Solar panels in Ely, NV
Roofs in Ely get about 1,936 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 91% 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 Ely → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Ely solar system costs
A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Ely home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,190 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,266 | $6,384 | $806 | 7.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,899 | $9,576 | $1,209 | 7.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,532 | $12,768 | $1,611 | 7.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,165 | $15,960 | $1,743 | 9.2 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 17,114 | $20,748 | $1,894 | 11 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 Ely gets 1,936 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Ely — 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 Ely reaches about 2,001 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,936 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 2,001 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Nevada avg) | 15.3¢/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 | 13 |
| Google imagery from | 2015 |
When Ely actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Ely's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89 | |
| Feb | 119 | |
| Mar | 157 | |
| Apr | 197 | |
| May | 225 | |
| Jun | 236 | |
| Jul | 230 | |
| Aug | 207 | |
| Sep | 171 | |
| Oct | 130 | |
| Nov | 96 | |
| Dec | 80 |
Ely produces about 2.9× 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 Ely's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Ely compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Ely | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,936 hrs | 63rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 529th most |
| Median roof size | 116 m² | 613th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.3¢ | 283rd highest |
| Payback | 8.1 yrs | 93rd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 696 kg/MWh | 270th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Ely:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Ely dates from 2015. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Ely's 1,936 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chula Vista, CA | 1,936 | 31.2¢ | 8.3 yrs |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 1,937 | 31.2¢ | 8.3 yrs |
| Amarillo, TX | 1,935 | 15.1¢ | 8.2 yrs |
| Show Low, AZ | 1,937 | 15.2¢ | 8.2 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Nevada → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Ely solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Ely?
About 17 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Ely roofs get 1,936 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 658 kWh annually. A typical Ely roof fits about 38 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Ely?
At 15.3¢/kWh and 1,936 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.1 years and returns roughly $28,117 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 Ely?
A 6.8 kW system costs about $19,380 before incentives and $13,566 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 Nevada 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.