Solar Panel Calculator for Birmingham, AL
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Birmingham, AL, using local NREL sunshine data, Alabama prices and electricity rates.
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Birmingham gets about 5.17 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,361 kWh a year. That ranks #52 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Birmingham by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Birmingham
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.57 | 696 kWh | $115 |
| Feb | 3.86 | 664 kWh | $110 |
| Mar | 4.86 | 896 kWh | $148 |
| Apr | 6.21 | 1,072 kWh | $177 |
| May | 6.21 | 1,088 kWh | $180 |
| Jun | 6.61 | 1,096 kWh | $181 |
| Jul | 6.43 | 1,096 kWh | $181 |
| Aug | 6.00 | 1,024 kWh | $169 |
| Sep | 5.64 | 952 kWh | $157 |
| Oct | 5.12 | 912 kWh | $151 |
| Nov | 4.10 | 736 kWh | $122 |
| Dec | 3.41 | 656 kWh | $108 |
| Year | 5.17 | 10,888 kWh | $1,798 |
Savings at 16.51¢ per kWh (Alabama average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $3.72 per watt, the Alabama average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $14,880 | $899 | 17.2 yrs | $6,292 |
| 6 kW | $22,320 | $1,348 | 17.2 yrs | $9,438 |
| 8 kW | $29,760 | $1,798 | 17.2 yrs | $12,584 |
| 10 kW | $37,200 | $2,247 | 17.2 yrs | $15,730 |
| 12 kW | $44,640 | $2,696 | 17.2 yrs | $18,877 |
How many panels you need in Birmingham
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.41 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.61 kW | 17 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.82 kW | 23 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.23 kW | 34 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.63 kW | 45 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,361 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Birmingham?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $29,760 before incentives, saves about $1,798 in its first year and pays back in about 17.2 years.
How many peak sun hours does Birmingham get?
About 5.17 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.4 in Dec to 6.6 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Birmingham?
About 1,361 kWh a year, or 113 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