Solar panels in Bangor, ME
Roofs in Bangor get about 1,411 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 80% 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 Bangor → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Bangor solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Bangor home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,034 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,838 | $6,384 | $952 | 6.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,757 | $9,576 | $1,428 | 6.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,676 | $12,768 | $1,904 | 6.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,595 | $15,960 | $2,380 | 6.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,473 | $20,748 | $2,782 | 7.5 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 Bangor gets 1,411 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Bangor — 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 Bangor reaches about 1,573 hours, roughly 11% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,411 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,573 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Maine avg) | 24.8¢/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 | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2012 |
Nearby cities
See all of Maine → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Bangor solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Bangor?
About 23 panels for an average home. Bangor roofs get 1,411 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 480 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Bangor?
At 24.8¢/kWh and 1,411 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 6.8 years and returns roughly $48,969 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Bangor?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Maine 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.