Solar panels in Anchorage, AK
Roofs in Anchorage get about 1,024 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 90% 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 Anchorage → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Anchorage solar system costs
A 32-panel system (12.8 kW) is about right for an average Anchorage home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,141 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 2,785 | $6,384 | $696 | 9.2 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 4,178 | $9,576 | $1,044 | 9.2 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 5,571 | $12,768 | $1,393 | 9.2 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 6,963 | $15,960 | $1,741 | 9.2 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 9,052 | $20,748 | $2,263 | 9.2 yrs |
How we worked this out for Anchorage
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Anchorage rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,024 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
348 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 348 kWh per panel |
32 panels |
| 3 | System size 32 panels × 400W |
12.80 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 12.80 kW × 1,024 hrs × 0.85 |
11,141 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 12,800 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$25,536 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 25.0¢ + 7,361 kWh exported × 25.0¢ |
$2,721/yr |
| 7 | Payback $25,536 ÷ $2,721 per year |
9.4 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Anchorage is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,361 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 — 9.2 years against the 9.4 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, 25.0¢/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 Anchorage gets 1,024 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Anchorage — 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 Anchorage reaches about 1,153 hours, roughly 13% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,024 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,153 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Alaska avg) | 25.0¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 7 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Anchorage actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 49% of Anchorage's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 4% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | |
| Feb | 34 | |
| Mar | 70 | |
| Apr | 117 | |
| May | 158 | |
| Jun | 178 | |
| Jul | 168 | |
| Aug | 133 | |
| Sep | 87 | |
| Oct | 44 | |
| Nov | 17 | |
| Dec | 8 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Anchorage produces roughly 23.4× 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 Anchorage's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Anchorage compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Anchorage | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,024 hrs | 710th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 11% | 43rd most |
| Median roof size | 188 m² | 408th largest |
| Electricity rate | 25.0¢ | 216th highest |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 287th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 624 kg/MWh | 439th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Anchorage:
- Shading is a real problem here. Anchorage loses 11% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 43rd-worst of the 788 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Anchorage 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 Anchorage's 1,024 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everett, WA | 1,139 | 11.3¢ | 18.3 yrs |
| Astoria, OR | 1,152 | 12.4¢ | 16.6 yrs |
| Bellevue, WA | 1,175 | 11.3¢ | 18.1 yrs |
| Tacoma, WA | 1,184 | 11.3¢ | 17.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Alaska → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Anchorage solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Anchorage?
About 32 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Anchorage roofs get 1,024 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 348 kWh annually. A typical Anchorage roof fits about 59 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Anchorage?
At 25.0¢/kWh and 1,024 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.4 years and returns roughly $42,497 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 Anchorage?
A 12.8 kW system costs about $36,480 before incentives and $25,536 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 Alaska 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.