Solar panels in Fairbanks, AK
Roofs in Fairbanks get about 954 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 100% 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 Fairbanks → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Fairbanks solar system costs
A 34-panel system (13.6 kW) is about right for an average Fairbanks home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,028 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 2,595 | $6,384 | $649 | 9.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 3,892 | $9,576 | $973 | 9.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 5,190 | $12,768 | $1,297 | 9.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 6,487 | $15,960 | $1,622 | 9.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 8,433 | $20,748 | $2,108 | 9.8 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 Fairbanks gets 954 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Fairbanks — 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 Fairbanks reaches about 1,163 hours, roughly 22% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 954 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,163 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Alaska avg) | 25.0¢/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 | 7 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Fairbanks actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 53% of Fairbanks's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 2% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | |
| Feb | 25 | |
| Mar | 61 | |
| Apr | 110 | |
| May | 156 | |
| Jun | 179 | |
| Jul | 167 | |
| Aug | 128 | |
| Sep | 78 | |
| Oct | 35 | |
| Nov | 9 | |
| Dec | 2 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Fairbanks produces roughly 98.8× 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 Fairbanks's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Fairbanks compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Fairbanks | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 954 hrs | 673rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 18% | 3rd most |
| Median roof size | 285 m² | 145th largest |
| Electricity rate | 25.0¢ | 102nd highest |
| Payback | 10 yrs | 345th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 624 kg/MWh | 440th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Fairbanks:
- Shading is a real problem here. Fairbanks loses 18% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 3rd-worst of the 673 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Dimmer than the rest of Alaska. Fairbanks roofs get 7% less usable sunlight than the typical Alaska city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks's 954 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coquitlam, BC | 1,098 | 12.4¢ | 24.7 yrs |
| Courtenay, BC | 1,116 | 12.4¢ | 24.6 yrs |
| Everett, WA | 1,139 | 11.3¢ | 18.3 yrs |
| Chilliwack, BC | 1,143 | 12.4¢ | 23.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Alaska → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Fairbanks solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Fairbanks?
About 34 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Fairbanks roofs get 954 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 324 kWh annually. A typical Fairbanks roof fits about 85 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Fairbanks?
At 25.0¢/kWh and 954 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10 years and returns roughly $40,725 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 Fairbanks?
A 13.6 kW system costs about $38,760 before incentives and $27,132 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 Alaska 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.