Solar Panel Calculator
Estimate solar costs, savings and payback in minutes
7 followers
Estimate solar costs, savings and payback in minutes
7 followers
Free solar panel calculator for US homeowners. Estimate system size, panel count, installation cost, tax credit, savings, and payback time in minutes.
Would love to see a shading analysis built in. Even a simple input where you describe nearby trees or obstructions and get a rough output derate on your production estimate would be really useful. Most people I know grossly overestimate their roof's true solar potential and that one extra step could save folks from being disappointed by their actual first year production numbers.
@kaanalayandvxb Thanks, that’s a great suggestion. Shading is probably one of the biggest factors the current estimate cannot fully account for. I’m considering adding a simple shading adjustment based on nearby trees, roof orientation and estimated daily obstruction, without making the calculator overly complicated.
Finally tried a few inputs and the payback time estimate felt realistic for my area, which is more than I can say for other calculators I've poked at. The tax credit breakdown was a nice touch.
@ezels5ii Thanks for trying it out! I’m glad the payback estimate felt realistic for your area. The tax credit breakdown was included because it can make a surprisingly large difference to the final numbers.
Pulled up a quick estimate on my house and the panel count plus payback timeline felt realistic based on the quotes I got last year. The tax credit breakdown is a nice touch.
@eymenevf2 Really appreciate the feedback! It’s great to hear the panel count and payback estimate were close to the quotes you received. That kind of real-world comparison is especially useful for improving the calculator.