Solar Panel Calculator for Charleston, WV
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Charleston, WV, using local NREL sunshine data, West Virginia prices and electricity rates.
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Charleston gets about 4.57 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,219 kWh a year. That ranks #85 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Jan.
Sunshine in Charleston by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Charleston
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.60 | 528 kWh | $82 |
| Feb | 3.38 | 608 kWh | $95 |
| Mar | 4.04 | 768 kWh | $120 |
| Apr | 5.26 | 920 kWh | $143 |
| May | 5.67 | 1,008 kWh | $157 |
| Jun | 6.54 | 1,088 kWh | $170 |
| Jul | 6.08 | 1,032 kWh | $161 |
| Aug | 5.92 | 1,024 kWh | $160 |
| Sep | 5.10 | 872 kWh | $136 |
| Oct | 4.14 | 752 kWh | $117 |
| Nov | 3.48 | 640 kWh | $100 |
| Dec | 2.62 | 520 kWh | $81 |
| Year | 4.57 | 9,752 kWh | $1,519 |
Savings at 15.58¢ per kWh (West Virginia average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the West Virginia average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $760 | 14.1 yrs | $7,495 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $1,140 | 14.1 yrs | $11,243 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $1,519 | 14.1 yrs | $14,990 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $1,899 | 14.1 yrs | $18,738 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $2,279 | 14.1 yrs | $22,485 |
How many panels you need in Charleston
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.92 kW | 13 |
| 750 kWh | 7.38 kW | 19 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.84 kW | 25 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.77 kW | 37 |
| 2,000 kWh | 19.69 kW | 50 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,219 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Charleston?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $1,519 in its first year and pays back in about 14.1 years.
How many peak sun hours does Charleston get?
About 4.57 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.6 in Jan to 6.5 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Charleston?
About 1,219 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