Solar panels in Providence, RI
Roofs in Providence get about 1,392 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 81% 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 Providence → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Providence solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Providence home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,885 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,786 | $6,384 | $1,072 | 6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,679 | $9,576 | $1,607 | 6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,572 | $12,768 | $2,143 | 6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,466 | $15,960 | $2,679 | 6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,305 | $20,748 | $3,163 | 6.6 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 Providence gets 1,392 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Providence — 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 Providence reaches about 1,602 hours, roughly 15% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,392 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,602 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Rhode Island avg) | 28.3¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
Nearby cities
Providence solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Providence?
About 23 panels for an average home. Providence roofs get 1,392 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 473 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Providence?
At 28.3¢/kWh and 1,392 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 6 years and returns roughly $58,207 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Providence?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 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 Rhode Island 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.