Solar panels in Providence, RI
Roofs in Providence get about 1,392 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 70% 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 Providence → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Providence solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Providence home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,885 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,786 | $6,384 | $1,072 | 6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,679 | $9,576 | $1,607 | 6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,572 | $12,768 | $2,143 | 6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,466 | $15,960 | $2,679 | 6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,305 | $20,748 | $3,163 | 6.6 yrs |
How we worked this out for Providence
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Providence rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,392 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
473 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 473 kWh per panel |
23 panels |
| 3 | System size 23 panels × 400W |
9.20 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 9.20 kW × 1,392 hrs × 0.85 |
10,885 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 9,200 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$18,354 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 28.3¢ + 7,105 kWh exported × 28.3¢ |
$3,062/yr |
| 7 | Payback $18,354 ÷ $3,062 per year |
6 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in Providence is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,105 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 — 6.0 years against the 6 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, 28.3¢/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 Providence gets 1,392 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Providence — 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 Providence reaches about 1,602 hours, roughly 15% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,392 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,602 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Rhode Island avg) | 28.3¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
When Providence actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of Providence's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | |
| Feb | 82 | |
| Mar | 112 | |
| Apr | 143 | |
| May | 166 | |
| Jun | 176 | |
| Jul | 171 | |
| Aug | 152 | |
| Sep | 123 | |
| Oct | 91 | |
| Nov | 64 | |
| Dec | 53 |
Providence produces about 3.3× as much in Jun as in Dec — a normal mid-latitude swing. Expect real winter shortfall and summer surplus rather than steady year-round output.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Providence's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Providence compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Providence | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,392 hrs | 553rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 13% | 22nd most |
| Median roof size | 166 m² | 484th largest |
| Electricity rate | 28.3¢ | 91st highest |
| Payback | 6 yrs | 21st fastest |
| Grid carbon | 445 kg/MWh | 630th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Providence:
- Shading is a real problem here. Providence loses 13% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 22nd-worst of the 788 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Expensive electricity works in your favour. At 28.3¢/kWh, Rhode Island is among the priciest places to buy power — which is exactly what makes generating your own pay back faster.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Providence's 1,392 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn, MA | 1,392 | 30.1¢ | 5.6 yrs |
| Saginaw, MI | 1,395 | 19.1¢ | 8.9 yrs |
| Charlottesville, VA | 1,396 | 14.2¢ | 11.9 yrs |
| Sheboygan, WI | 1,388 | 17.3¢ | 9.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Rhode Island → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Providence solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Providence?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Providence roofs get 1,392 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 473 kWh annually. A typical Providence roof fits about 55 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Providence?
At 28.3¢/kWh and 1,392 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 6 years and returns roughly $58,207 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 Providence?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 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 Rhode Island 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.