Solar Panel Calculator for Edmonton, AB
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Edmonton, AB, using local NREL sunshine data, provincial prices and the local electricity rate.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Edmonton gets about 4.02 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,171 kWh a year. That ranks #107 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Jan.
Sunshine in Edmonton by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Edmonton
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.33 | 288 kWh | C$63 |
| Feb | 2.54 | 496 kWh | C$109 |
| Mar | 4.00 | 832 kWh | C$183 |
| Apr | 5.49 | 1,064 kWh | C$234 |
| May | 6.13 | 1,192 kWh | C$262 |
| Jun | 6.14 | 1,136 kWh | C$250 |
| Jul | 6.32 | 1,192 kWh | C$262 |
| Aug | 5.81 | 1,104 kWh | C$243 |
| Sep | 4.58 | 872 kWh | C$192 |
| Oct | 2.77 | 568 kWh | C$125 |
| Nov | 1.74 | 352 kWh | C$77 |
| Dec | 1.35 | 280 kWh | C$62 |
| Year | 4.02 | 9,368 kWh | C$2,061 |
Savings at 22.00¢ per kWh, with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At C$2.71 per watt, the midpoint of the Alberta range, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | C$10,840 | C$1,030 | 10.8 yrs | C$13,434 |
| 6 kW | C$16,260 | C$1,546 | 10.8 yrs | C$20,151 |
| 8 kW | C$21,680 | C$2,061 | 10.8 yrs | C$26,868 |
| 10 kW | C$27,100 | C$2,576 | 10.8 yrs | C$33,585 |
| 12 kW | C$32,520 | C$3,091 | 10.8 yrs | C$40,302 |
How many panels you need in Edmonton
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 5.12 kW | 13 |
| 750 kWh | 7.69 kW | 20 |
| 1,000 kWh | 10.25 kW | 26 |
| 1,500 kWh | 15.37 kW | 39 |
| 2,000 kWh | 20.50 kW | 52 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,171 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Edmonton?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about C$21,680 before incentives, saves about C$2,061 in its first year and pays back in about 10.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does Edmonton get?
About 4.02 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 1.3 in Jan to 6.3 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Edmonton?
About 1,171 kWh a year, or 98 kWh a month on average.
Are there solar incentives in Canada?
Programs change often and differ by province and utility. Check with your provincial energy department and your utility before you buy.
Sources
- NREL PVWatts V8 API (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses, typical-year weather): https://developer.nlr.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- Hydro-Québec, Comparison of Electricity Prices in Major North American Cities, 2025 (1,000 kWh a month, before tax): https://www.hydroquebec.com/data/documents-donnees/pdf/comparaison-prix-2025-en.pdf
- Green Building Canada, Solar panel costs in Canada by province (2026): https://greenbuildingcanada.ca/solar-panels-cost-canada/