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Solar panels in Peterborough, ON

Roofs in Peterborough get about 1,519 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 54% 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.

1,519Sun hours / yr
21Panels typical
CA$23,940Cost after credit
14.6 yrPayback
Be careful in Peterborough. At a 14.6-year payback, solar here is a long-horizon decision, mostly because electricity is relatively cheap (15.2¢/kWh). It can still make sense if rates rise or you have local incentives — but check the numbers hard before signing.

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

What a typical Peterborough solar system costs

A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Peterborough home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,846 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Peterborough, at 15.2¢/kWh
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 4,132CA$9,120 CA$628 14.5 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 6,198CA$13,680 CA$942 14.5 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 8,263CA$18,240 CA$1,256 14.5 yrs
20 panels8 kW 10,329CA$22,800 CA$1,570 14.5 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 13,428CA$29,640 CA$1,741 17 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 Peterborough gets 1,519 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Peterborough — 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 Peterborough reaches about 1,567 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,519 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,567 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (Ontario avg)15.2¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated35%
Paid for exported powerfull retail (net metering)
Rooftops sampled here5
Google imagery from2015

Nearby cities

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

Peterborough solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Peterborough?

About 21 panels for an average home. Peterborough roofs get 1,519 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 516 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Peterborough?

At 15.2¢/kWh and 1,519 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 14.6 years and returns roughly CA$17,143 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.

How much do solar panels cost in Peterborough?

A 8.4 kW system costs about CA$23,940 before incentives . Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.

Worth reading before you buy

What your utility pays for exportsChanges payback more than any equipment choice 12 questions to ask before signingIdentical systems vary 30–40% in price Is a battery worth it?Guide How long do panels last?Guide

Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Ontario 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.