Solar panels in New Orleans, LA
Roofs in New Orleans get about 1,658 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 68% 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 New Orleans → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical New Orleans solar system costs
A 20-panel system (8 kW) is about right for an average New Orleans home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,274 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,510 | $6,384 | $546 | 11.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,765 | $9,576 | $819 | 11.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,020 | $12,768 | $1,091 | 11.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,274 | $15,960 | $1,321 | 12.1 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,657 | $20,748 | $1,423 | 14.6 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 New Orleans gets 1,658 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across New Orleans — 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 New Orleans reaches about 1,732 hours, roughly 4% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,658 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,732 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Louisiana avg) | 12.1¢/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 | 6 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of Louisiana → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
New Orleans solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in New Orleans?
About 20 panels for an average home. New Orleans roofs get 1,658 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 564 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in New Orleans?
At 12.1¢/kWh and 1,658 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.1 years and returns roughly $17,069 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in New Orleans?
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 Louisiana 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.