Solar panels in Delaware: cost, payback and the rules that matter
Delaware homes pay 17.9¢ per kWh for electricity, the 19th highest of 51, up 6.6% in a year. A typical home needs 20 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 12.7 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in Delaware
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,320 kWh a year in Wilmington. Other towns differ a little; the planner works it out for any address.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 17.9¢ in Delaware today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Most Delaware utilities still credit exported solar close to the retail rate, but rules differ by utility and change often.
4. Incentives. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (IRC §25D) ended for systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, P.L. We don't know of a statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Delaware.
Delaware's homes
402,038 households; 73% own their home. 266,645 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1987; 37.9% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific Delaware home
Solar in Wilmington, Delaware’s largest city
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 4.6 | 1,320 | 36° | 8.4 | 12.7 yrs | 20.6 yrs | 11.8 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the Delaware average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect Delaware
All changes and deadlines →- Federal: In-service deadline for the lease/PPA solar credit · Tax credits
- Federal: National data: solar prices fell to a median $3.60 per watt · Prices
- Federal: Construction-start deadline passed for the lease/PPA credit · Tax credits
- Federal: The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone · Tax credits
Questions about solar in Delaware
How much do solar panels cost in Delaware?
A 8.4 kW system, the size the average Delaware home needs, costs about $21,000 to $31,500 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in Delaware?
In the median Delaware city, solar pays for itself in about 12.7 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 20.6 yrs if it earns about 30% of retail. Most utilities here still offer some form of net metering; check yours.
Is there a solar tax credit in Delaware?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Delaware; utilities and cities sometimes offer rebates. The 30% federal credit ended for homeowner systems installed after December 31, 2025.
How many solar panels does a Delaware home need?
About 20 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 911 kWh a month. In Wilmington, 1 kW of panels makes about 1,320 kWh a year.