Solar Panel Calculator for Greensboro, NC
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Greensboro, NC, using local NREL sunshine data, North Carolina prices and electricity rates.
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Greensboro gets about 5.09 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,424 kWh a year. That ranks #57 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Greensboro by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Greensboro
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.87 | 800 kWh | $120 |
| Feb | 4.24 | 768 kWh | $115 |
| Mar | 4.97 | 976 kWh | $146 |
| Apr | 6.03 | 1,112 kWh | $166 |
| May | 6.11 | 1,144 kWh | $171 |
| Jun | 6.35 | 1,112 kWh | $166 |
| Jul | 6.11 | 1,088 kWh | $163 |
| Aug | 5.75 | 1,040 kWh | $155 |
| Sep | 5.59 | 992 kWh | $148 |
| Oct | 4.59 | 880 kWh | $131 |
| Nov | 4.06 | 776 kWh | $116 |
| Dec | 3.47 | 712 kWh | $106 |
| Year | 5.09 | 11,392 kWh | $1,702 |
Savings at 14.94¢ per kWh (North Carolina average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.44 per watt, the North Carolina average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,760 | $851 | 11.8 yrs | $10,286 |
| 6 kW | $14,640 | $1,276 | 11.8 yrs | $15,429 |
| 8 kW | $19,520 | $1,702 | 11.8 yrs | $20,571 |
| 10 kW | $24,400 | $2,127 | 11.8 yrs | $25,714 |
| 12 kW | $29,280 | $2,553 | 11.8 yrs | $30,857 |
How many panels you need in Greensboro
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.21 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.32 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.43 kW | 22 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.64 kW | 32 |
| 2,000 kWh | 16.85 kW | 43 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,424 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Greensboro?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $19,520 before incentives, saves about $1,702 in its first year and pays back in about 11.8 years.
How many peak sun hours does Greensboro get?
About 5.09 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.5 in Dec to 6.3 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Greensboro?
About 1,424 kWh a year, or 119 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