Solar Panel Calculator for Anchorage, AK
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Anchorage, AK, using local NREL sunshine data, Alaska prices and electricity rates.
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Anchorage gets about 3.05 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 904 kWh a year. That ranks #111 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Anchorage by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Anchorage
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.66 | 128 kWh | $35 |
| Feb | 1.47 | 288 kWh | $79 |
| Mar | 3.51 | 760 kWh | $208 |
| Apr | 5.22 | 1,048 kWh | $286 |
| May | 5.47 | 1,088 kWh | $297 |
| Jun | 5.50 | 1,032 kWh | $282 |
| Jul | 4.88 | 936 kWh | $256 |
| Aug | 3.94 | 776 kWh | $212 |
| Sep | 2.85 | 552 kWh | $151 |
| Oct | 1.81 | 376 kWh | $103 |
| Nov | 0.88 | 176 kWh | $48 |
| Dec | 0.44 | 80 kWh | $22 |
| Year | 3.05 | 7,232 kWh | $1,976 |
Savings at 27.32¢ per kWh (Alaska average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the Alaska average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $988 | 10.8 yrs | $12,871 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $1,482 | 10.8 yrs | $19,306 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $1,976 | 10.8 yrs | $25,741 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $2,470 | 10.8 yrs | $32,177 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $2,964 | 10.8 yrs | $38,612 |
How many panels you need in Anchorage
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 6.64 kW | 17 |
| 750 kWh | 9.96 kW | 25 |
| 1,000 kWh | 13.27 kW | 34 |
| 1,500 kWh | 19.91 kW | 50 |
| 2,000 kWh | 26.55 kW | 67 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 904 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Anchorage?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $1,976 in its first year and pays back in about 10.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does Anchorage get?
About 3.05 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 0.4 in Dec to 5.5 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Anchorage?
About 904 kWh a year, or 75 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