Solar Panel Calculator for El Paso, TX
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in El Paso, TX, using local NREL sunshine data, Texas prices and electricity rates.
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El Paso gets about 6.69 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,843 kWh a year. That ranks #1 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in May and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in El Paso by month
What an 8 kW system makes in El Paso
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5.38 | 1,072 kWh | $172 |
| Feb | 6.33 | 1,128 kWh | $181 |
| Mar | 6.93 | 1,320 kWh | $212 |
| Apr | 7.72 | 1,400 kWh | $224 |
| May | 8.07 | 1,472 kWh | $236 |
| Jun | 7.77 | 1,336 kWh | $214 |
| Jul | 7.00 | 1,248 kWh | $200 |
| Aug | 7.17 | 1,280 kWh | $205 |
| Sep | 6.83 | 1,200 kWh | $192 |
| Oct | 6.37 | 1,200 kWh | $192 |
| Nov | 5.74 | 1,088 kWh | $174 |
| Dec | 4.97 | 1,000 kWh | $160 |
| Year | 6.69 | 14,744 kWh | $2,363 |
Savings at 16.03¢ per kWh (Texas average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.26 per watt, the Texas average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,040 | $1,182 | 7.8 yrs | $18,797 |
| 6 kW | $13,560 | $1,773 | 7.8 yrs | $28,195 |
| 8 kW | $18,080 | $2,363 | 7.8 yrs | $37,594 |
| 10 kW | $22,600 | $2,954 | 7.8 yrs | $46,992 |
| 12 kW | $27,120 | $3,545 | 7.8 yrs | $56,390 |
How many panels you need in El Paso
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.26 kW | 9 |
| 750 kWh | 4.88 kW | 13 |
| 1,000 kWh | 6.51 kW | 17 |
| 1,500 kWh | 9.77 kW | 25 |
| 2,000 kWh | 13.02 kW | 33 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,843 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in El Paso?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,080 before incentives, saves about $2,363 in its first year and pays back in about 7.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does El Paso get?
About 6.69 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 5.0 in Dec to 8.1 in May, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in El Paso?
About 1,843 kWh a year, or 154 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