Solar panels in Abilene, TX
Roofs in Abilene get about 1,885 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 88% 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 Abilene → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Abilene solar system costs
A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Abilene home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,895 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,127 | $6,384 | $774 | 8.2 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,691 | $9,576 | $1,161 | 8.2 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,254 | $12,768 | $1,548 | 8.2 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,818 | $15,960 | $1,707 | 9.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 16,663 | $20,748 | $1,852 | 11.2 yrs |
How we worked this out for Abilene
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Abilene rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,885 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
641 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 641 kWh per panel |
17 panels |
| 3 | System size 17 panels × 400W |
6.80 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 6.80 kW × 1,885 hrs × 0.85 |
10,895 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 6,800 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$13,566 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.1¢ + 7,115 kWh exported × 15.1¢ |
$1,634/yr |
| 7 | Payback $13,566 ÷ $1,634 per year |
8.3 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in Abilene is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,115 kWh is exported and credited one-for-one under net metering. Because exports here are credited at or near retail, that split changes the payback very little — 8.2 years against the 8.3 we show. In places where exports pay a fraction of retail the same split moves payback by years, which is why we model it explicitly rather than assuming.
Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 15.1¢/kWh electricity. Change any of those and every figure above moves — which is exactly why a single national "solar costs X" number is misleading.
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 Abilene gets 1,885 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Abilene — 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 Abilene reaches about 1,927 hours, roughly 2% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,885 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,927 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Texas avg) | 15.1¢/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 | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2015 |
When Abilene actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 33% of Abilene's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 16% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 101 | |
| Feb | 126 | |
| Mar | 156 | |
| Apr | 186 | |
| May | 204 | |
| Jun | 211 | |
| Jul | 207 | |
| Aug | 192 | |
| Sep | 167 | |
| Oct | 135 | |
| Nov | 107 | |
| Dec | 94 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.2× between Jun and Dec. Abilene is close enough to the equator that seasonal variation is mild, which makes sizing a system considerably more predictable.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Abilene's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Abilene compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Abilene | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,885 hrs | 92nd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 2% | 703rd most |
| Median roof size | 120 m² | 652nd largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.1¢ | 490th highest |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | 143rd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 639 kg/MWh | 398th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Abilene:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 2% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Abilene — better than all but 85 of the 788 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- Sunnier than the rest of Texas. Abilene roofs get 7% more usable sunlight than the typical Texas city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Abilene dates from 2015. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Abilene's 1,885 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanside, CA | 1,886 | 31.2¢ | 8.4 yrs |
| Stockton, CA | 1,879 | 31.2¢ | 8.4 yrs |
| San Diego, CA | 1,894 | 31.2¢ | 8.3 yrs |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1,875 | 31.2¢ | 8.4 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Texas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Abilene solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Abilene?
About 17 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Abilene roofs get 1,885 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 641 kWh annually. A typical Abilene roof fits about 46 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Abilene?
At 15.1¢/kWh and 1,885 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.3 years and returns roughly $27,294 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Abilene?
A 6.8 kW system costs about $19,380 before incentives and $13,566 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 Texas 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.