to both large and small companies. Big solar panel companies can often afford to charge less for equipment and installation but usually have less responsive customer service departments. Conversely, small companies are better at making you feel like a valued customer and often have better regional knowledge, but their prices are often a bit higher.
To learn everything about the cost of solar panels, we recommend you check out our solar panel cost analysis for full details.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Green Panel, Michigan Solar Solutions, and Windfree Solar all have about 15 years of experience installing residential solar systems in Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes states.
Yes, it is. Even though solar panels generate less electricity in northern latitudes, even the Upper Peninsula isn’t far north enough to render solar systems useless. Additionally, solar panels can be more efficient in colder weather, so Michigan’s harsh winters work to counteract the reduced output from being further north than most states.
Yes, absolutely. Experts indicate that installing solar panels on a home increases its value by about 4.1%. In the state of Michigan, that means solar panels increase the average home’s value by about $10,000.
Michigan does not offer a state tax rebate, but Michigan residents are eligible for the federal income tax credit (ITC). Michigan also used to have a net metering program, but it was discontinued in 2009. The Michigan Public Service Commission replaced the state’s net metering program with a credit that gives solar panel owners credit for approximately half of the value of the energy they produce.
One of the best solar incentives available to Michiganders is solar property tax exemption. Governor Rick Snyder reinstituted a property tax exemption for solar systems in 2019, which means that the value solar panels add to your home doesn’t factor into property tax assessments.
Solar is definitely worth it in Michigan. Michigan ranks 25th in installed solar capacity as of this writing, but more people are catching on, and the number of residential solar installations is growing. On average, Michigan residents can expect to save about $20,000 over a 20-year period if they install an average rooftop solar system size, which in MI is around 7 kilowatts.
Keep in mind that how much money a solar system in Michigan saves depends on the home’s size, energy usage, and energy production capabilities of the photovoltaic panels. The best way to estimate how much money you’ll save is to get a quote from several local businesses.
The average price of solar power in Michigan is $8,000 to $21,000 after the ITC is considered. This estimate is based on a 7 kW system, which is typically required to offset energy bills in MI. Your cost may vary depending on your roof’s geometry and how much direct sunlight it receives.
Yes! This is an incredibly common question, and while Michigan solar customers don’t enjoy the surplus of sunshine found in places like Florida or southern California, they get more than enough to make solar power worthwhile.
