Solar panels in Winnipeg, MB
Roofs in Winnipeg get about 1,389 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 82% 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 Winnipeg → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Winnipeg solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Winnipeg home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,862 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,778 | CA$9,120 | CA$382 | 23.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,667 | CA$13,680 | CA$572 | 23.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,556 | CA$18,240 | CA$763 | 23.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,445 | CA$22,800 | CA$954 | 23.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,279 | CA$29,640 | CA$1,128 | 26.3 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 Winnipeg gets 1,389 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Winnipeg — 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 Winnipeg reaches about 1,530 hours, roughly 10% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,389 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,530 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Manitoba avg) | 10.1¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 16 |
| Google imagery from | 2015 |
Nearby cities
Winnipeg solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Winnipeg?
About 23 panels for an average home. Winnipeg roofs get 1,389 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 472 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Winnipeg?
At 10.1¢/kWh and 1,389 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 24 years and returns roughly CA$1,089 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Winnipeg?
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
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Manitoba 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.