How much does a solar system cost per watt?

As of publishing, the average cost per watt is $2.84. Most solar companies set the price according to the solar system's wattage. A solar installation's “cost per watt” is a little like the “price per square foot” when you buy a house. It helps compare the value of solar energy systems in different sizes.

How do you calculate solar cost per watt?

Calculating solar price per watt is pretty simple. Simply divide the cost of the system (in dollars) by the size of the system (in watts). PPW = System cost / System wattage Now, solar systems are typically sized in kilowatts (kW), so you’ll have to multiply by 1,000 to convert to watts.

Why does a solar system cost a lower price per watt?

In general, larger solar systems have a lower price per watt. That’s because soft costs (permitting, installation, inspection, customer acquisition, and overhead) are roughly the same from project to project and don’t add capacity to the system. Here are some other factors that influence the price per watt of a solar system.

How much does a solar system save on energy costs?

On average, homeowners with a complete solar system save $41,000 to $62,000 on total avoided energy costs over 25 years. It all depends on what your local utility charges for electricity, according to Robert Flores, a solar expert at The University of California, Irvine’s Clean Energy Institute.

How much does a home solar system cost?

According to studies by the U.S. Department of Energy, the all-in cost of a home solar panel system is between $2.74 to $3.30 per watt. 1,2,12 This figure includes the solar panels, the installation, and other expenses. Using these numbers, an average-sized 8-kilowatt residential solar system would cost between $21,900 – $26,400.

How much electricity does a solar system generate a year?

Let's put some real numbers to this. An estimated 10,512 kilowatt-hours (kWh) can be generated annually by a system with 18 solar panels, each rated at 400 watts, assuming an average of four peak sun hours daily. That's enough electricity to power most of what happens in your home for an entire year.