Solar panels in Charleston, SC: payback and output
A kW of south-facing panels in Charleston produces about 1,454 kWh a year, about the same as Columbia, the South Carolina reference city. Summer months produce 1.4× what winter does. To cover a typical 10,500 kWh/yr home on paper you'd need roughly 7.2 kW.
Output by month in Charleston (kWh per kW)
Best: May · weakest: Dec.
Example 7 kW system in Charleston
- Installed cost (example)
- $21,000
- Production, year 1
- 10,179 kWh
- Savings, year 1
- $1,575
- Payback
- 12.6 years
- 25-year net gain
- $26,859
Uses the South Carolina average price (15.47¢/kWh, EIA July 2026), full net metering and no incentives. Your utility's rate and export credit may differ — change them below.
Roof direction in Charleston
Yearly output per kW of panels at a 20° pitch, and how it compares with a south-facing roof.
| Roof faces | kWh per kW/yr | vs. south |
|---|---|---|
| South | 1,454 | — |
| Southeast | 1,405 | −3% |
| Southwest | 1,389 | −4% |
| East | 1,269 | −13% |
| West | 1,247 | −14% |
| East-west (split) | 1,258 | −13% |
Calculate your home in Charleston
Estimated payback
12.6 years
A solid case if you plan to stay in the home.
≈ $131/month off your bill in year 1
- Year-1 savings
- $1,575
- 25-yr net gain
- $26,859
- Return (IRR)
- 6.9%
- Net cost
- $21,000
Cumulative savings minus cost
Production vs. use by month
10,179 kWh/yr
Covers 40% of your use directly; 41% of the output is used on the spot.
Which size pays off best?
Same usage and prices, only size changes. Best 25-year gain: 8 kW.
| Size | Cost | Year-1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kW | $9,000 | $675 | 13.5 years | $10,083 |
| 4 kW | $12,000 | $900 | 13.1 years | $14,277 |
| 5 kW | $15,000 | $1,125 | 12.8 years | $18,471 |
| 6 kW | $18,000 | $1,350 | 12.7 years | $22,665 |
| 7 kW | $21,000 | $1,575 | 12.6 years | $26,859 |
| 8 kW | $24,000 | $1,624 | 13.3 years | $28,867 |
| 10 kW | $30,000 | $1,624 | 16.1 years | $22,984 |
| 12 kW | $36,000 | $1,624 | 18.6 years | $16,984 |
Read the full South Carolina solar guide for net metering, orientation and price trends.
Other cities in South Carolina
Cities with similar sunshine
Solar in Charleston: common questions
Are solar panels worth it in Charleston, SC?
For an example 7 kW system costing $21,000 on a home using 10,500 kWh a year, payback in Charleston is 12.6 years with full net metering and 17.1 years if exports earn half the retail rate, at the South Carolina average price of 15.47¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026).
How much electricity do solar panels produce in Charleston?
About 1,454 kWh per year for each kW of south-facing panels at a 20° pitch (NLR PVWatts, typical-year weather), from 86 kWh in Dec to 148 kWh in May.
What size solar system does a home in Charleston need?
About 7.2 kW to cover 10,500 kWh a year. Divide your own annual use by 1,454 kWh per kW for a first estimate; if exports earn less than retail, a smaller system often pays back faster.
Does roof direction matter in Charleston?
Yes. Per kW at a 20° pitch: south 1,454 kWh, southeast 1,405 kWh, southwest 1,389 kWh, east 1,269 kWh, west 1,247 kWh, east-west (split) 1,258 kWh a year. South-facing roofs produce the most; east or west roofs still work, with less output.
Guides for going solar in Charleston
- Payback · 4 minIs solar still worth it without the 30% federal tax credit?The 30% federal solar credit is gone for new systems. We ran payback for every state without it, and compared it with what the credit used to do.
- Planning · 3 minHow many solar panels do I need? Sizing from your electric billA step-by-step way to size a home solar system from your annual kWh, daytime use and local sunshine, with real size-vs-payback tables for four states.
- Payback · 4 minNet metering vs. net billing: how export credits change paybackHow much your utility pays for exported solar power can add years to payback. We compare full, half and quarter-retail credits in every state.
- Planning · 6 minEast- or West-Facing Roof: Is Solar Still Worth It?East- or west-facing solar panels made about 14.5% to 14.8% less power than south-facing ones across U.S. states. See where the loss is biggest and smallest.
- Planning · 6 minSolar Panels in Winter: Output by State vs. SummerHow much do solar panels make in winter? Winter vs. summer output per kW for U.S. states, why the gap grows up north, and what it means for net metering.
- Payback · 5 minRising electricity prices: where solar pays back fastestCompare electricity prices and solar payback by state: see where a rooftop system pays back fastest, where it is slowest, and why credit rules matter.
Data: NLR PVWatts v8 (U.S. DOE National Laboratory of the Rockies, formerly NREL), TMY weather near Charleston (32.78, -79.93), 14% losses, retrieved 2026-10-11. Published 2026-10-15.