Top 7 Best Solar Companies in Michigan (2024 Reviews)

Blue Raven Solar is known for introducing one of the most accessible solar loan options in the industry, which helps keep solar ownership a realistic option for many customers.

The company offers very limited service offerings, but we still feel it’s a great option for homeowners looking for a bare-bones system.

Why We Chose Blue Raven Solar as the Company With the Best Financing Program

Solar panels are expensive, and while we recommend cash purchases or solar loans above other financing options, those aren’t always viable options for homeowners because of the upfront or monthly pricing of the arrangements. Blue Raven more or less fixed that issue with its BluePower Plus+ financing program.

This loan option includes no down payment requirements and a low interest rate to help keep things affordable. More importantly, it offers 18 months of payment-free financing. That means you get a year and a half to accrue savings on your energy bills, which you can then put toward paying off your system. Ultimately, this helps keep solar affordable upfront and helps reduce the financial burden of paying them off over time.

Blue Raven also delivers excellent customer service, especially for such a large company. Plus, it has below-average pricing to begin with, which just serves to make its services more accessible.

What We Don’t Like

Blue Raven Solar only installs solar panels in most cases. It’s starting to add solar batteries to its lineup of products, but they’re not widely available yet. This is a pretty significant downside in Michigan, in particular, where the lack of a statewide net metering program means batteries are an integral part of a solar system if you want to maximize your energy savings.

Blue Raven Solar also only accepts cash and solar loans through its in-house financing programs. This isn’t a huge downside since the financing program is exceptional and designed to be as accessible as possible, but we still do prefer companies that have more payment options.

Read our full review of Blue Raven Solar for more information.

Solar Products

Blue Raven installs panels from Canadian Solar, Trina, Hyundai and SolarEdge. These are all solid options overall, but we’d recommend the Trina panels. These have the highest efficiency ratings of the bunch, which means they’ll be the most likely to offset your electricity consumption, especially if you couple your panels with a battery.

If you want to keep costs down, the SolarEdge panels are likely going to be your best bet. These have the lowest cost per watt, and although the efficiency rating is a bit lower, it’s still a great option that delivers above-average quality for the money.

Unfortunately, Blue Raven doesn’t install batteries or EV chargers, nor does it provide access to other solar services. This is only a suitable company to choose if you know you just want panels.

Financing Options

Blue Raven only accepts cash purchases and solar loans through its in-house financing programs. We recommend a cash purchase if you can make it work, as that will lead to the fastest panel payback period and the most solar savings over time.

Blue Raven’s loan program is also super beneficial if you can’t make a cash purchase work, and it can help you reach net savings faster than many other solar loan options. We still would like to see low-cost options like leases and PPAs, though.

Warranty Information

Blue Raven Solar includes a 25-year warranty for the panels it installs and the production of those panels. The power production warranty is a little longer than most companies offer, but the equipment warranty is in line with the industry standard.

You also get a labor warranty that lasts for ten years, which is average. Ideally, we’d like to see above-average coverage for the labor in Michigan, given the elevated risk of panel damage from severe weather and roof leaks from heavy snowfall. Still, the warranty coverage from Blue Raven is good and does offer some peace of mind.

Click here for a free quote from Blue Raven Solar.

Tesla manufactures one of the best solar batteries in the industry. It works beautifully with your panels to maintain power through blackouts, and it comes with some helpful features that prepare your property for storms.

Tesla’s customer service is spotty due to outsourced labor, but we still feel it’s a decent option.

Why We Chose Tesla as the Company With the Best Technology

As a tech company, it’s probably no surprise that Tesla’s technology provides a seamless user experience at every turn. Its solar battery, the Powerwall, is the prime example of this.

The Powerwall effortlessly maintains power for your home through power outages with no interruptions, which is ideal in a place like Michigan, where blackouts are relatively common. Plus, they have a feature called StormWatch, which allows them to monitor weather conditions in your area and automatically store excess power in preparation for a power outage risk.

The Powerwall also lets you tune how your stored energy gets used, which means you can easily maximize your long-term savings, store the maximum amount of energy to persist through outages or find a happy medium.

Tesla’s pricing is also below average, and it offers a price-match guarantee, which helps keep its products and services more affordable than you’d find from most competitors.

What We Don’t Like

Tesla outsources all of the installation work to third-party companies, which means the customer service varies quite a lot depending on which company is assigned to your solar project.

