Solar panels in El Paso, TX
Roofs in El Paso get about 2,043 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 98% 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 El Paso → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical El Paso solar system costs
A 16-panel system (6.4 kW) is about right for an average El Paso home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,114 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,557 | $6,384 | $839 | 7.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 8,335 | $9,576 | $1,259 | 7.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 11,114 | $12,768 | $1,643 | 7.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,892 | $15,960 | $1,748 | 9.1 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 18,060 | $20,748 | $1,905 | 10.9 yrs |
How we worked this out for El Paso
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from El Paso rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 2,043 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
695 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 695 kWh per panel |
16 panels |
| 3 | System size 16 panels × 400W |
6.40 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 6.40 kW × 2,043 hrs × 0.85 |
11,114 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 6,400 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$12,768 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.1¢ + 7,334 kWh exported × 15.1¢ |
$1,643/yr |
| 7 | Payback $12,768 ÷ $1,643 per year |
7.8 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in El Paso is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,334 kWh is exported and credited one-for-one under net metering. Because exports here are credited at or near retail, that split changes the payback very little — 7.6 years against the 7.8 we show. In places where exports pay a fraction of retail the same split moves payback by years, which is why we model it explicitly rather than assuming.
Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 15.1¢/kWh electricity. Change any of those and every figure above moves — which is exactly why a single national "solar costs X" number is misleading.
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 El Paso gets 2,043 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across El Paso — 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 El Paso reaches about 2,114 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 2,043 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 2,114 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Texas avg) | 15.1¢/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 | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2020 |
When El Paso actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 33% of El Paso's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 16% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 111 | |
| Feb | 138 | |
| Mar | 170 | |
| Apr | 200 | |
| May | 220 | |
| Jun | 227 | |
| Jul | 223 | |
| Aug | 207 | |
| Sep | 180 | |
| Oct | 147 | |
| Nov | 117 | |
| Dec | 103 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.2× between Jun and Dec. El Paso is close enough to the equator that seasonal variation is mild, which makes sizing a system considerably more predictable.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at El Paso's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How El Paso compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | El Paso | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 2,043 hrs | 14th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 594th most |
| Median roof size | 94 m² | 720th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.1¢ | 469th highest |
| Payback | 7.8 yrs | 71st fastest |
| Grid carbon | 631 kg/MWh | 417th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about El Paso:
- Sunnier than the rest of Texas. El Paso roofs get 16% more usable sunlight than the typical Texas city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of El Paso dates from 2020. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to El Paso's 2,043 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 2,043 | 15.2¢ | 7.7 yrs |
| Henderson, NV | 2,045 | 15.3¢ | 7.7 yrs |
| Santa Clarita, CA | 2,045 | 31.2¢ | 7.8 yrs |
| Peoria, AZ | 2,035 | 15.2¢ | 7.7 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Texas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
El Paso solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in El Paso?
About 16 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. El Paso roofs get 2,043 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 695 kWh annually. A typical El Paso roof fits about 33 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in El Paso?
At 15.1¢/kWh and 2,043 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7.8 years and returns roughly $28,298 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in El Paso?
A 6.4 kW system costs about $18,240 before incentives and $12,768 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 Texas 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.