Solar panels in Coos Bay, OR
Roofs in Coos Bay get about 1,406 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 Coos Bay → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Coos Bay solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Coos Bay home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,995 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,824 | $6,384 | $474 | 13.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,736 | $9,576 | $711 | 13.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,649 | $12,768 | $948 | 13.5 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,561 | $15,960 | $1,186 | 13.5 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,429 | $20,748 | $1,390 | 14.9 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 Coos Bay gets 1,406 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Coos Bay — 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 Coos Bay reaches about 1,500 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,406 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,500 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Oregon avg) | 12.4¢/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 | 8 |
| Google imagery from | 2019 |
When Coos Bay actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Coos Bay's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | |
| Feb | 81 | |
| Mar | 112 | |
| Apr | 146 | |
| May | 171 | |
| Jun | 181 | |
| Jul | 176 | |
| Aug | 155 | |
| Sep | 124 | |
| Oct | 90 | |
| Nov | 62 | |
| Dec | 51 |
Coos Bay produces about 3.6× 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 Coos Bay's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Coos Bay compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Coos Bay | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,406 hrs | 538th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 249th most |
| Median roof size | 211 m² | 323rd largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.4¢ | 546th highest |
| Payback | 13.6 yrs | 575th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 696 kg/MWh | 274th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Coos Bay:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Coos Bay dates from 2019. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Coos Bay's 1,406 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VT | 1,407 | 22.1¢ | 7.7 yrs |
| Dartmouth, NS | 1,405 | 18.3¢ | 13.2 yrs |
| Independence, MO | 1,405 | 12.2¢ | 13.9 yrs |
| Hartford, CT | 1,408 | 29.2¢ | 5.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Oregon → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Coos Bay solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Coos Bay?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Coos Bay roofs get 1,406 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 478 kWh annually. A typical Coos Bay roof fits about 64 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Coos Bay?
At 12.4¢/kWh and 1,406 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 13.6 years and returns roughly $15,277 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 Coos Bay?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 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 Oregon 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.