Solar panels in Rhinelander, WI
Roofs in Rhinelander get about 1,321 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 92% 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 Rhinelander → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Rhinelander solar system costs
A 25-panel system (10 kW) is about right for an average Rhinelander home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,229 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,593 | $6,384 | $622 | 10.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,390 | $9,576 | $932 | 10.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,186 | $12,768 | $1,243 | 10.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,983 | $15,960 | $1,554 | 10.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 11,678 | $20,748 | $1,906 | 10.9 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 Rhinelander gets 1,321 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Rhinelander — 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 Rhinelander reaches about 1,482 hours, roughly 12% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,321 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,482 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Wisconsin avg) | 17.3¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2015 |
When Rhinelander actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 39% of Rhinelander's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 11% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49 | |
| Feb | 73 | |
| Mar | 104 | |
| Apr | 139 | |
| May | 165 | |
| Jun | 176 | |
| Jul | 170 | |
| Aug | 149 | |
| Sep | 117 | |
| Oct | 82 | |
| Nov | 55 | |
| Dec | 43 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Rhinelander produces roughly 4.1× as much in Jun as in Dec. A system sized to cover your annual usage will overproduce badly in summer and fall well short in winter, so how your utility credits exported power matters more here than in most places.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Rhinelander's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Rhinelander compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Rhinelander | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,321 hrs | 619th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 11% | 54th most |
| Median roof size | 119 m² | 604th largest |
| Electricity rate | 17.3¢ | 205th highest |
| Payback | 10.6 yrs | 384th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 794 kg/MWh | 163rd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Rhinelander:
- Shading is a real problem here. Rhinelander loses 11% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 54th-worst of the 673 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Dimmer than the rest of Wisconsin. Rhinelander roofs get 11% less usable sunlight than the typical Wisconsin city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Rhinelander dates from 2015. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Rhinelander's 1,321 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI | 1,322 | 19.1¢ | 9.6 yrs |
| Concord, NH | 1,323 | 25.3¢ | 7.2 yrs |
| Red Deer, AB | 1,318 | 18.1¢ | 14.4 yrs |
| Hillsboro, OR | 1,317 | 12.4¢ | 14.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Wisconsin → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Rhinelander solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Rhinelander?
About 25 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Rhinelander roofs get 1,321 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 449 kWh annually. A typical Rhinelander roof fits about 40 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Rhinelander?
At 17.3¢/kWh and 1,321 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.6 years and returns roughly $27,223 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Rhinelander?
A 10 kW system costs about $28,500 before incentives and $19,950 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 Wisconsin 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.