Another minor downside to working with Tesla is that it only carries a single brand of each product, including QCells panels and Tesla-branded EV chargers and batteries. The equipment is all high-quality, but a variety would be nice and would help the company’s offerings appeal to more homeowners.

Read our full review of Tesla for more information.

Solar Products

As mentioned above, Tesla only installs QCells panels. These panels have an above-average efficiency rating and should be plenty powerful to help provide adequate savings, even in Michigan’s minimal sunlight. They also go through rigorous testing protocols, so they’re one of the least likely panels to run into issues due to manufacturer defects.

QCells panels also provide great quality for the money, coming in around $0.25 cheaper per watt than comparable panel options. This helps keep the relatively high cost per watt in Michigan as low as possible without sacrificing on power production.

Below is a list of other products and services you can get through Tesla:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Tesla solar roof
• Tesla EV chargers
• The Tesla solar monitoring app

Financing Options

Tesla keeps clean energy accessible by accepting all four major payment options. We recommend going with a cash purchase, as this will lead to panel ownership and the highest savings possible over time. A loan is also a highly recommended option if you can’t make a cash purchase.

Solar leases and PPAs save much less money over time and don’t lead to panel ownership, so we don’t generally recommend these options unless they’re the only ones that work for you.

Warranty Information

Tesla’s warranty coverage is mostly in line with the industry average. The equipment warranty lasts for 25 years, which is what most companies offer, and the labor warranty lasts for ten years, which is also typical. We would like to see lengthier workmanship coverage in an area like Michigan, but Tesla’s ten years is still good.

You also get a power production guarantee, which lasts for 25 years. This is about five years longer than most other companies include, making it a welcome addition in Michigan, where sun availability is limited.

Click here for a free quote from Tesla.

Windfree Solar is a small regional company that acts more like a local installer in its customer service and hands-on solar conversion process.

The company doesn’t serve all of Michigan, so some customers might be outside of its service area. If you are inside it, though, we think Windfree is a solid option.

Why We Chose Windfree Solar as the Best Regional Provider

Windfree Solar has been a big part of the local solar industry since 2009, so it has over a decade of localized experience. Not only does the company understand the specific energy needs of Michigan residents, but it also provides the kind of outstanding customer service you’d expect from a smaller company.

Perhaps most importantly, this provider only operates in Michigan and Illinois, and its representatives are intimately familiar with the solar incentives and local rebate programs. They can help you file for any and all perks available in your specific area, which larger, less hands-on companies very well might miss.

Windfree’s customer service goes well beyond incentives, and you’re sure to have a positive experience from start to finish. This is evidenced by the company’s A+ rating with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and the outstanding 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews.

Finally, the company provides an above-average workmanship warranty, which is great to have in Michigan.

What We Don’t Like

Windfree Solar is a relatively small company that only serves parts of Michigan and Illinois. That means some residents in the Great Lakes State may not be able to go solar with the provider.

Additionally, you’ll be limited in your payment method if you choose Windfree, as it only accepts cash and loans. These are the only options we usually recommend, but other low-cost options like leases and PPAs would be nice to have.

Solar Products

Most solar installers work with just a few brands of solar equipment, but Windfree makes its systems truly customizable by working with any tier-one monocrystalline brand you might want for your home.

Its technicians can help you figure out which option works best for your budget and energy needs and will then design the system around that specific brand. This is a really great way to get the exact system you want without being shoehorned into a specific brand.

In addition to the variety of solar panels offered, Windfree provides access to the following products and services:

• Enphase IQ batteries
• LG Chem solar batteries
• The Enphase solar monitoring app
• Commercial solar applications

Financing Options

Windfree Solar only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, so, as is the case with many local and regional providers in the area, you won’t be able to take a solar lease or PPA.

Of the two options available, we recommend a cash purchase if you can afford it. Paying in cash means you own your system immediately, and you’ll avoid paying interest that would cut into your savings over time. Cash also leads to the fastest solar payback period because of the lack of interest.

Both options let you take the federal credit, though, so both will be more beneficial than leases or PPAs.

Warranty Information

Windfree Solar shines compared to many competitors when it comes to warranty coverage. Its equipment and panel production warranties are close to what most top competitors offer: around 25 years for both.

However, the workmanship warranty lasts for 15 years, which is 1.5x as long as the national average. This is ideal in a high-risk area like Michigan and should provide some additional peace of mind that your system is going to last without issues for years after the installation.

Click here for a free quote from Windfree Solar.

