Solar panels in Mobile, AL
Roofs in Mobile get about 1,613 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 64% 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 Mobile → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Mobile solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average Mobile home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,968 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,387 | $6,384 | $680 | 9.4 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,581 | $9,576 | $1,020 | 9.4 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,775 | $12,768 | $1,360 | 9.4 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,968 | $15,960 | $1,681 | 9.5 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,259 | $20,748 | $1,808 | 11.5 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 Mobile gets 1,613 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Mobile — 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 Mobile reaches about 1,725 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,613 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,725 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Alabama avg) | 15.5¢/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 | 6 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
Nearby cities
See all of Alabama → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Mobile solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Mobile?
About 20 panels for an average home. Mobile roofs get 1,613 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 548 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Mobile?
At 15.5¢/kWh and 1,613 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.5 years and returns roughly $26,053 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Mobile?
A 8 kW system costs about $22,800 before incentives and $15,960 after the 30% federal tax credit. 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 Alabama 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.