Philly is not the greenest city out there. Still, the city has undoubtedly been doing its part to keep the earth green and clean.
Recently, Philadelphia has made several efforts to increase solar use. With that, you might be thinking of making the switch! We could help you with that as it will be all about solar panels in Philadelphia today.
We have tons to talk about, so let us start!
Philadelphia Solar System Installation Costs
As you might already know, making the switch is not a cheap investment. To give you an idea, you are looking at shelling out around $14,300 for a 5kW solar panel system. However, note that this value is only an estimate. It could still drastically go up or down.
It is big money, but it comes with lots of savings. Still, you might be wondering how the thousands pile up. Well, let us give you an idea. Let us talk about the two main things that make up this value.
The System
The main reason the installation is so costly is the system itself.
There are many things you have to consider when choosing a system. The first would probably be the system size, though.
You can get a system in a range of sizes, for example, as small as 3 kilowatts (kW) or as large as 10 kW. As you can expect, the larger the system size, the more costly it gets. To give you an idea: you might be looking at a difference between 8,580 to 28,600 dollars. However, that does not mean you should opt for the smallest one.
| System Size | System Cost |
|---|---|
| 3 kW | $8,580 |
| 4 kW | $11,440 |
| 5 kW | $14,300 |
| 6 kW | $17,160 |
| 7 kW | $20,020 |
| 8 kW | $22,880 |
| 9 kW | $25,740 |
| 10 kW | $28,600 |
When choosing a system size, you also want to account for the average cost per watt. As the system size increases, the average cost per watt lessens. The difference is not drastic, though. Often, it is only a few cents. However, you also have to consider that those few cents will pile up as the years go.
Aside from the size, you also want to consider the system quality. There is nothing wrong with going with the more economical option. Still, you want to make sure you are not sacrificing the quality when you do so!
Of course, we cannot forget to mention that you also want to consider the manufacturer, as different ones differ in cost and quality of the systems they offer.
Installation
Unfortunately, costs do not end with getting a system.
After getting your system, the costs increase with the installation fees. Here, you are looking at shelling out a few more hundred to a few more thousand.
You can DIY your way here. However, as you might expect, it is not an easy task. Additionally, not everyone knows how to do so, and as you might already know, ruining your newly bought system is not a cheap mistake. That is why, despite the additional fees, many choose to employ the help of solar companies.
If you are looking to employ the help of a solar company, stay with us. We will be helping you in choosing one in a bit. For now, though, let us talk about incentives, tax credits, and rebates first.
Incentives, Tax Credits, & Rebates for Philadelphia Solar Panels
We have shown you how the costs could pile up. Now, let us talk about how you could chop off a few thousand on your total.
First and probably the most notable is the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit. It is quite easy to qualify for this tax credit. However, you still have to check with the eligibility criteria, of course.
On the other hand, the city also has a solar rebate program. It is a one-time incentive payment capped at $100,000 per project. Again, it is not without any eligibility criteria. However, like the Federal Investment Tax Credit, it is quite easy to qualify for this incentive.
The rebate rates:
- $0.20/watt for residential projects
- $0.10/watt for commercial projects
These are only two ways that could help knock a few thousand off of the total bill. If these two are not enough or do not fit your needs, you do not have to worry. There are other programs and such that might be able to help you. For one, the city has recently launched a leasing program. While you will not own the installations with this program, the upfront cost would undeniably be more manageable.
| System Size | System Cost | Cost After Tax Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kW | $8,580 | $6,006 |
| 4 kW | $11,440 | $8,008 |
| 5 kW | $14,300 | $10,010 |
| 6 kW | $17,160 | $12,012 |
| 7 kW | $20,020 | $14,014 |
| 8 kW | $22,880 | $16,016 |
| 9 kW | $25,740 | $18,018 |
| 10 kW | $28,600 | $20,020 |
Top 7 Solar Companies in Philadelphia
Earlier, we touched on the subject of solar companies. If you are looking to employ the help of a solar company, you might want to check our list out.
1. Arsenal Solar
First up, we have Arsenal Solar.
If you are looking for quality service on and off the field, they might be your guys. Work does not stop once your solar is up and running. These guys are known to still offer help long after the last check.
- Address: 516 Lindenhurst St, Philadelphia, PA 19116, United States
- Phone: +1 215-677-0873
2. Solar States
Do you like things short, simple, and straightforward when doing business? Then, let us check Solar States out next.
If you are looking for professionalism and a pleasant transaction, you might want to give them a shot. Here, things are done sweet and to the point.
- Address: 1508 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
- Phone: +1 215-939-6699
3. EcoGen America
Over here, we have EcoGen America.
Who does not like a great experience? If you want to have a great experience with your system’s installation, you might want to check with EcoGen America then!
- Address: 1700 Market, 1700 Market St #1005, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
- Phone: +1 215-515-2210
4. Imperium Solar
Next up is Imperium Solar.
They are one of the best to work with, so if you still have not made up your mind, you might want to consider these guys.
- Address: 2443 E Somerset St, Philadelphia, PA 19134, United States
- Phone: +1 856-267-3685
5. Zenergy Solar
Zenergy Solar is another solar company you might want to consider.
If you want professionalism with a dash of friendliness, you might want to give them a shot! Don’t believe us? You can check out the many testimonies they’ve earned!
- Address: 250 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106, United States
- Phone: +1 888-765-2760
6. Torks Industrial Solar
Are you tired of unfulfilled promises? Well, you might want to give Torks Industrial Solar a shot. Their claim? To constantly improve and deliver their promises! Sounds nice? Well, give them a call now!
- Address: 2314 Oakmont St, Philadelphia, PA 19152, United States
- Phone: +1 267-570-9036
7. Lightsource bp
Over here, we have Lightsource bp. If none of the above has gotten your attention, you might want to give our last solar company suggestion a try. After all, they are one of the global leaders in the development of solar energy projects!
- Address: 2000 Market St Suite 720, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
- Phone: +1 333 200 0755
What to Look for When Installing Solar Panels in Philadelphia
Before we let you go, here are some things you might want to keep in mind when making the switch.
Exposure
As you might already know, your system needs the rays from the sun for it to work. With that, one of the very first things you want to look for when installing solar panels in Philly is the sun. Where is it at what time?
Daily, the peak hours are around noon, and you want your panels to catch as much of it. For that, your system needs to be at an angle.
You want your panels to be facing the south. You want it tilted at around 33.5 to 40 degrees if you do not plan on changing angles as the season changes. On the other hand, it might be best to change the angle to around 16 degrees in summer, 54 degrees in winter, and 37 degrees in the remaining seasons.
Other than the angle, you also want to note the structures that could shade your panels. If you have tons of trees around, routine trimming might be necessary.
Installers
We have already talked about installers earlier, but let us emphasize that you want to think long and hard about this decision. You will be putting your system in their hands, after all!
Ask questions. Lots of it! Not only about your system but their service. All solar installation companies can help you put up your system, but others go the extra mile. For example, some could help you tons with paper works and such.
Summary
Today, we talked all about solar panels in Philadelphia.
First, we talked about the costs. As you might have already expected, we learned here that making the switch is not cheap. One could be looking at shelling out from around $8,580 to $28,600 depending on the system size. However, keep in mind that these figures are estimates and actual costs may vary based on specific situations.
That brings us to the next concern we talked about, tax credits, rebates, and the like. Here, we learned that while making the switch is not cheap, there are many ways to knock a few thousand in the final sum.
Still not decided? No worries! To help, you might want to compare and contrast with another city in the state: Pittsburgh.