Solar Panel ROI Calculator
Payback period + lifetime savings of solar panels
$
$/kWh
%
$/kWh
%
Payback period
—
25-year net savings
$—
ROI
—%
CO₂ avoided / year
— kg
📊 25-year breakdown
| Year | kWh | Savings | Cumulative |
|---|
📚 Learn more — how it works, FAQ & guide Click to expand
Learn more — how it works, FAQ & guide
Click to expand
Free solar panel ROI calculator — 25-year projection
Calculate your solar panel return on investment. Payback period, lifetime savings, ROI, and CO2 offset. Factors self-consumption ratio, degradation, and feed-in tariffs.
How to use this tool
- 1
Enter system cost
Total installed cost after government rebates/credits.
- 2
Annual production
kWh your system generates per year. Your installer quotes this. Typical: 1000-1500 kWh/kWp in EU, 1400-1800 in US.
- 3
Electricity rate
What you pay per kWh from the grid. Rising rates = faster payback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typical solar payback period?
6-12 years in most markets. Depends on: system cost, subsidies, electricity rate, sun exposure, self-consumption rate. Germany: 8-14 years. Spain/Italy: 5-8 years. Sunny US states: 6-10 years.
Do panels last 25 years?
Yes, most manufacturers warranty 80-90% output after 25 years. Real-world degradation ~0.5%/year. Inverter typically needs replacement around year 12-15 (budget $1-3K for that).
Self-consumption vs feed-in?
Self-consumed power saves you retail rate ($0.20-0.40/kWh in EU). Fed-back to grid earns wholesale rate ($0.04-0.10/kWh). Higher self-consumption = faster payback. Battery storage helps.
What about batteries?
Add $5-15K. Increases self-consumption from 30-40% to 70-80%. Payback typically adds 3-5 years to total but makes you more energy-independent.
Government incentives?
Germany: KfW loans, Einspeisevergütung, no VAT on residential. US: 30% federal ITC + state/utility rebates. UK: Smart Export Guarantee. Italy: ecobonus 50%. Always check latest — these change yearly.
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100% Privacy. This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your data is never uploaded to any server.