Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland goes solar with SunPower®

With solar energy, it's a good morning, Baltimore

The state of solar in Baltimore

Roughly 84% of the rooftops in Baltimore are solar viable,* and the city sees around 213 sunny days per year on average.* A point that's sure to help the city reach its goal of reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions to 30% below their 2007 levels by 2023 and powering 20% of the city with clean energy by 2022.*


How much solar energy does Baltimore produce?

Baltimore ranks as one of America's top solar cities, ranking 30th in the nation for total installed solar capacity at 15.31 MW as of December 2019 between 8,400 installations.* The city also ranks 38th in the nation for per capita solar capacity at 25.42 watts per person.

The Maryland Energy Administration has invested heavily in solar energy in the area in recent years with Residential Clean Energy Grants, Commercial Renewable Energy Grants, and Clean Energy Production Tax Credits. They have contributed to 162 projects in the city alone and 880 in Baltimore County.

What are the advantages of going solar in Baltimore?

While electricity rates in Baltimore typically hoover within 7.5% of the national average, you still stand to see significant savings with a solar PV system.

As of January 2021, grid-supplied electricity in Baltimore sat at 12.3 cents per kWh. On the other hand, according to a webinar from the University of Maryland College of Agricultural and Natural Resources, solar PV systems have a levelized cost of 4.65 cents per kWh after grants and tax incentives, equating to between $17,500 and $52,500 in savings over 25 years depending on system size and type. At this cost, the average solar PV system in Baltimore may pay for itself within 5-7 years.

Clearly, going solar has rewarding long-term financial benefits, but it also positively impacts our environment. Our dependency on fossil fuels is no longer viable. They contaminate our air supply and contribute to climate change. Switching to clean energy is the best way to reduce your carbon footprint.

How much does solar cost in Baltimore?

The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same city, due to a range of factors. These include:

  • Available unshaded roof space

  • Household's energy needs

  • Local weather and HOA

  • Quality of the solar system

To help you understand the price of going solar in your area, we've analyzed SunPower price quotes, as well as quotes gathered by third-party sources for thousands of homeowners across the country. * In Baltimore, we found that the average cost of owning a 5 kW solar system is $14,200 or in other words, $2.84 per watt. And that's before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.

Many incentives and tax breaks are available to help Maryland residents reduce the initial costs of going solar. There's the 26% federal tax credit* as well as the Maryland Residential Clean Energy Grant Program, which offers a $1,000 rebate for solar PV systems with a minimum capacity of 1 kW.*

In Baltimore, you can also take advantage of the Property Tax Credit for Solar and Geothermal Devices, which offers a credit of 50% of eligible system installation costs up to $5,000.*

Beyond tax credits and grants, you can offset any energy usage from the grid through a process known as net metering. With net metering, your electricity bill is based on the net amount of energy you use during a billing period. If you send more energy to the grid than you use, you're given a credit to use in times of low solar energy production.*

You can also earn a Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) for every MWh of power your system produces. The value of an SREC varies, but for the last several months, it has hovered around $80.*

What is the best way to go solar in Baltimore?

The best way to determine the ideal solar system for your property is to contact a professional, experienced solar energy company. Not every solar system offers the same benefits, durability, or energy efficiency, and the overall quality of your system depends heavily on the solar provider you choose.

A reputable solar company can help you choose the perfect solar + storage system for your home through in-person or online consultations and custom solar designs. During the consultation, and before signing a contract, you should receive a custom system design, monthly electric bill savings estimate, price quote, and an overview of available local incentives and tax credits that you may qualify for.

Request a free consultation with one of our solar experts today to start the process of switching your Baltimore property to clean, solar energy. We'll contact you to schedule a good time for the consultation. You're also welcome to call us directly at (800) 786-7693.

Start saving with solar! Schedule your online appointment with SunPower.

By clicking the “Get Started” button below, I agree to the Terms of Use, including arbitration provision and class action waiver therein, acknowledge the Privacy Policy, and consent to receive automated marketing calls/texts from or on behalf of SunPower and/or its authorized dealers regarding SunPower products and services at the telephone number provided above. My consent to automated marketing calls/texts is not a condition of any purchase; I can revoke this consent at any time by texting STOP to (512) 877-7393.