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Residential PV System Cost
The cost for an all inclusive, installed solar electric system ranges between $7 and $9
per watt of capacity.
The cost of a system depends on your homes orientation to the sun (south is optimal),
the average number of sun hours per day in your geographical area, and how much of
your home's electric power consumption you want to replace.
You can quickly determine the cost to replace all or part of your home's annual power
consumption with the information from the two charts below.
First, find an electric bill and look at the meter reading section to see how many kWh
(kilowatt hours) of electricity your home consumed that month.
Next, look at the Average Sun Hours Per Day chart below and pick out a city closest
to where you live. Then jot down the number in the Avg column next to the city's name.
Once you know your monthly kWh usage and average sun hours per day you need
only to look at the System Sizing Chart below and find out where the two numbers
intersect to determine the size of the system in kW.
For example, my home in Boston consumes 700 kWh per month and enjoys a stingy
3.84 average sun hours per day - 4 hours rounded off. At the intersection of 700kw
and 4 hours on the second chart below I see I need a 7.1 kW system, or 7,100 watts.
Using an average installed cost of $8 per watt, the estimated cost would be around
$57,000 ($8 x 7,100 watts) to replace 100% of my homes energy needs.
Residential PV solar systems qualify for a 30% Federal energy tax credit and any other
state sponsored rebates you can lay your hands on.
per watt of capacity.
The cost of a system depends on your homes orientation to the sun (south is optimal),
the average number of sun hours per day in your geographical area, and how much of
your home's electric power consumption you want to replace.
You can quickly determine the cost to replace all or part of your home's annual power
consumption with the information from the two charts below.
First, find an electric bill and look at the meter reading section to see how many kWh
(kilowatt hours) of electricity your home consumed that month.
Next, look at the Average Sun Hours Per Day chart below and pick out a city closest
to where you live. Then jot down the number in the Avg column next to the city's name.
Once you know your monthly kWh usage and average sun hours per day you need
only to look at the System Sizing Chart below and find out where the two numbers
intersect to determine the size of the system in kW.
For example, my home in Boston consumes 700 kWh per month and enjoys a stingy
3.84 average sun hours per day - 4 hours rounded off. At the intersection of 700kw
and 4 hours on the second chart below I see I need a 7.1 kW system, or 7,100 watts.
Using an average installed cost of $8 per watt, the estimated cost would be around
$57,000 ($8 x 7,100 watts) to replace 100% of my homes energy needs.
Residential PV solar systems qualify for a 30% Federal energy tax credit and any other
state sponsored rebates you can lay your hands on.
Purchasing a residential PV
system is like paying for many
years of electricity use in advance.
When you purchase electricity
from your utility, you are paying
the cost of having power available
when you want it and use it.
This cost can increase in the
future as fuel costs rise or power
becomes scarce.
Because the fuel (sunlight) is free
and there is little system
maintenance required, you know
exactly what the cost of power
you produce will be.
system is like paying for many
years of electricity use in advance.
When you purchase electricity
from your utility, you are paying
the cost of having power available
when you want it and use it.
This cost can increase in the
future as fuel costs rise or power
becomes scarce.
Because the fuel (sunlight) is free
and there is little system
maintenance required, you know
exactly what the cost of power
you produce will be.
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| System Sizing Chart Average Sun Hours Per Day |
| Average Sun Hours Per Day |
