Solar panels in Wenatchee, WA
Roofs in Wenatchee get about 1,615 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 60% 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 Wenatchee → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Wenatchee solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average Wenatchee home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,982 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,393 | $6,384 | $496 | 12.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,589 | $9,576 | $745 | 12.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,786 | $12,768 | $993 | 12.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,982 | $15,960 | $1,226 | 13 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,277 | $20,748 | $1,319 | 15.7 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 Wenatchee gets 1,615 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Wenatchee — 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 Wenatchee reaches about 1,623 hours, roughly 0% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,615 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,623 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Washington avg) | 11.3¢/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 | 8 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Wenatchee actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 40% of Wenatchee's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 10% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | |
| Feb | 86 | |
| Mar | 126 | |
| Apr | 171 | |
| May | 206 | |
| Jun | 221 | |
| Jul | 213 | |
| Aug | 185 | |
| Sep | 142 | |
| Oct | 97 | |
| Nov | 63 | |
| Dec | 49 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Wenatchee produces roughly 4.5× 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 Wenatchee's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Wenatchee compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Wenatchee | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,615 hrs | 270th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 0% | 669th most |
| Median roof size | 256 m² | 199th largest |
| Electricity rate | 11.3¢ | 624th highest |
| Payback | 13 yrs | 556th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 696 kg/MWh | 277th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Wenatchee:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 0% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Wenatchee — better than all but 4 of the 673 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 96 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Wenatchee.
- Sunnier than the rest of Washington. Wenatchee roofs get 29% more usable sunlight than the typical Washington city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. Washington power costs about 11.3¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Wenatchee's 1,615 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | 1,615 | 12.1¢ | 12.2 yrs |
| Mobile, AL | 1,613 | 15.5¢ | 9.5 yrs |
| Lawrence, KS | 1,617 | 14.1¢ | 10.4 yrs |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,612 | 15.3¢ | 9.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Washington → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Wenatchee solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Wenatchee?
About 20 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Wenatchee roofs get 1,615 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 549 kWh annually. A typical Wenatchee roof fits about 96 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Wenatchee?
At 11.3¢/kWh and 1,615 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 13 years and returns roughly $14,679 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 Wenatchee?
A 8 kW system costs about $22,800 before incentives and $15,960 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 Washington 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.