Solar Panels in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco gets 5 peak sun hours/day with electricity at $0.3/kWh. Calculate panels needed, cost after 30% ITC, and payback period.
Sun Hours
5/day
Rate
$0.3/kWh
Cost/Watt
$3.1
Net Metering
NEM 3.0
☀️ San Francisco Solar Calculator
5,000 kWh
Panels
105
System Size
42.0 kW
Annual kWh
61,320
Net Cost
$91,140
Savings/yr
$18,396
Payback
5.0 yrs
25-Yr Savings
$368,760
System Sizes in San Francisco
| Monthly kWh | Panels | kW | Net Cost | Savings/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 11 | 4.4 | $9,548 | $1,927 | 5.0 yrs |
| 750 | 16 | 6.4 | $13,888 | $2,803 | 5.0 yrs |
| 1,000 | 21 | 8.4 | $18,228 | $3,679 | 5.0 yrs |
| 1,500 | 32 | 12.8 | $27,776 | $5,606 | 5.0 yrs |
| 2,000 | 42 | 16.8 | $36,456 | $7,358 | 5.0 yrs |
| 2,500 | 53 | 21.2 | $46,004 | $9,286 | 5.0 yrs |
Solar Guide for San Francisco (2026)
San Francisco at latitude 37.77°N receives 5 peak sun hours/day. At $0.3/kWh, solar offers exceptional long-term savings.
Incentives: Federal ITC + GoSolarSF rebate + SGIP.
NEC Solar Requirements
All installations must comply with NEC Article 690: rapid shutdown (690.12), conductor sizing at 125% (690.8), and proper grounding per NEC 250. Use our Solar Wire Size Calculator for conductor sizing.
Disclaimer: Estimates only. Consult a licensed solar installer. NEC Article 690 compliance required.
Frequently Asked Questions
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3.6 hrs · $0.225/kWh
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See also: Solar in California