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Solar panels in Greater Sudbury, ON

Roofs in Greater Sudbury get about 1,398 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 83% 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.

1,398Sun hours / yr
23Panels typical
CA$26,220Cost after credit
15.9 yrPayback
Be careful in Greater Sudbury. At a 15.9-year payback, solar here is a long-horizon decision, mostly because electricity is relatively cheap (15.2¢/kWh). It can still make sense if rates rise or you have local incentives — but check the numbers hard before signing.

Check your specific roof in Greater Sudbury → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.

What a typical Greater Sudbury solar system costs

A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Greater Sudbury home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,932 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Greater Sudbury, at 15.2¢/kWh
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 3,803CA$9,120 CA$578 15.8 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 5,704CA$13,680 CA$867 15.8 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 7,605CA$18,240 CA$1,156 15.8 yrs
20 panels8 kW 9,506CA$22,800 CA$1,445 15.8 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 12,358CA$29,640 CA$1,701 17.4 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 Greater Sudbury gets 1,398 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Greater Sudbury — 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 Greater Sudbury reaches about 1,543 hours, roughly 10% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,398 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,543 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (Ontario avg)15.2¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated35%
Paid for exported powerfull retail (net metering)
Rooftops sampled here9
Google imagery from2016

Nearby cities

Solar panels in BarrieOntarioSolar panels in VaughanOntarioSolar panels in GuelphOntarioSolar panels in KitchenerOntarioSolar panels in MarkhamOntarioSolar panels in CambridgeOntario

See all of Ontario → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.

Greater Sudbury solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Greater Sudbury?

About 23 panels for an average home. Greater Sudbury roofs get 1,398 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 475 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Greater Sudbury?

At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,398 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 15.9 years and returns roughly CA$14,946 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.

How much do solar panels cost in Greater Sudbury?

A 9.2 kW system costs about CA$26,220 before incentives . Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.

Worth reading before you buy

What your utility pays for exportsChanges payback more than any equipment choice 12 questions to ask before signingIdentical systems vary 30–40% in price Do panels work in winter?Guide How many panels do I need?Guide

Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Ontario 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.