Stellar Solar operates in Michigan and California, and it has been in business since 1998. That means 25 years of experience working with local energy needs and incentives.

While the expertise is more or less unmatched, the company offers minimal financing options, so it might not fit into your budget. It also only installs a single brand of panels.

Why We Chose Stellar Solar as the Company With the Most Local Experience

Stellar Solar has a quarter of a century’s worth of experience serving customers just like you in Michigan. It delivers unparalleled local expertise along with the incredible customer service you’d expect from a smaller company. This is, in large part, why the company is able to maintain a 4.8-star rating on Google Reviews and a 4.96-star rating on the BBB’s website.

Stellar Solar is another provider that has reps that are willing and able to help you maximize your solar savings and minimize your upfront purchase price by helping you apply for local incentives and other perks.

The company also installs SunPower panels exclusively. This is both an upside and a downside, but we believe it’s mostly a positive thing. Maxeon panels from SunPower are high-performance panels that deliver the highest production rates in the industry, making them ideal for areas like Michigan that see below-average sunny days per year.

What We Don’t Like

As mentioned, only offering Maxeon panels is both a good thing and a minor drawback. It would be nice to see other panel brands to help customers who don’t want to pay the premium for Maxeon panels find an option that works for them. We do think these are the best of the best, but having more options is always better for customization.

Stellar Solar has limited payment options, none of which are low cost. Both the cash purchase and solar loan options the company provides will require that you pay the entire system cost upfront or over time.

Solar Products

Stellar Solar only installs Maxeon panels. These have the best efficiency ratings and some of the most impressive performance specifications in the industry, so they’re likely to outperform just about any other brand, especially in the low-sun conditions in Michigan.

Maxeon panels also come with outstanding durability and longevity that are backed by robust warranty coverage, so they should provide some peace of mind that your system will continue saving you money for many years to come.

Below are some other products and services Stellar Solar offers:

• The SunVault solar battery
• Tesla Powerwalls
• Enphase IQ batteries
• EV chargers — brands aren’t mentioned on the company’s website
• Ground-mount solar
• Access to the MySunPower, Enphase and Tesla monitoring mobile apps

Financing Options

Stellar Solar only entertains cash purchases and solar loans, so there are no low-cost options for solar customers on a tight budget. We would like to see these options offered, even though we don’t recommend them to most customers.

We would sooner suggest a cash purchase than going with a solar loan, as you’ll avoid paying interest and will boost your savings on utility bills over time. A loan is a solid choice, though, if you can’t make a cash purchase work.

Warranty Information

Stellar Solar is a certified SunPower dealer, so you get access to SunPower’s outstanding warranty coverage by proxy through Stellar. That includes protection for your panels, the power production and the labor for 25 years.

The labor warranty, in particular, is very valuable, as it ensures that your system will stand up to the harsh weather conditions in Michigan for many years to come.

Click here for a free quote from Stellar Solar.

Michigan Solar Solutions has incredible customer ratings, which serve as evidence that the company provides above-average customer service and quality throughout Michigan.

The workmanship warranty isn’t ideal, and the payment options are limited, but this is still our top-rated local installer in the state.

Why We Chose Michigan Solar Solutions as the Best Local Installer

Michigan Solar Solutions is a small local provider that delivers the kind of customer service you’d expect from a locally-owned and operated company. It has a 5-star rating on the BBB’s website and a 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews, which is proof that the company puts customer care above all else.

Michigan Solar Solutions installs a nice range of solar panel brands that include affordable options and premium options. This makes it one of the best installers to choose if you’re not sure whether you’d prefer to prioritize cost or system production. The techs are knowledgeable enough to help you decide which is right for your needs. They can also help find local incentives to bring down the effective cost of your system.

Michigan Solar Solutions also offers an energy savings guarantee through Omnidian. It guarantees that you see a baseline of savings from your panels over the warranty term, or the company will pay you the difference.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest drawback to working with Michigan Solar Solutions, in our opinion, is the short labor warranty. The company only covers its workmanship for five years, which is half the industry average and about a third of what we’d like to see in a high-risk area like Michigan. We do believe the company’s local expertise helps minimize this downside, but we’d still prefer a lengthier formal warranty.

Additionally, the company only accepts cash purchases and solar loans. The lack of low-cost options like leases and PPAs means there’s a good chance you might not be able to afford the services this company provides.

