Solar Panel Calculator for Richmond, VA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Richmond, VA, using local NREL sunshine data, Virginia prices and electricity rates.
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Richmond gets about 5.01 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,369 kWh a year. That ranks #61 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Richmond by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Richmond
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.32 | 680 kWh | $115 |
| Feb | 4.15 | 744 kWh | $126 |
| Mar | 5.00 | 960 kWh | $163 |
| Apr | 5.92 | 1,072 kWh | $182 |
| May | 6.10 | 1,096 kWh | $186 |
| Jun | 6.63 | 1,136 kWh | $193 |
| Jul | 6.51 | 1,144 kWh | $194 |
| Aug | 5.99 | 1,056 kWh | $179 |
| Sep | 4.95 | 856 kWh | $145 |
| Oct | 4.53 | 856 kWh | $145 |
| Nov | 3.89 | 736 kWh | $125 |
| Dec | 3.09 | 624 kWh | $106 |
| Year | 5.01 | 10,952 kWh | $1,856 |
Savings at 16.95¢ per kWh (Virginia average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.56 per watt, the Virginia average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,240 | $928 | 11.3 yrs | $11,624 |
| 6 kW | $15,360 | $1,392 | 11.3 yrs | $17,436 |
| 8 kW | $20,480 | $1,856 | 11.3 yrs | $23,248 |
| 10 kW | $25,600 | $2,320 | 11.3 yrs | $29,061 |
| 12 kW | $30,720 | $2,785 | 11.3 yrs | $34,873 |
How many panels you need in Richmond
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.38 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.57 kW | 17 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.77 kW | 22 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.15 kW | 33 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.53 kW | 44 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,369 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Richmond?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,480 before incentives, saves about $1,856 in its first year and pays back in about 11.3 years.
How many peak sun hours does Richmond get?
About 5.01 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.1 in Dec to 6.6 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Richmond?
About 1,369 kWh a year, or 114 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