Solar Panel Calculator for Albuquerque, NM
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Albuquerque, NM, using local NREL sunshine data, New Mexico prices and electricity rates.
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Albuquerque gets about 6.41 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,774 kWh a year. That ranks #10 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Albuquerque by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Albuquerque
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.80 | 976 kWh | $150 |
| Feb | 5.56 | 1,000 kWh | $153 |
| Mar | 6.66 | 1,280 kWh | $196 |
| Apr | 7.42 | 1,360 kWh | $209 |
| May | 7.75 | 1,440 kWh | $221 |
| Jun | 8.07 | 1,384 kWh | $212 |
| Jul | 7.32 | 1,304 kWh | $200 |
| Aug | 7.31 | 1,288 kWh | $198 |
| Sep | 6.47 | 1,144 kWh | $175 |
| Oct | 6.02 | 1,144 kWh | $175 |
| Nov | 5.19 | 1,000 kWh | $153 |
| Dec | 4.32 | 880 kWh | $135 |
| Year | 6.41 | 14,192 kWh | $2,177 |
Savings at 15.34¢ per kWh (New Mexico average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.49 per watt, the New Mexico average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,960 | $1,089 | 9.3 yrs | $15,681 |
| 6 kW | $14,940 | $1,633 | 9.3 yrs | $23,522 |
| 8 kW | $19,920 | $2,177 | 9.3 yrs | $31,363 |
| 10 kW | $24,900 | $2,721 | 9.3 yrs | $39,203 |
| 12 kW | $29,880 | $3,266 | 9.3 yrs | $47,044 |
How many panels you need in Albuquerque
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.38 kW | 9 |
| 750 kWh | 5.07 kW | 13 |
| 1,000 kWh | 6.76 kW | 17 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.15 kW | 26 |
| 2,000 kWh | 13.53 kW | 34 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,774 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Albuquerque?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $19,920 before incentives, saves about $2,177 in its first year and pays back in about 9.3 years.
How many peak sun hours does Albuquerque get?
About 6.41 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.3 in Dec to 8.1 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Albuquerque?
About 1,774 kWh a year, or 148 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