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Solar panels in Quebec City, QC

Roofs in Quebec City get about 1,408 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 78% 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.

1,408Sun hours / yr
23Panels typical
CA$26,220Cost after credit
30.6 yrPayback
Be careful in Quebec City. At a 30.6-year payback, solar here is a long-horizon decision, mostly because electricity is relatively cheap (7.9¢/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 Quebec City → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.

What a typical Quebec City solar system costs

A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Quebec City home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,011 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Quebec City, at 7.9¢/kWh
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 3,830CA$9,120 CA$303 30.1 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 5,745CA$13,680 CA$454 30.1 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 7,660CA$18,240 CA$605 30.1 yrs
20 panels8 kW 9,574CA$22,800 CA$756 30.1 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 12,447CA$29,640 CA$886 33.5 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 Quebec City gets 1,408 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Quebec City — 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 Quebec City reaches about 1,485 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,408 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,485 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (Quebec avg)7.9¢/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 here12
Google imagery from2024

Nearby cities

Solar panels in MontrealQuebecSolar panels in LavalQuebecSolar panels in BurlingtonVermontSolar panels in PortlandMaineSolar panels in ManchesterNew HampshireSolar panels in CambridgeMassachusetts

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

Quebec City solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Quebec City?

About 23 panels for an average home. Quebec City roofs get 1,408 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 479 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Quebec City?

At 7.9¢/kWh and 1,408 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 30.6 years and returns roughly CA$-4,786 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.

How much do solar panels cost in Quebec City?

A 9.2 kW system costs about CA$26,220 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 Quebec 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.