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Solar panels in Burnaby, BC

Roofs in Burnaby get about 1,196 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 98% 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.

1,196Sun hours / yr
27Panels typical
CA$30,780Cost after credit
22.9 yrPayback
Be careful in Burnaby. At a 22.9-year payback, solar here is a long-horizon decision, mostly because electricity is relatively cheap (12.4¢/kWh). It can still make sense if rates rise or you have local incentives — but check the numbers hard before signing.

Check your specific roof in Burnaby → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.

What a typical Burnaby solar system costs

A 27-panel system (10.8 kW) is about right for an average Burnaby home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,979 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Burnaby, at 12.4¢/kWh
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 3,253CA$9,120 CA$403 22.6 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 4,880CA$13,680 CA$605 22.6 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 6,506CA$18,240 CA$807 22.6 yrs
20 panels8 kW 8,133CA$22,800 CA$1,008 22.6 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 10,573CA$29,640 CA$1,311 22.6 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 Burnaby gets 1,196 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Burnaby — 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 Burnaby reaches about 1,269 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,196 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,269 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (British Columbia avg)12.4¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated34%
Paid for exported powerfull retail (net metering)
Rooftops sampled here13
Google imagery from2014

Nearby cities

Solar panels in SurreyBritish ColumbiaSolar panels in VancouverBritish ColumbiaSolar panels in VictoriaBritish ColumbiaSolar panels in SeattleWashingtonSolar panels in BellevueWashingtonSolar panels in TacomaWashington

See all of British Columbia → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.

Burnaby solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Burnaby?

About 27 panels for an average home. Burnaby roofs get 1,196 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 407 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Burnaby?

At 12.4¢/kWh and 1,196 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 22.9 years and returns roughly CA$2,839 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.

How much do solar panels cost in Burnaby?

A 10.8 kW system costs about CA$30,780 before incentives . Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.

Worth reading before you buy

What your utility pays for exportsChanges payback more than any equipment choice 12 questions to ask before signingIdentical systems vary 30–40% in price How long do panels last?Guide How long until it pays for itself?Guide

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.