Solar Panel Calculator for Saint Paul, MN
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Saint Paul, MN, using local NREL sunshine data, Minnesota prices and electricity rates.
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Saint Paul gets about 4.59 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,335 kWh a year. That ranks #81 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Saint Paul by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Saint Paul
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.86 | 632 kWh | $104 |
| Feb | 3.58 | 704 kWh | $116 |
| Mar | 4.69 | 968 kWh | $159 |
| Apr | 5.48 | 1,048 kWh | $172 |
| May | 5.91 | 1,136 kWh | $187 |
| Jun | 6.02 | 1,088 kWh | $179 |
| Jul | 6.74 | 1,248 kWh | $205 |
| Aug | 6.07 | 1,144 kWh | $188 |
| Sep | 5.08 | 936 kWh | $154 |
| Oct | 4.00 | 808 kWh | $133 |
| Nov | 2.59 | 520 kWh | $85 |
| Dec | 2.09 | 456 kWh | $75 |
| Year | 4.59 | 10,680 kWh | $1,756 |
Savings at 16.44¢ per kWh (Minnesota average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $3.23 per watt, the Minnesota average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $12,920 | $878 | 15.2 yrs | $7,760 |
| 6 kW | $19,380 | $1,317 | 15.2 yrs | $11,640 |
| 8 kW | $25,840 | $1,756 | 15.2 yrs | $15,519 |
| 10 kW | $32,300 | $2,195 | 15.2 yrs | $19,399 |
| 12 kW | $38,760 | $2,634 | 15.2 yrs | $23,279 |
How many panels you need in Saint Paul
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.49 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 6.74 kW | 17 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.99 kW | 23 |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.48 kW | 34 |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.98 kW | 45 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,335 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Saint Paul?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $25,840 before incentives, saves about $1,756 in its first year and pays back in about 15.2 years.
How many peak sun hours does Saint Paul get?
About 4.59 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.1 in Dec to 6.7 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Saint Paul?
About 1,335 kWh a year, or 111 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