Solar panels in New Jersey
Roofs across New Jersey get about 1,440 hours of usable sunlight a year, and electricity costs 19.4¢/kWh. That combination puts a typical system's payback at 8.7 years. Here's the detail, from real rooftop data across 12 New Jersey cities.
Check your own roof in New Jersey → These are regional figures; your roof's size, pitch and shading move them a lot.
How New Jersey compares
New Jersey gets more sunlight than 39% of the cities we measure, and its electricity costs more than 68% of states and provinces. Both matter, but not equally: the electricity rate usually matters more, because solar saves money by replacing power you would otherwise buy. A sunny state with cheap power often pays back slower than a cloudy state with expensive power. Why that happens →
Solar by city in New Jersey
| City | Sun hrs/yr | Panels | Net cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | 1,483 | 22 | $17,556 | 8.3 yrs |
| Jersey City | 1,473 | 22 | $17,556 | 8.3 yrs |
| Toms River | 1,471 | 22 | $17,556 | 8.3 yrs |
| Hamilton Township | 1,467 | 22 | $17,556 | 8.3 yrs |
| Newark | 1,464 | 22 | $17,556 | 8.4 yrs |
| Passaic | 1,440 | 23 | $18,354 | 8.7 yrs |
| Clifton | 1,438 | 23 | $18,354 | 8.7 yrs |
| Lakewood | 1,430 | 23 | $18,354 | 8.7 yrs |
| Elizabeth | 1,428 | 23 | $18,354 | 8.7 yrs |
| Woodbridge Township | 1,422 | 23 | $18,354 | 8.7 yrs |
| Trenton | 1,420 | 23 | $18,354 | 8.7 yrs |
| Paterson | 1,362 | 24 | $19,152 | 9.1 yrs |
What a system costs in New Jersey
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,917 | $6,384 | $760 | 8.4 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,875 | $9,576 | $1,140 | 8.4 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,834 | $12,768 | $1,520 | 8.4 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,792 | $15,960 | $1,900 | 8.4 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,730 | $20,748 | $2,189 | 9.5 yrs |
Payback stops improving as systems grow, then gets worse. You can only save on electricity you were going to buy, so once a system covers your usage the extra panels mostly export at a lower rate.
New Jersey solar incentives
Every US household can claim the 30% federal residential clean energy credit, which is what the "after credit" figures above assume. On a $26,220 system that is $7,866 back. How the credit works →
State, utility and municipal incentives stack on top and change often — New Jersey may offer rebates, property or sales tax exemptions, or performance payments. We deliberately don't list specific state programmes here because they change several times a year and stale numbers are worse than none. The DSIRE database is the standard reference and is kept current.
New Jersey solar questions
Is solar worth it in New Jersey?
At 19.4¢/kWh and 1,440 usable sun hours, a typical New Jersey system pays back in about 8.7 years and returns roughly $34,585 across a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and rising electricity prices only improve it. Individual cities in New Jersey vary widely around this average.
How many solar panels do I need in New Jersey?
About 23 panels for a home using 10,800 kWh a year. Each 400W panel produces roughly 490 kWh annually at New Jersey sunlight levels. Your own figure depends on actual usage — pull a year of bills rather than assuming average consumption, since heating and EV charging change it a lot.
How much do solar panels cost in New Jersey?
A 9.2 kW system runs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 after the 30% federal credit, or roughly $2.85 per watt installed. Quotes vary widely by installer, roof complexity and whether your electrical panel needs upgrading — get three before deciding.
Worth reading before you buy
Regional estimates generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples across 12 New Jersey cities, and average New Jersey electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial or tax advice.