Solar panels in Edmundston, NB
Roofs in Edmundston get about 1,391 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 82% 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 Edmundston → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Edmundston solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Edmundston home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,878 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,784 | CA$9,120 | CA$507 | 18 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,675 | CA$13,680 | CA$760 | 18 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,567 | CA$18,240 | CA$1,014 | 18 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,459 | CA$22,800 | CA$1,267 | 18 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,296 | CA$29,640 | CA$1,497 | 19.8 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 Edmundston gets 1,391 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Edmundston — 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 Edmundston reaches about 1,467 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,391 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,467 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (New Brunswick avg) | 13.4¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 6 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Edmundston actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 40% of Edmundston's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 10% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49 | |
| Feb | 74 | |
| Mar | 109 | |
| Apr | 148 | |
| May | 177 | |
| Jun | 190 | |
| Jul | 183 | |
| Aug | 159 | |
| Sep | 123 | |
| Oct | 84 | |
| Nov | 54 | |
| Dec | 42 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Edmundston produces roughly 4.5× 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 Edmundston's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Edmundston compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Edmundston | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,391 hrs | 555th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 5% | 348th most |
| Median roof size | 91 m² | 646th largest |
| Electricity rate | 13.4¢ | 490th highest |
| Payback | 18.1 yrs | 648th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 151 kg/MWh | 672nd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Edmundston:
- Roof space is the binding constraint. A typical Edmundston roof fits about 29 panels and a typical home needs 23 — so there is little room to oversize. If you add an EV or heat pump later, plan the array for it now.
- Small roofs. The median Edmundston roof is 91 m², smaller than 96% of cities measured — worth checking your own footprint before assuming a standard system fits.
- The case here is financial, not environmental. Edmundston's grid is already clean at 151 kg CO₂ per MWh, so the carbon saving from solar is modest. Judge this one on payback.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Edmundston's 1,391 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 1,392 | 28.3¢ | 6 yrs |
| Lynn, MA | 1,392 | 30.1¢ | 5.6 yrs |
| Winnipeg, MB | 1,389 | 10.1¢ | 24 yrs |
| London, ON | 1,389 | 15.2¢ | 15.9 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of New Brunswick → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Edmundston solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Edmundston?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Edmundston roofs get 1,391 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 473 kWh annually. A typical Edmundston roof fits about 29 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Edmundston?
At 13.4¢/kWh and 1,391 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 18.1 years and returns roughly CA$10,025 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 Edmundston?
A 9.2 kW system costs about CA$26,220 before incentives. 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 Brunswick 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.