Solar Panel Calculator for Irvine, CA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Irvine, CA, using local NREL sunshine data, California prices and electricity rates.
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Irvine gets about 5.99 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,665 kWh a year. That ranks #17 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Irvine by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Irvine
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.55 | 888 kWh | $289 |
| Feb | 5.00 | 880 kWh | $287 |
| Mar | 5.89 | 1,128 kWh | $368 |
| Apr | 6.80 | 1,248 kWh | $407 |
| May | 6.52 | 1,224 kWh | $399 |
| Jun | 6.95 | 1,248 kWh | $407 |
| Jul | 7.46 | 1,376 kWh | $448 |
| Aug | 7.40 | 1,368 kWh | $446 |
| Sep | 6.59 | 1,184 kWh | $386 |
| Oct | 5.67 | 1,064 kWh | $347 |
| Nov | 4.91 | 912 kWh | $297 |
| Dec | 4.13 | 800 kWh | $261 |
| Year | 5.99 | 13,320 kWh | $4,340 |
Savings at 32.58¢ per kWh (California average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.52 per watt, the California average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,080 | $2,170 | 4.7 yrs | $41,032 |
| 6 kW | $15,120 | $3,255 | 4.7 yrs | $61,549 |
| 8 kW | $20,160 | $4,340 | 4.7 yrs | $82,065 |
| 10 kW | $25,200 | $5,425 | 4.7 yrs | $102,581 |
| 12 kW | $30,240 | $6,509 | 4.7 yrs | $123,097 |
How many panels you need in Irvine
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.60 kW | 10 |
| 750 kWh | 5.41 kW | 14 |
| 1,000 kWh | 7.21 kW | 19 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.81 kW | 28 |
| 2,000 kWh | 14.41 kW | 37 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,665 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Irvine?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,160 before incentives, saves about $4,340 in its first year and pays back in about 4.7 years.
How many peak sun hours does Irvine get?
About 5.99 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.1 in Dec to 7.5 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Irvine?
About 1,665 kWh a year, or 139 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