Solar panels in Aberdeen, SD
Roofs in Aberdeen get about 1,603 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 59% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Aberdeen → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Aberdeen solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average Aberdeen home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,900 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,360 | $6,384 | $536 | 11.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,540 | $9,576 | $804 | 11.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,720 | $12,768 | $1,073 | 11.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,900 | $15,960 | $1,331 | 12 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,171 | $20,748 | $1,432 | 14.5 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Aberdeen gets 1,603 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Aberdeen — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Aberdeen reaches about 1,650 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,603 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,650 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (South Dakota avg) | 12.3¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 16 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Aberdeen actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 39% of Aberdeen's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 11% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | |
| Feb | 88 | |
| Mar | 127 | |
| Apr | 168 | |
| May | 199 | |
| Jun | 213 | |
| Jul | 206 | |
| Aug | 180 | |
| Sep | 141 | |
| Oct | 100 | |
| Nov | 67 | |
| Dec | 53 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Aberdeen produces roughly 4.0× as much in Jun as in Dec. A system sized to cover your annual usage will overproduce badly in summer and fall well short in winter, so how your utility credits exported power matters more here than in most places.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Aberdeen's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Aberdeen compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Aberdeen | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,603 hrs | 278th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 564th most |
| Median roof size | 187 m² | 395th largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.3¢ | 552nd highest |
| Payback | 12 yrs | 493rd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 832 kg/MWh | 114th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Aberdeen:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Aberdeen dates from 2014. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Aberdeen's 1,603 usable sun hours from other states and provinces. Same sunlight, different electricity prices — which is usually what decides whether solar is worth it.
| City | Sun hrs | Rate | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake, VA | 1,604 | 14.2¢ | 10.4 yrs |
| Jacksonville, NC | 1,604 | 13.2¢ | 11.2 yrs |
| Little Rock, AR | 1,605 | 12.4¢ | 11.9 yrs |
| Shreveport, LA | 1,600 | 12.1¢ | 12.2 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of South Dakota → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Aberdeen solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Aberdeen?
About 20 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Aberdeen roofs get 1,603 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 545 kWh annually. A typical Aberdeen roof fits about 66 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Aberdeen?
At 12.3¢/kWh and 1,603 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12 years and returns roughly $17,327 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Aberdeen?
A 8 kW system costs about $22,800 before incentives and $15,960 after the 30% federal tax credit. That works out near $2.85 per watt installed. Roof pitch, shading, electrical panel upgrades and equipment choice move the price most, which is why quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average South Dakota electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.