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Solar panels in Parma, OH

Roofs in Parma get about 1,385 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 85% 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.

1,385Sun hours / yr
23Panels typical
$18,354Cost after credit
11.2 yrPayback
Solar is reasonable in Parma, not spectacular. A 11.2-year payback still beats most savings accounts over the panel's 25-year life, but it is not the slam dunk you'll see advertised.

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

What a typical Parma solar system costs

A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Parma home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,831 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Parma, at 15.2¢/kWh after the 30% federal tax credit
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 3,767$6,384 $573 11.1 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 5,651$9,576 $859 11.1 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 7,534$12,768 $1,145 11.1 yrs
20 panels8 kW 9,418$15,960 $1,432 11.1 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 12,243$20,748 $1,696 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 Parma gets 1,385 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Parma — 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 Parma reaches about 1,452 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,385 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,452 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (Ohio avg)15.2¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Federal tax credit30%
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated35%
Paid for exported powerfull retail (net metering)
Rooftops sampled here16
Google imagery from2023

Nearby cities

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

Parma solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Parma?

About 23 panels for an average home. Parma roofs get 1,385 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 471 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Parma?

At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,385 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11.2 years and returns roughly $22,715 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.

How much do solar panels cost in Parma?

A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.

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.