Solar panels in Lima, OH
Roofs in Lima get about 1,410 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 79% 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 Lima → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Lima solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Lima home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,026 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,835 | $6,384 | $583 | 11 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,753 | $9,576 | $874 | 11 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,670 | $12,768 | $1,166 | 11 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,588 | $15,960 | $1,457 | 11 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,464 | $20,748 | $1,705 | 12.2 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 Lima gets 1,410 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Lima — 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 Lima reaches about 1,527 hours, roughly 8% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,410 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,527 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Ohio avg) | 15.2¢/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 | 11 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Lima actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Lima's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | |
| Feb | 84 | |
| Mar | 114 | |
| Apr | 144 | |
| May | 166 | |
| Jun | 175 | |
| Jul | 171 | |
| Aug | 153 | |
| Sep | 125 | |
| Oct | 93 | |
| Nov | 67 | |
| Dec | 56 |
Lima 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 Lima's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Lima compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Lima | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,410 hrs | 531st |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 8% | 156th most |
| Median roof size | 151 m² | 519th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.2¢ | 339th highest |
| Payback | 11.1 yrs | 431st fastest |
| Grid carbon | 883 kg/MWh | 74th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Lima:
- Every kWh counts more here. The grid serving Lima emits 883 kg CO₂ per MWh, among the highest of the 673 cities measured — so the same panels displace more emissions than they would elsewhere.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Lima's 1,410 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 1,410 | 11.3¢ | 15 yrs |
| Bangor, ME | 1,411 | 24.8¢ | 6.8 yrs |
| Bloomington, MN | 1,409 | 14.8¢ | 11.4 yrs |
| Kokomo, IN | 1,411 | 15.3¢ | 11 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Ohio → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Lima solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Lima?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Lima roofs get 1,410 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 479 kWh annually. A typical Lima roof fits about 47 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Lima?
At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,410 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11.1 years and returns roughly $22,901 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 Lima?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 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 Ohio 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.