Solar panels in Fort McMurray, AB
Roofs in Fort McMurray get about 1,195 hours of usable sunlight a year — less 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 Fort McMurray → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Fort McMurray solar system costs
A 27-panel system (10.8 kW) is about right for an average Fort McMurray home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,970 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,250 | CA$9,120 | CA$588 | 15.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 4,876 | CA$13,680 | CA$882 | 15.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 6,501 | CA$18,240 | CA$1,177 | 15.5 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,126 | CA$22,800 | CA$1,471 | 15.5 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 10,564 | CA$29,640 | CA$1,912 | 15.5 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 Fort McMurray gets 1,195 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Fort McMurray — 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 Fort McMurray reaches about 1,317 hours, roughly 10% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,195 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,317 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Alberta avg) | 18.1¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
When Fort McMurray actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 46% of Fort McMurray's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 6% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 | |
| Feb | 49 | |
| Mar | 87 | |
| Apr | 133 | |
| May | 172 | |
| Jun | 190 | |
| Jul | 181 | |
| Aug | 148 | |
| Sep | 103 | |
| Oct | 60 | |
| Nov | 29 | |
| Dec | 18 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Fort McMurray produces roughly 10.5× 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 Fort McMurray's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Fort McMurray compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Fort McMurray | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,195 hrs | 660th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 9% | 99th most |
| Median roof size | 212 m² | 319th largest |
| Electricity rate | 18.1¢ | 191st highest |
| Payback | 15.7 yrs | 617th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 151 kg/MWh | 667th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Fort McMurray:
- The case here is financial, not environmental. Fort McMurray's grid is already clean at 151 kg CO₂ per MWh, so the carbon saving from solar is modest. Judge this one on payback.
- Dimmer than the rest of Alberta. Fort McMurray roofs get 9% less usable sunlight than the typical Alberta city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Fort McMurray's 1,195 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnaby, BC | 1,196 | 12.4¢ | 22.9 yrs |
| Delta, BC | 1,194 | 12.4¢ | 22.9 yrs |
| State College, PA | 1,201 | 18.1¢ | 11 yrs |
| Tacoma, WA | 1,184 | 11.3¢ | 17.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Alberta → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Fort McMurray solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Fort McMurray?
About 27 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Fort McMurray roofs get 1,195 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 406 kWh annually. A typical Fort McMurray roof fits about 67 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Fort McMurray?
At 18.1¢/kWh and 1,195 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 15.7 years and returns roughly CA$18,282 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 Fort McMurray?
A 10.8 kW system costs about CA$30,780 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 Alberta 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.