Solar Panel Calculator for Manchester, NH
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Manchester, NH, using local NREL sunshine data, New Hampshire prices and electricity rates.
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Manchester gets about 4.58 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,259 kWh a year. That ranks #84 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Manchester by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Manchester
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.00 | 616 kWh | $166 |
| Feb | 4.05 | 744 kWh | $200 |
| Mar | 5.00 | 968 kWh | $260 |
| Apr | 5.41 | 992 kWh | $267 |
| May | 5.70 | 1,032 kWh | $278 |
| Jun | 5.73 | 984 kWh | $265 |
| Jul | 6.22 | 1,088 kWh | $293 |
| Aug | 5.69 | 992 kWh | $267 |
| Sep | 5.07 | 880 kWh | $237 |
| Oct | 3.65 | 696 kWh | $187 |
| Nov | 2.97 | 568 kWh | $153 |
| Dec | 2.52 | 512 kWh | $138 |
| Year | 4.58 | 10,072 kWh | $2,710 |
Savings at 26.91¢ per kWh (New Hampshire average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.88 per watt, the New Hampshire average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $11,520 | $1,355 | 8.7 yrs | $20,403 |
| 6 kW | $17,280 | $2,033 | 8.7 yrs | $30,604 |
| 8 kW | $23,040 | $2,710 | 8.7 yrs | $40,805 |
| 10 kW | $28,800 | $3,388 | 8.7 yrs | $51,007 |
| 12 kW | $34,560 | $4,066 | 8.7 yrs | $61,208 |
How many panels you need in Manchester
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.77 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 7.15 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.53 kW | 24 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.30 kW | 36 |
| 2,000 kWh | 19.06 kW | 48 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,259 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Manchester?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $23,040 before incentives, saves about $2,710 in its first year and pays back in about 8.7 years.
How many peak sun hours does Manchester get?
About 4.58 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.5 in Dec to 6.2 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Manchester?
About 1,259 kWh a year, or 105 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