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Solar panels in Cambridge, ON

Roofs in Cambridge get about 1,447 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 70% 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.

1,447Sun hours / yr
22Panels typical
CA$25,080Cost after credit
15.3 yrPayback
Be careful in Cambridge. At a 15.3-year payback, solar here is a long-horizon decision, mostly because electricity is relatively cheap (15.2¢/kWh). It can still make sense if rates rise or you have local incentives — but check the numbers hard before signing.

Check your specific roof in Cambridge → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.

What a typical Cambridge solar system costs

A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Cambridge home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,824 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Cambridge, at 15.2¢/kWh
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 3,936CA$9,120 CA$598 15.2 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 5,904CA$13,680 CA$897 15.2 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 7,872CA$18,240 CA$1,196 15.2 yrs
20 panels8 kW 9,840CA$22,800 CA$1,496 15.2 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 12,791CA$29,640 CA$1,717 17.3 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 Cambridge gets 1,447 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Cambridge — 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 Cambridge reaches about 1,530 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,447 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,530 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (Ontario avg)15.2¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated35%
Paid for exported powerfull retail (net metering)
Rooftops sampled here8
Google imagery from2023

Nearby cities

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See all of Ontario → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.

Cambridge solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Cambridge?

About 22 panels for an average home. Cambridge roofs get 1,447 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 492 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Cambridge?

At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,447 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 15.3 years and returns roughly CA$15,982 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.

How much do solar panels cost in Cambridge?

A 8.8 kW system costs about CA$25,080 before incentives . Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.

Worth reading before you buy

What your utility pays for exportsChanges payback more than any equipment choice 12 questions to ask before signingIdentical systems vary 30–40% in price Do panels work in winter?Guide How many panels do I need?Guide

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.