Solar Panel Calculator for Aurora, CO
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Aurora, CO, using local NREL sunshine data, Colorado prices and electricity rates.
Your result
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Aurora gets about 5.74 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,614 kWh a year. That ranks #22 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Aurora by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Aurora
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.82 | 792 kWh | $133 |
| Feb | 4.73 | 872 kWh | $146 |
| Mar | 5.83 | 1,152 kWh | $194 |
| Apr | 6.54 | 1,208 kWh | $203 |
| May | 6.83 | 1,288 kWh | $216 |
| Jun | 7.44 | 1,304 kWh | $219 |
| Jul | 7.15 | 1,296 kWh | $218 |
| Aug | 7.04 | 1,272 kWh | $214 |
| Sep | 6.33 | 1,136 kWh | $191 |
| Oct | 5.19 | 1,000 kWh | $168 |
| Nov | 4.36 | 848 kWh | $142 |
| Dec | 3.61 | 744 kWh | $125 |
| Year | 5.74 | 12,912 kWh | $2,169 |
Savings at 16.80¢ per kWh (Colorado average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.63 per watt, the Colorado average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,520 | $1,085 | 9.9 yrs | $15,029 |
| 6 kW | $15,780 | $1,627 | 9.9 yrs | $22,543 |
| 8 kW | $21,040 | $2,169 | 9.9 yrs | $30,058 |
| 10 kW | $26,300 | $2,712 | 9.9 yrs | $37,572 |
| 12 kW | $31,560 | $3,254 | 9.9 yrs | $45,087 |
How many panels you need in Aurora
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.72 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.58 kW | 14 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.43 kW | 19 |
| 1,500 kWh | 11.15 kW | 28 |
| 2,000 kWh | 14.87 kW | 38 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,614 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Aurora?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $21,040 before incentives, saves about $2,169 in its first year and pays back in about 9.9 years.
How many peak sun hours does Aurora get?
About 5.74 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.6 in Dec to 7.4 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Aurora?
About 1,614 kWh a year, or 134 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