Solar panels in Kearney, NE
Roofs in Kearney get about 1,803 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 80% 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 Kearney → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Kearney solar system costs
A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average Kearney home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,034 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,904 | $6,384 | $549 | 11.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,356 | $9,576 | $824 | 11.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,808 | $12,768 | $1,099 | 11.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,260 | $15,960 | $1,250 | 12.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,939 | $20,748 | $1,353 | 15.3 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 Kearney gets 1,803 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Kearney — 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 Kearney reaches about 1,829 hours, roughly 1% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,803 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,829 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Nebraska avg) | 11.2¢/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 | 8 |
| Google imagery from | 2020 |
When Kearney actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Kearney's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79 | |
| Feb | 108 | |
| Mar | 145 | |
| Apr | 185 | |
| May | 213 | |
| Jun | 224 | |
| Jul | 218 | |
| Aug | 195 | |
| Sep | 159 | |
| Oct | 119 | |
| Nov | 86 | |
| Dec | 71 |
Kearney produces about 3.1× 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 Kearney's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Kearney compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Kearney | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,803 hrs | 134th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 1% | 648th most |
| Median roof size | 321 m² | 94th largest |
| Electricity rate | 11.2¢ | 648th highest |
| Payback | 11.8 yrs | 477th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 832 kg/MWh | 117th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Kearney:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 1% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Kearney — better than all but 25 of the 673 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 101 panels — roughly 5× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Kearney.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. Nebraska power costs about 11.2¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Kearney dates from 2020. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Kearney's 1,803 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pompano Beach, FL | 1,801 | 15.3¢ | 8.6 yrs |
| Naples, FL | 1,805 | 15.3¢ | 8.6 yrs |
| Del Rio, TX | 1,805 | 15.1¢ | 8.8 yrs |
| Largo, FL | 1,806 | 15.3¢ | 8.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Nebraska → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Kearney solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Kearney?
About 18 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Kearney roofs get 1,803 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 613 kWh annually. A typical Kearney roof fits about 101 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Kearney?
At 11.2¢/kWh and 1,803 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11.8 years and returns roughly $16,040 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 Kearney?
A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 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 Nebraska 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.