Solar panels in Richmond, IN
Roofs in Richmond get about 1,485 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 61% 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 Richmond → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Richmond solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Richmond home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,108 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,039 | $6,384 | $618 | 10.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,059 | $9,576 | $927 | 10.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,078 | $12,768 | $1,236 | 10.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,098 | $15,960 | $1,545 | 10.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,127 | $20,748 | $1,741 | 11.9 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 Richmond gets 1,485 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Richmond — 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 Richmond reaches about 1,573 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,485 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,573 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Indiana avg) | 15.3¢/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 | 11 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Richmond actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Richmond's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67 | |
| Feb | 90 | |
| Mar | 120 | |
| Apr | 151 | |
| May | 173 | |
| Jun | 182 | |
| Jul | 178 | |
| Aug | 160 | |
| Sep | 131 | |
| Oct | 99 | |
| Nov | 72 | |
| Dec | 61 |
Richmond produces about 3.0× 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 Richmond's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Richmond compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Richmond | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,485 hrs | 409th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 313th most |
| Median roof size | 198 m² | 365th largest |
| Electricity rate | 15.3¢ | 281st highest |
| Payback | 10.5 yrs | 374th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 883 kg/MWh | 78th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Richmond:
- Every kWh counts more here. The grid serving Richmond emits 883 kg CO₂ per MWh, among the highest of the 673 cities measured — so the same panels displace more emissions than they would elsewhere.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Richmond dates from 2014. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Richmond's 1,485 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ID | 1,485 | 11.2¢ | 14.4 yrs |
| Asheville, NC | 1,486 | 13.2¢ | 12.2 yrs |
| Woodbury, MN | 1,483 | 14.8¢ | 10.9 yrs |
| Edison, NJ | 1,483 | 19.4¢ | 8.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Indiana → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Richmond solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Richmond?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Richmond roofs get 1,485 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 505 kWh annually. A typical Richmond roof fits about 78 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Richmond?
At 15.3¢/kWh and 1,485 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.5 years and returns roughly $24,048 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 Richmond?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 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 Indiana 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.