Solar panels in Emporia, KS
Roofs in Emporia get about 1,619 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 60% 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 Emporia → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Emporia solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average Emporia home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,009 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,404 | $6,384 | $621 | 10.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,606 | $9,576 | $931 | 10.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,807 | $12,768 | $1,242 | 10.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,009 | $15,960 | $1,530 | 10.4 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,312 | $20,748 | $1,647 | 12.6 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 Emporia gets 1,619 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Emporia — 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 Emporia reaches about 1,735 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,619 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,735 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Kansas avg) | 14.1¢/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 | 5 |
| Google imagery from | 2019 |
When Emporia actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 35% of Emporia's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76 | |
| Feb | 100 | |
| Mar | 132 | |
| Apr | 164 | |
| May | 186 | |
| Jun | 195 | |
| Jul | 190 | |
| Aug | 172 | |
| Sep | 143 | |
| Oct | 109 | |
| Nov | 81 | |
| Dec | 69 |
Emporia produces about 2.8× 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 Emporia's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Emporia compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Emporia | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,619 hrs | 267th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 7% | 214th most |
| Median roof size | 171 m² | 453rd largest |
| Electricity rate | 14.1¢ | 484th highest |
| Payback | 10.4 yrs | 367th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 909 kg/MWh | 16th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Emporia:
- Every kWh counts more here. The grid serving Emporia emits 909 kg CO₂ per MWh, among the highest of the 673 cities measured — so the same panels displace more emissions than they would elsewhere.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Emporia 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 Emporia's 1,619 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, NE | 1,619 | 11.2¢ | 13.1 yrs |
| Memphis, TN | 1,615 | 12.1¢ | 12.2 yrs |
| Wenatchee, WA | 1,615 | 11.3¢ | 13 yrs |
| Columbia, SC | 1,624 | 14.2¢ | 10.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Kansas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Emporia solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Emporia?
About 20 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Emporia roofs get 1,619 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 550 kWh annually. A typical Emporia roof fits about 60 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Emporia?
At 14.1¢/kWh and 1,619 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.4 years and returns roughly $22,294 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 Emporia?
A 8 kW system costs about $22,800 before incentives and $15,960 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 Kansas 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.