Solar panels in Williston, ND
Roofs in Williston get about 1,506 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 58% 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 Williston → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Williston solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Williston home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,265 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,096 | $6,384 | $455 | 14 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,144 | $9,576 | $682 | 14 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,193 | $12,768 | $909 | 14 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,241 | $15,960 | $1,137 | 14 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,313 | $20,748 | $1,269 | 16.4 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 Williston gets 1,506 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Williston — 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 Williston reaches about 1,586 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,506 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,586 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (North Dakota avg) | 11.1¢/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 | 5 |
| Google imagery from | 2017 |
When Williston actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 40% of Williston's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 10% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | |
| Feb | 79 | |
| Mar | 117 | |
| Apr | 160 | |
| May | 194 | |
| Jun | 208 | |
| Jul | 201 | |
| Aug | 173 | |
| Sep | 133 | |
| Oct | 90 | |
| Nov | 57 | |
| Dec | 44 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Williston produces roughly 4.7× 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 Williston's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Williston compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Williston | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,506 hrs | 387th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 5% | 354th most |
| Median roof size | 98 m² | 638th largest |
| Electricity rate | 11.1¢ | 661st highest |
| Payback | 14.5 yrs | 593rd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 832 kg/MWh | 112th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Williston:
- Small roofs. The median Williston roof is 98 m², smaller than 95% of cities measured — worth checking your own footprint before assuming a standard system fits.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. North Dakota power costs about 11.1¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Williston dates from 2017. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Williston's 1,506 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pendleton, OR | 1,506 | 12.4¢ | 13 yrs |
| Columbia, MD | 1,505 | 18.3¢ | 8.8 yrs |
| Durham, NC | 1,505 | 13.2¢ | 12.2 yrs |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 1,507 | 12.3¢ | 13.1 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of North Dakota → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Williston solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Williston?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Williston roofs get 1,506 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 512 kWh annually. A typical Williston roof fits about 36 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Williston?
At 11.1¢/kWh and 1,506 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 14.5 years and returns roughly $12,737 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 Williston?
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 North Dakota 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.