Solar panels in Mobile, AL
Roofs in Mobile get about 1,613 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 66% 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 Mobile → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Mobile solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average Mobile home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,968 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,387 | $6,384 | $680 | 9.4 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,581 | $9,576 | $1,020 | 9.4 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,775 | $12,768 | $1,360 | 9.4 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,968 | $15,960 | $1,681 | 9.5 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,259 | $20,748 | $1,808 | 11.5 yrs |
How we worked this out for Mobile
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Mobile rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,613 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
548 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 548 kWh per panel |
20 panels |
| 3 | System size 20 panels × 400W |
8.00 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 8.00 kW × 1,613 hrs × 0.85 |
10,968 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 8,000 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$15,960 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.5¢ + 7,188 kWh exported × 15.5¢ |
$1,681/yr |
| 7 | Payback $15,960 ÷ $1,681 per year |
9.5 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Mobile is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,188 kWh is exported and credited one-for-one under net metering. Because exports here are credited at or near retail, that split changes the payback very little — 9.4 years against the 9.5 we show. In places where exports pay a fraction of retail the same split moves payback by years, which is why we model it explicitly rather than assuming.
Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 15.5¢/kWh electricity. Change any of those and every figure above moves — which is exactly why a single national "solar costs X" number is misleading.
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 Mobile gets 1,613 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Mobile — 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 Mobile reaches about 1,725 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,613 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,725 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Alabama avg) | 15.5¢/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 | 6 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
When Mobile actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 32% of Mobile's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 17% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89 | |
| Feb | 110 | |
| Mar | 134 | |
| Apr | 157 | |
| May | 172 | |
| Jun | 177 | |
| Jul | 174 | |
| Aug | 162 | |
| Sep | 142 | |
| Oct | 117 | |
| Nov | 94 | |
| Dec | 84 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.1× between Jun and Dec. Mobile is close enough to the equator that seasonal variation is mild, which makes sizing a system considerably more predictable.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Mobile's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Mobile compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Mobile | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,613 hrs | 271st |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 248th most |
| Median roof size | 313 m² | 104th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.5¢ | 339th highest |
| Payback | 9.5 yrs | 300th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 663 kg/MWh | 283rd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Mobile:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 112 panels — roughly 5× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Mobile.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Mobile's 1,613 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,612 | 15.3¢ | 9.6 yrs |
| Memphis, TN | 1,615 | 12.1¢ | 12.2 yrs |
| Wenatchee, WA | 1,615 | 11.3¢ | 13 yrs |
| Lawrence, KS | 1,617 | 14.1¢ | 10.4 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Alabama → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Mobile solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Mobile?
About 20 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Mobile roofs get 1,613 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 548 kWh annually. A typical Mobile roof fits about 112 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Mobile?
At 15.5¢/kWh and 1,613 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.5 years and returns roughly $26,053 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 Mobile?
A 8 kW system costs about $22,800 before incentives and $15,960 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 Alabama 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.