Solar Panel Calculator for Virginia Beach, VA
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Virginia Beach, VA, using local NREL sunshine data, Virginia prices and electricity rates.
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Virginia Beach gets about 5.07 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,441 kWh a year. That ranks #58 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Virginia Beach by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Virginia Beach
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.45 | 712 kWh | $121 |
| Feb | 4.20 | 776 kWh | $132 |
| Mar | 5.10 | 1,016 kWh | $172 |
| Apr | 6.16 | 1,160 kWh | $197 |
| May | 6.44 | 1,216 kWh | $206 |
| Jun | 6.50 | 1,160 kWh | $197 |
| Jul | 6.45 | 1,176 kWh | $199 |
| Aug | 5.92 | 1,096 kWh | $186 |
| Sep | 5.26 | 968 kWh | $164 |
| Oct | 4.55 | 888 kWh | $151 |
| Nov | 3.78 | 744 kWh | $126 |
| Dec | 3.07 | 624 kWh | $106 |
| Year | 5.07 | 11,528 kWh | $1,954 |
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 | $977 | 10.7 yrs | $12,774 |
| 6 kW | $15,360 | $1,465 | 10.7 yrs | $19,161 |
| 8 kW | $20,480 | $1,954 | 10.7 yrs | $25,548 |
| 10 kW | $25,600 | $2,442 | 10.7 yrs | $31,935 |
| 12 kW | $30,720 | $2,931 | 10.7 yrs | $38,322 |
How many panels you need in Virginia Beach
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.16 kW | 11 |
| 750 kWh | 6.25 kW | 16 |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.33 kW | 21 |
| 1,500 kWh | 12.49 kW | 32 |
| 2,000 kWh | 16.66 kW | 42 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,441 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Virginia Beach?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $20,480 before incentives, saves about $1,954 in its first year and pays back in about 10.7 years.
How many peak sun hours does Virginia Beach get?
About 5.07 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 3.1 in Dec to 6.5 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Virginia Beach?
About 1,441 kWh a year, or 120 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