Solar panels in Passaic, NJ
Roofs in Passaic get about 1,440 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 72% 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 Passaic → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Passaic solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Passaic home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,261 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| 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 |
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 Passaic gets 1,440 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Passaic — 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 Passaic reaches about 1,578 hours, roughly 10% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,440 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,578 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (New Jersey avg) | 19.4¢/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 | 16 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of New Jersey → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Passaic solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Passaic?
About 23 panels for an average home. Passaic roofs get 1,440 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 490 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Passaic?
At 19.4¢/kWh and 1,440 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.7 years and returns roughly $34,585 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Passaic?
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 New Jersey 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.