Solar Panel Calculator for Fargo, ND
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Fargo, ND, using local NREL sunshine data, North Dakota prices and electricity rates.
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Fargo gets about 4.45 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,294 kWh a year. That ranks #92 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Fargo by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Fargo
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.35 | 520 kWh | $65 |
| Feb | 3.15 | 616 kWh | $77 |
| Mar | 4.62 | 960 kWh | $120 |
| Apr | 5.71 | 1,096 kWh | $137 |
| May | 5.55 | 1,064 kWh | $133 |
| Jun | 6.41 | 1,176 kWh | $147 |
| Jul | 6.94 | 1,280 kWh | $159 |
| Aug | 6.21 | 1,160 kWh | $145 |
| Sep | 4.56 | 848 kWh | $106 |
| Oct | 3.51 | 712 kWh | $89 |
| Nov | 2.40 | 488 kWh | $61 |
| Dec | 2.00 | 432 kWh | $54 |
| Year | 4.45 | 10,352 kWh | $1,290 |
Savings at 12.46¢ per kWh (North Dakota average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the North Dakota average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $645 | 16.8 yrs | $4,792 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $967 | 16.8 yrs | $7,188 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $1,290 | 16.8 yrs | $9,584 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $1,612 | 16.8 yrs | $11,980 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $1,935 | 16.8 yrs | $14,376 |
How many panels you need in Fargo
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.64 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.96 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.27 kW | 24 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.91 kW | 35 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.55 kW | 47 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,294 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Fargo?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $1,290 in its first year and pays back in about 16.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does Fargo get?
About 4.45 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.0 in Dec to 6.9 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Fargo?
About 1,294 kWh a year, or 108 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