Solar Panel Calculator for Providence, RI
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Providence, RI, using local NREL sunshine data, Rhode Island prices and electricity rates.
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Providence gets about 4.70 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,294 kWh a year. That ranks #76 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Providence by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Providence
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.25 | 664 kWh | $193 |
| Feb | 3.80 | 696 kWh | $202 |
| Mar | 4.80 | 944 kWh | $274 |
| Apr | 5.59 | 1,024 kWh | $297 |
| May | 5.93 | 1,080 kWh | $314 |
| Jun | 5.99 | 1,032 kWh | $300 |
| Jul | 6.30 | 1,104 kWh | $321 |
| Aug | 5.85 | 1,024 kWh | $297 |
| Sep | 5.23 | 912 kWh | $265 |
| Oct | 4.04 | 760 kWh | $221 |
| Nov | 2.95 | 568 kWh | $165 |
| Dec | 2.63 | 528 kWh | $153 |
| Year | 4.70 | 10,352 kWh | $3,007 |
Savings at 29.05¢ per kWh (Rhode Island average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.80 per watt, the Rhode Island average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $11,200 | $1,504 | 7.6 yrs | $24,219 |
| 6 kW | $16,800 | $2,255 | 7.6 yrs | $36,329 |
| 8 kW | $22,400 | $3,007 | 7.6 yrs | $48,439 |
| 10 kW | $28,000 | $3,759 | 7.6 yrs | $60,548 |
| 12 kW | $33,600 | $4,511 | 7.6 yrs | $72,658 |
How many panels you need in Providence
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.64 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.96 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.27 kW | 24 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.91 kW | 35 |
| 2,000 kWh | 18.55 kW | 47 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,294 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Providence?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $22,400 before incentives, saves about $3,007 in its first year and pays back in about 7.6 years.
How many peak sun hours does Providence get?
About 4.70 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.6 in Dec to 6.3 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Providence?
About 1,294 kWh a year, or 108 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