Solar Panel Calculator for Newark, NJ
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Newark, NJ, using local NREL sunshine data, New Jersey prices and electricity rates.
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Newark gets about 4.66 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,306 kWh a year. That ranks #77 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Newark by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Newark
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.85 | 592 kWh | $143 |
| Feb | 3.93 | 736 kWh | $177 |
| Mar | 4.61 | 912 kWh | $220 |
| Apr | 5.07 | 936 kWh | $225 |
| May | 5.79 | 1,080 kWh | $260 |
| Jun | 6.32 | 1,112 kWh | $268 |
| Jul | 6.21 | 1,104 kWh | $266 |
| Aug | 6.01 | 1,080 kWh | $260 |
| Sep | 5.16 | 920 kWh | $222 |
| Oct | 4.22 | 816 kWh | $197 |
| Nov | 3.15 | 616 kWh | $148 |
| Dec | 2.62 | 544 kWh | $131 |
| Year | 4.66 | 10,448 kWh | $2,517 |
Savings at 24.09¢ per kWh (New Jersey average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.60 per watt, the New Jersey average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $1,258 | 8.4 yrs | $19,244 |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $1,888 | 8.4 yrs | $28,866 |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $2,517 | 8.4 yrs | $38,489 |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $3,146 | 8.4 yrs | $48,111 |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $3,775 | 8.4 yrs | $57,733 |
How many panels you need in Newark
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.59 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.89 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.19 kW | 23 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.78 kW | 35 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.38 kW | 46 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,306 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Newark?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,800 before incentives, saves about $2,517 in its first year and pays back in about 8.4 years.
How many peak sun hours does Newark get?
About 4.66 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.6 in Dec to 6.3 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Newark?
About 1,306 kWh a year, or 109 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