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Last updated: May 2026
Avg. sun hours/day
4.2 hrs
Avg. electricity rate
$0.15/kWh
Active incentives
4
$1,000 grant per residential solar PV installation, paid by the Maryland Energy Administration after system commissioning. Limited program budget; first-come-first-served.
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) administers the Residential Clean Energy Grant for owner-occupied primary residences with newly-installed solar PV. The flat $1,000 grant is paid post-installation upon submission of proof-of-purchase, interconnection paperwork, and a property assessment. Annual budget is allocated each fiscal year and exhausts well before fiscal-year end; check current availability on the MEA portal. Applications must be filed by the homeowner (or installer on their behalf) within 12 months of system commissioning. Cannot be combined with the MD Resilient Maryland Battery Grant when claiming the same system year (one grant per residence per program year).
Each MWh of solar generation produces 1 SREC, sold on the Maryland market typically at $50–$80 per certificate. A 7 kW residential system generating ~8 MWh/year earns ~$400–$640 annually for the certificate's eligible life.
Maryland operates an active Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) market under the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Customer-generators register with PJM-EIS GATS and earn 1 SREC per MWh produced. Certificates are sold to electricity suppliers obligated to surrender solar carve-out compliance certificates annually. SREC prices fluctuate with supply-demand; 2026 trading range typically $50–$80. Most homeowners contract with an aggregator (SREC Trade, Sol Systems, others) who handles registration, sales, and quarterly payments in exchange for a small percentage. SREC eligibility lasts the system's certified life (typically 15+ years).
Tax credit (since 2023, formerly grant) of 30% of battery cost up to $5,000 for residential storage paired with solar PV.
Maryland's Energy Storage Income Tax Credit, originally a grant program, transitioned to a personal income tax credit administered by the Comptroller of Maryland. Residential battery storage of ≥ 5 kWh paired with solar PV qualifies for up to $5,000 (30% of cost). Filed on Maryland Form 502CR. Annual program cap statewide; certificates issued first-come-first-served. The credit is non-refundable but may be carried forward. Battery must be on the program-approved list (most major brands: Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery, FranklinWH, BYD Battery-Box, sonnen).
1:1 retail-rate net metering for systems ≤ 2 MW. Net excess generation rolls forward; annual reset cashes out unused balance at lower energy-supply-rate.
Maryland net metering operates at 1:1 retail-rate compensation for solar systems up to 2 MW. Surplus generation rolls as kWh credits during the 12-month cycle; at the customer's anniversary unused credits cash out at the energy-supply-rate (lower than full retail). BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, and Potomac Edison all participate. Net metering combines with SREC income — net metering credits offset consumption, SRECs pay for production.
Expired for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Federal Section 25D expired 2026-01-01. Maryland post-ITC economics retain SREC income, the $1,000 MEA grant, the battery tax credit, and net metering — combined post-state payback typically 7–9 years. See /guides/solar-after-itc-expired.
Our calculator uses Maryland's actual sun hours (4.2 hrs/day) and electricity rates.
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