Solar panels in Berlin, NH
Roofs in Berlin get about 1,361 hours of usable sunlight a year — less 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 Berlin → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Berlin solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Berlin home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,106 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,702 | $6,384 | $937 | 6.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,553 | $9,576 | $1,405 | 6.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,404 | $12,768 | $1,873 | 6.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,255 | $15,960 | $2,341 | 6.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,031 | $20,748 | $2,810 | 7.4 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 Berlin gets 1,361 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Berlin — 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 Berlin reaches about 1,478 hours, roughly 9% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,361 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,478 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (New Hampshire avg) | 25.3¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2018 |
When Berlin actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Berlin's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | |
| Feb | 77 | |
| Mar | 108 | |
| Apr | 142 | |
| May | 167 | |
| Jun | 178 | |
| Jul | 173 | |
| Aug | 152 | |
| Sep | 120 | |
| Oct | 86 | |
| Nov | 59 | |
| Dec | 47 |
Berlin produces about 3.8× 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 Berlin's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Berlin compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Berlin | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,361 hrs | 590th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 8% | 145th most |
| Median roof size | 186 m² | 397th largest |
| Electricity rate | 25.3¢ | 98th highest |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 41st fastest |
| Grid carbon | 445 kg/MWh | 537th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Berlin:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Berlin dates from 2018. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Berlin's 1,361 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson, NJ | 1,362 | 19.4¢ | 9.1 yrs |
| Sarnia, ON | 1,360 | 15.2¢ | 16.6 yrs |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 1,363 | 13.2¢ | 13.3 yrs |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,358 | 18.1¢ | 9.7 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of New Hampshire → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Berlin solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Berlin?
About 24 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Berlin roofs get 1,361 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 463 kWh annually. A typical Berlin roof fits about 60 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Berlin?
At 25.3¢/kWh and 1,361 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7 years and returns roughly $49,641 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 Berlin?
A 9.6 kW system costs about $27,360 before incentives and $19,152 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 New Hampshire 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.