Solar panels in Vancouver, BC
Roofs in Vancouver get about 1,162 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 100% 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 Vancouver → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Vancouver solar system costs
A 28-panel system (11.2 kW) is about right for an average Vancouver home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,062 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,161 | CA$9,120 | CA$392 | 23.3 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 4,741 | CA$13,680 | CA$588 | 23.3 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 6,321 | CA$18,240 | CA$784 | 23.3 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 7,902 | CA$22,800 | CA$980 | 23.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 10,272 | CA$29,640 | CA$1,274 | 23.3 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 Vancouver gets 1,162 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Vancouver — 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 Vancouver reaches about 1,324 hours, roughly 14% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,162 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,324 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (British Columbia avg) | 12.4¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2021 |
Nearby cities
See all of British Columbia → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Vancouver solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Vancouver?
About 28 panels for an average home. Vancouver roofs get 1,162 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 395 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Vancouver?
At 12.4¢/kWh and 1,162 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 23.7 years and returns roughly CA$1,763 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Vancouver?
A 11.2 kW system costs about CA$31,920 before incentives . 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 British Columbia 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.