Solar Panel Calculator for Vancouver, BC
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Vancouver, BC, using local NREL sunshine data, provincial prices and the local electricity rate.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Vancouver gets about 3.67 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,011 kWh a year. That ranks #110 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jul and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Vancouver by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Vancouver
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.19 | 240 kWh | C$30 |
| Feb | 2.31 | 416 kWh | C$52 |
| Mar | 3.18 | 624 kWh | C$79 |
| Apr | 4.54 | 832 kWh | C$105 |
| May | 5.54 | 1,032 kWh | C$130 |
| Jun | 5.68 | 1,000 kWh | C$126 |
| Jul | 6.21 | 1,112 kWh | C$140 |
| Aug | 5.83 | 1,048 kWh | C$132 |
| Sep | 4.31 | 768 kWh | C$97 |
| Oct | 2.69 | 512 kWh | C$65 |
| Nov | 1.49 | 288 kWh | C$36 |
| Dec | 1.05 | 208 kWh | C$26 |
| Year | 3.67 | 8,088 kWh | C$1,019 |
Savings at 12.60¢ per kWh, with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At C$2.94 per watt, the midpoint of the British Columbia range, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | C$11,760 | C$510 | 24.5 yrs | C$243 |
| 6 kW | C$17,640 | C$764 | 24.5 yrs | C$364 |
| 8 kW | C$23,520 | C$1,019 | 24.5 yrs | C$486 |
| 10 kW | C$29,400 | C$1,274 | 24.5 yrs | C$607 |
| 12 kW | C$35,280 | C$1,529 | 24.5 yrs | C$728 |
How many panels you need in Vancouver
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 5.93 kW | 15 |
| 750 kWh | 8.90 kW | 23 |
| 1,000 kWh | 11.87 kW | 30 |
| 1,500 kWh | 17.80 kW | 45 |
| 2,000 kWh | 23.74 kW | 60 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,011 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Vancouver?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about C$23,520 before incentives, saves about C$1,019 in its first year and pays back in about 24.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Vancouver get?
About 3.67 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 1.1 in Dec to 6.2 in Jul, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Vancouver?
About 1,011 kWh a year, or 84 kWh a month on average.
Are there solar incentives in Canada?
Programs change often and differ by province and utility. Check with your provincial energy department and your utility before you buy.
Sources
- NREL PVWatts V8 API (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses, typical-year weather): https://developer.nlr.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- Hydro-Québec, Comparison of Electricity Prices in Major North American Cities, 2025 (1,000 kWh a month, before tax): https://www.hydroquebec.com/data/documents-donnees/pdf/comparaison-prix-2025-en.pdf
- Green Building Canada, Solar panel costs in Canada by province (2026): https://greenbuildingcanada.ca/solar-panels-cost-canada/