Solar Panel Calculator for Lincoln, NE
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Lincoln, NE, using local NREL sunshine data, Nebraska prices and electricity rates.
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Lincoln gets about 5.07 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,451 kWh a year. That ranks #59 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Lincoln by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Lincoln
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.12 | 664 kWh | $86 |
| Feb | 4.08 | 768 kWh | $99 |
| Mar | 4.93 | 1,008 kWh | $130 |
| Apr | 5.75 | 1,088 kWh | $141 |
| May | 6.41 | 1,216 kWh | $157 |
| Jun | 6.82 | 1,224 kWh | $158 |
| Jul | 6.76 | 1,232 kWh | $159 |
| Aug | 6.02 | 1,096 kWh | $142 |
| Sep | 5.76 | 1,056 kWh | $136 |
| Oct | 4.57 | 912 kWh | $118 |
| Nov | 3.67 | 728 kWh | $94 |
| Dec | 2.96 | 624 kWh | $81 |
| Year | 5.07 | 11,608 kWh | $1,500 |
Savings at 12.92¢ per kWh (Nebraska average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the Nebraska average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $750 | 14.3 yrs | $7,264 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $1,125 | 14.3 yrs | $10,896 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $1,500 | 14.3 yrs | $14,528 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $1,875 | 14.3 yrs | $18,160 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $2,250 | 14.3 yrs | $21,792 |
How many panels you need in Lincoln
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.14 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.20 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.27 kW | 21 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.41 kW | 32 |
| 2,000 kWh | 16.54 kW | 42 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,451 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Lincoln?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $1,500 in its first year and pays back in about 14.3 years.
How many peak sun hours does Lincoln get?
About 5.07 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.0 in Dec to 6.8 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Lincoln?
About 1,451 kWh a year, or 121 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