Solar Savings Calculator
Estimate annual and 10-year savings from a solar panel system based on size, sun hours, and electricity rate.
Solar Savings Calculator
Estimate annual and 10-year savings from a solar panel system based on size, sun hours, and electricity rate.
Real-World Examples
6 kW system, 5 sun hours, $0.15/kWh
$1,642.50/year, $16,425 over 10 years
10 kW system, 4 sun hours, $0.20/kWh
$2,920/year, $29,200 over 10 years
4 kW system, 3 sun hours, $0.18/kWh
$788.40/year, $7,884 over 10 years
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using total daylight hours instead of peak sun hours
Fix: Peak sun hours refer to equivalent hours of full sunlight (1000 W/m²), not total daylight. A sunny location might have 12 hours of daylight but only 5-6 peak sun hours. Use peak sun hour data for your area.
Ignoring panel degradation over time
Fix: Solar panels lose about 0.5% efficiency per year. The 10-year figure here assumes constant output, so actual 10-year savings will be slightly lower. For precision, reduce years 2-10 by ~0.5% each.
Forgetting about net metering limits and fixed charges
Fix: Many utilities cap how much excess solar they credit, and some charge fixed monthly fees regardless of usage. Your actual savings depend on your utility's net metering policy.