Solar panels in Centennial, CO
Roofs in Centennial get about 1,795 hours of usable sunlight a year — more 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 Centennial → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Centennial solar system costs
A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average Centennial home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,985 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,882 | $6,384 | $723 | 8.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,324 | $9,576 | $1,084 | 8.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,765 | $12,768 | $1,445 | 8.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,206 | $15,960 | $1,650 | 9.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,868 | $20,748 | $1,786 | 11.6 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 Centennial gets 1,795 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Centennial — 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 Centennial reaches about 1,889 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,795 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,889 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Colorado avg) | 14.8¢/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 | 14 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
Nearby cities
See all of Colorado → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Centennial solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Centennial?
About 18 panels for an average home. Centennial roofs get 1,795 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 610 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Centennial?
At 14.8¢/kWh and 1,795 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.9 years and returns roughly $25,767 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Centennial?
A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 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 Colorado 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.