Solar panels in Belleville, ON
Roofs in Belleville get about 1,473 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 63% 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 Belleville → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Belleville solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Belleville home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,018 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,007 | CA$9,120 | CA$609 | 15 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,010 | CA$13,680 | CA$913 | 15 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,013 | CA$18,240 | CA$1,218 | 15 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,016 | CA$22,800 | CA$1,522 | 15 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,021 | CA$29,640 | CA$1,726 | 17.2 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 Belleville gets 1,473 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Belleville — 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 Belleville reaches about 1,521 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,473 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,521 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Ontario avg) | 15.2¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 5 |
| Google imagery from | 2015 |
When Belleville actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Belleville's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | |
| Feb | 83 | |
| Mar | 117 | |
| Apr | 154 | |
| May | 181 | |
| Jun | 192 | |
| Jul | 186 | |
| Aug | 164 | |
| Sep | 130 | |
| Oct | 93 | |
| Nov | 64 | |
| Dec | 51 |
Belleville produces about 3.7× as much in Jun as in Dec — a normal mid-latitude swing. Expect real winter shortfall and summer surplus rather than steady year-round output.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Belleville's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Belleville compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Belleville | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,473 hrs | 424th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 543rd most |
| Median roof size | 230 m² | 265th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.2¢ | 349th highest |
| Payback | 15.2 yrs | 612th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 151 kg/MWh | 670th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Belleville:
- The case here is financial, not environmental. Belleville's grid is already clean at 151 kg CO₂ per MWh, so the carbon saving from solar is modest. Judge this one on payback.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Belleville 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 Belleville's 1,473 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City, NJ | 1,473 | 19.4¢ | 8.3 yrs |
| New Haven, CT | 1,472 | 29.2¢ | 5.5 yrs |
| Evansville, IN | 1,474 | 15.3¢ | 10.6 yrs |
| Toledo, OH | 1,474 | 15.2¢ | 10.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Ontario → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Belleville solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Belleville?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Belleville roofs get 1,473 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 501 kWh annually. A typical Belleville roof fits about 69 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Belleville?
At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,473 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 15.2 years and returns roughly CA$16,167 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 Belleville?
A 8.8 kW system costs about CA$25,080 before incentives. 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 Ontario 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.