Solar panels in Dickinson, ND
Roofs in Dickinson get about 1,538 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 52% 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 Dickinson → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Dickinson solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Dickinson home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,981 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,183 | $6,384 | $464 | 13.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,275 | $9,576 | $697 | 13.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,367 | $12,768 | $929 | 13.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,458 | $15,960 | $1,161 | 13.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,596 | $20,748 | $1,276 | 16.3 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 Dickinson gets 1,538 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Dickinson — 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 Dickinson reaches about 1,671 hours, roughly 9% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,538 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,671 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (North Dakota avg) | 11.1¢/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 | 2014 |
When Dickinson actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 39% of Dickinson's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 11% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | |
| Feb | 83 | |
| Mar | 120 | |
| Apr | 163 | |
| May | 195 | |
| Jun | 208 | |
| Jul | 201 | |
| Aug | 175 | |
| Sep | 136 | |
| Oct | 94 | |
| Nov | 61 | |
| Dec | 48 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Dickinson produces roughly 4.4× as much in Jun as in Dec. A system sized to cover your annual usage will overproduce badly in summer and fall well short in winter, so how your utility credits exported power matters more here than in most places.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Dickinson's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Dickinson compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Dickinson | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,538 hrs | 350th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 8% | 143rd most |
| Median roof size | 252 m² | 203rd largest |
| Electricity rate | 11.1¢ | 662nd highest |
| Payback | 13.9 yrs | 587th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 832 kg/MWh | 113th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Dickinson:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 91 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Dickinson.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. North Dakota power costs about 11.1¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Dickinson dates from 2014. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Dickinson's 1,538 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpharetta, GA | 1,538 | 14.1¢ | 11 yrs |
| Joliet, IL | 1,538 | 16.3¢ | 9.5 yrs |
| Norfolk, VA | 1,539 | 14.2¢ | 10.9 yrs |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 1,539 | 13.2¢ | 11.7 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of North Dakota → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Dickinson solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Dickinson?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Dickinson roofs get 1,538 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 523 kWh annually. A typical Dickinson roof fits about 91 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Dickinson?
At 11.1¢/kWh and 1,538 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 13.9 years and returns roughly $13,338 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 Dickinson?
A 8.4 kW system costs about $23,940 before incentives and $16,758 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 North Dakota 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.