Solar in Grand Rapids, MI
With Consumers Energy's electricity at about 21.7¢ per kWh and 1,267 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Grand Rapids home today: about a 15.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 15.7 yrsMichigan: 16 yrs
- 25-year net
- $10,207after paying $12,180
- Sun
- 1,267kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 21.7¢21% above U.S. average
A typical Grand Rapids home, by the numbers
| Utility | Consumers Energy |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 649 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.1 kW, about 7 panels, 3,927 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $12,180 |
| First-year savings | $712 |
| Payback | 15.7 years |
| Exported power | 8.5¢/kWh (Consumers Energy) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.3% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Grand Rapids
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
- Single-family detached
- 56%
- Median home value
- $245k
- Median year built
- 1953
- Population
- 198,535
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 71%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 44,229 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Older housing stock. Many homes here were built before 1975. Have the roof and electrical panel checked before signing; a roof or panel upgrade can add thousands. Roof first?
Installers working in Grand Rapids
Public installation records for Michigan don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Michigan.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Grand Rapids
Is solar worth it in Grand Rapids, MI?
For a typical home in Grand Rapids, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 3.1 kW system costs about $12,180 after state incentives, saves about $712 in year one and pays back in about 15.7 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Grand Rapids?
About 1,267 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 2% less than the Michigan average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Grand Rapids?
Most homes in Grand Rapids are served by Consumers Energy, at about 21.7¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Great Lakes Energy Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Grand Rapids?
A fair cash price is around $3.30 per watt before incentives, so about $12,180 for a 3.1 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Wyoming 15.6 yrs
- Walker 15.6 yrs
- Kentwood 15.8 yrs
- Forest Hills 15.8 yrs
- Allendale 15.7 yrs
- Holland 15.6 yrs
- Norton Shores 15.7 yrs
- Muskegon 15.5 yrs
- All of Michigan
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.