Solar Products

This company installs panels from Panasonic, SolarEdge and Jinko Solar. We recommend the Panasonic panels for customers who want maximum efficiency and don’t mind paying a premium for a greater rate of energy production. The SolarEdge panels are the most affordable but still offer great durability, so we’d suggest these for customers looking to keep installation costs down.

The Jinko Solar panels are an uncommon option in the U.S., but they deliver outstanding performance for a low cost, although durability isn’t as good as you’d see from other manufacturers.

Additionally, you can get the following products and services from Michigan Solar Solutions:

• WallBox Pulsar Plus EV chargers
• Tesla Powerwalls
• LG Chem batteries
• The Tesla and Enphase solar monitoring apps

Financing Options

You’ll only be able to pay for services from Michigan Solar Solutions with cash or through a solar loan. These are the two most beneficial options overall, with a cash purchase delivering the greatest savings overall — an average of over $23,500 — and the lowest purchase price thanks to no interest.

A loan will save around $5,000 less because of interest, and your panel payback period will be a few years longer than if you paid in cash.

Warranty Information

Michigan Solar Solutions includes the standard 25-year equipment warranty with its systems, as well as a slightly longer-than-average 25-year production warranty. The company couples that with a three-year power production guarantee that promises to pay for your expected savings if your system fails to deliver them naturally. This is a nice touch that most companies don’t include.

Unfortunately, the provider’s workmanship warranty only lasts for five years, which is far less than we’d like to see in an area like Michigan.

Click here for a free quote from Michigan Solar Solutions.

Strawberry Solar is a small company based right in Detroit that delivers unparalleled customer service and communication throughout the entire conversion process.

The workmanship warranty isn’t as long as we’d like to see, and there are only two payment options, but for quality service, Strawberry Solar can’t be beaten.

Why We Chose Strawberry Solar as the Best for Customer Service

Strawberry Solar has been servicing customers in Michigan since 2010, and its technicians have 20+ years of experience working specifically in the Great Lakes State. What that means for you is an installation team that understands your specific energy needs and the climate in the area. Your system is all but guaranteed to hold up to Michigan’s inclement weather and deliver the energy you need to reduce your energy bills.

The company has a 4.67-star rating on the BBB’s website, as well as a 4.5-star rating on Google Reviews. Most customers are over the moon about how communicative the installer is and how willing they are to ensure you have a positive experience.

Strawberry Solar offers a nice array of solar panel brands and battery options, which are ideal in Michigan. Not only does this mean customization options for you, but the batteries deliver effective net metering and might allow you to eliminate your energy bills.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest drawback to Strawberry Solar as an installer is the ten-year workmanship warranty. This is in line with the industry average, but we’d really like to see longer coverage. The above-average snowfall and severe thunderstorms can put solar panels at an added risk of damage and leaking, and a longer warranty term would be ideal for peace of mind.

Strawberry Solar, like most other local companies, only accepts financing options that lead to panel ownership. These are ideal, in our opinion, but the lack of low-cost options does mean limited accessibility.

Solar Products

Strawberry Solar carries and installs panels manufactured by Panasonic, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, Trina and Solaria. These are all tier-one brands that will likely serve you well in Michigan and should supply plenty of energy.

We suggest the Panasonic or Trina panels for maximum durability through Michigan’s intense weather and for the best power production. The Solaria and SolarEdge panels are better budget options, though, and the others are good intermediate brands to choose from.

Below are some other products and services Strawberry Solar installs in Michigan:

• Tesla Powerwall
• LG Chem batteries
• Enphase IQ batteries
• SolarEdge EV chargers
• The Tesla and Enphase solar monitoring apps

Financing Options

Strawberry Solar is one of many local companies that only takes cash and loans for its services. Paying in cash will provide the greatest benefits over time, although loans are more accessible and still yield ample savings and access to the federal credit.

Even though we don’t recommend a lease or PPA, we do wish Strawberry Solar would accept these options for maximum accessibility.

Warranty Information

Strawberry Solar’s panels come with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers the equipment and the panel production for 25 years each. The equipment warranty is in line with the industry standard, and the production warranty lasts about five years longer than the average.

Strawberry Solar also includes a workmanship warranty that lasts for ten years. This is average, but again, we’d prefer a longer labor warranty, as we feel the weather in Michigan puts panels that are installed improperly at an elevated risk. The company’s experience should minimize that risk, but a formal warranty that lasts longer than average would also be nice.

Click here for a free quote from Strawberry Solar.