Solar Panel Calculator for Albany, NY
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Albany, NY, using local NREL sunshine data, New York prices and electricity rates.
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Albany gets about 4.48 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,225 kWh a year. That ranks #90 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Albany by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Albany
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.67 | 552 kWh | $162 |
| Feb | 3.54 | 664 kWh | $194 |
| Mar | 4.75 | 944 kWh | $276 |
| Apr | 5.29 | 952 kWh | $279 |
| May | 5.60 | 1,000 kWh | $293 |
| Jun | 5.97 | 1,016 kWh | $297 |
| Jul | 6.56 | 1,136 kWh | $332 |
| Aug | 5.96 | 1,040 kWh | $304 |
| Sep | 4.93 | 864 kWh | $253 |
| Oct | 3.70 | 696 kWh | $204 |
| Nov | 2.67 | 512 kWh | $150 |
| Dec | 2.12 | 440 kWh | $129 |
| Year | 4.48 | 9,800 kWh | $2,867 |
Savings at 29.26¢ per kWh (New York average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.77 per watt, the New York average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $11,080 | $1,434 | 7.9 yrs | $22,693 |
| 6 kW | $16,620 | $2,151 | 7.9 yrs | $34,040 |
| 8 kW | $22,160 | $2,867 | 7.9 yrs | $45,386 |
| 10 kW | $27,700 | $3,584 | 7.9 yrs | $56,733 |
| 12 kW | $33,240 | $4,301 | 7.9 yrs | $68,079 |
How many panels you need in Albany
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.90 kW | 13 |
| 750 kWh | 7.35 kW | 19 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.80 kW | 25 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.69 kW | 37 |
| 2,000 kWh | 19.59 kW | 49 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,225 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Albany?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $22,160 before incentives, saves about $2,867 in its first year and pays back in about 7.9 years.
How many peak sun hours does Albany get?
About 4.48 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.1 in Dec to 6.6 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Albany?
About 1,225 kWh a year, or 102 kWh a month on average.
Is there a federal solar tax credit?
Not for homeowners who buy their system. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
Sources
- NREL PVWatts V8 API (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses, typical-year weather): https://developer.nlr.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- EnergySage, Solar panel cost by state (updated November 6, 2026): https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (residential price, Jan–Aug 2026): https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_b