Colorado solar panels guide 2021
Updated August 18, 2020Colorado is one of the best states to live in, and because the people who live there care about the natural environment, it’s also one of the best places to add solar panels to your home. The state has a commitment to get 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2050, and you can be a part of that. Luckily, Colorado makes it easier by offering a few great incentives to help reduce the cost!
On this page:
Solar power prices, savings and payback in your part of Colorado
The average cost for an installed residential solar system in Colorado is currently $11,122 after claiming the 26% federal solar tax credit. This is $2.51 per watt. However, there is some variance in solar prices in different parts of the state. The graph below shows the average cost of installed solar systems in your part of the state.
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 5.3kW system, after 26% federal tax credit
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$23,442-$28,651
Payback period
7-8.5 years
Recommended size for the selected utility bill
5.3kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 5.3kW system
Are solar panels worth it in Colorado
Solar panels have fallen in price by more than 80% in the last ten years. In 2020 they also remain subsidized by the 26% federal tax credit and the net metering law, making them an excellent investment. They offer a return well above the long term average return from both the share market and also property investment.
Another way to look at this question is the levelized amount you will pay for each kWh of power you will use over the next 25 years with and without solar panels. As you can see below the savings are significant.
Levelized cost of solar energy
?
Levelized cost per kWh is the cost of the solar system divided by the total number of kWh produced by a solar system over it’s lifetime
5¢ /kWh
If you don't get solar
22¢ /kWh
(forecast avg Colorado electric rates over the next 25 years)
CO solar panel cost calculator
Colorado solar incentives & tax credits
Federal solar tax credit
The most important solar incentive in the country is the federal solar investment tax credit, or ITC for short. For 2020, the ITC can earn you up to 26% of the cost to install solar back as a tax credit on your federal taxes in the year after installation. At the end of 2020, the amount of the credit will decrease from 26% to 22%.
Net metering
Colorado does have a statewide net metering program. This means the utility company will give solar owners full credit for any excess energy their panels generate and send to the grid.
Other incentives
Colorado offers sales and property tax exemptions that reduce the up-front and long-term costs of going solar.
If you’re an Xcel customer (over half the state), you can qualify for a special program called Solar*Rewards, which earns you an extra few cents for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity your solar panels generate. That might seem like small potatoes until you learn that the average-sized home solar system in Colorado generates about 9,500 kWh per year, earning its owner close to $700 in Solar*Rewards payments. That’s pretty great!
Table 2: Available incentive programs
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Eligibility: Federal incentive
Type: Personal Tax Credit
|
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Eligibility: State incentive
Type: Sales Tax Incentive
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Best unit price
$562.50 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,120.18
($2.49 p/w)
LG375A1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$430.00 ($1.15 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,919.30
($2.65 p/w)
LG375Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$320.00 ($0.96 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,721.85
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1K-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$473.34 ($1.30 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$13,231.07
($2.59 p/w)
LG365Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
365 watts
Efficiency
21.1
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$291.18 ($0.88 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,361.15
($2.50 p/w)
VBH330RA03K overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.7
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$340.00 ($1.00 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$14,280.00
($2.80 p/w)
VBHN340SA17 HIT+ overview
Rated power
340 watts
Efficiency
20.3
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$432.00 ($1.31 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,561.26
($2.54 p/w)
VBHN330SA17E overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.7
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$297.60 ($0.89 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,443.08
($2.68 p/w)
VBHN335SA17 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
20
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$600.00 ($1.83 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,808.41
($2.61 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-COM overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$800.00 ($2.22 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,201.67
($2.62 p/w)
SPR-X22-360 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
22.2
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,703.10
($2.79 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-D-AC overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,610.59
($2.77 p/w)
SPR-E20-327 overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$240.01 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.8kW system
$10,376.12
($2.16 p/w)
CS3W-400PB-AG overview
Rated power
400 watts
Efficiency
17.9
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
polycrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$205.00 ($0.58 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,048.27
($2.02 p/w)
CS3U-355PB-AG overview
Rated power
355 watts
Efficiency
17.7
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
polycrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$207.90 ($0.66 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,561.03
($2.10 p/w)
CS3K-315MS overview
Rated power
315 watts
Efficiency
18.96
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$247.00 ($0.75 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,886.87
($2.20 p/w)
CS1H-330MS BLACK overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.57
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$165.00 ($0.53 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$9,761.72
($1.97 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-310M overview
Rated power
310 watts
Efficiency
18.7
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$196.11 ($0.65 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$9,948.02
($1.95 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-300M overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.1
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$172.00 ($0.56 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,568.53
($1.96 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-305M overview
Rated power
305 watts
Efficiency
18.4
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$228.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,579.65
($1.94 p/w)
LR4-60HPH-380M overview
Rated power
380 watts
Efficiency
20.9
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Average cost of solar panel installation in Colorado by system size
System size* |
Cash purchase(After tax credit) |
Financed purchase(After tax credit) |
|---|---|---|
| 4kW | $10,788 | $11,543 |
| 5kW | $13,030 | $13,942 |
| 6kW | $15,030 | $16,082 |
| 7kW | $17,752 | $18,995 |
| 8kW | $20,328 | $21,751 |
| 9kW | $22,284 | $23,844 |
| 10kW | $24,520 | $26,236 |
Best solar companies in the main cities of Colorado
Home solar basics
Is it better to lease or buy solar panels in Colorado
You will save most money by buying your solar system rather than leasing it. Read more about the pros and cons of leasing vs buying solar.
How long do solar panels last?
Minimum of 25 years but generally 30 or more
How do solar panels work on a home?
Solar panels power your house when they can but your home uses the utility company for power at other times. In 2021 "solar systems with battery storage" are becoming more popular. These are known as hybrid systems.
How do solar panels work?
Grid-tied solar system
A grid-tied system is the most common type of solar system. It has no solar battery for backup power and utilizes net metering to maximize savings. Solar panels are mounted on your roof then wired together, and the power generated flows into an inverter where direct current (DC) electricity is converted into alternating current (AC) electricity. This electricity is either used by your home or is exported to the utility grid.
Hybrid solar system
In hybrid solar systems, rooftop solar panels are connected to both a solar battery and the electric grid. The solar electricity generated by your panels that your home does not use is stored in the battery instead of being sent to the grid, which reduces your reliance on the utility while also providing backup power when needed. Battery storage is still expensive but you may be able to reduce costs by using state incentives.
Off-grid solar system
Off-grid solar systems are not connected to the grid at all, so all of your energy needs must be met by the sun. There is no utility to fall back on. The solar installation needs to power your home not only during the day, but after dark as well, so many solar panels and a large battery system are required. These systems are often expensive and don’t make sense for homes that have access to the grid.
Read more about types of home solar systems.
Do solar panels require regular maintenance?
No, but cleaning them can improve power generation if they are dirty.
Will residential solar power system cost fall in Colorado in 2021?
Given this environment, and the effect of import tariffs placed on solar panels by the Trump administration during 2018, it is hard to see that solar power system prices in Colorado will fall during 2021.
How much electricity do solar panel systems generate in Colorado?
Depending on the location, solar panels will generate different amounts of electricity.
A solar system that is installed on a south-facing 27-degree pitch roof Colorado will generate 1,150kWh of peak DC (direct current) capacity per year per 1kW in the Denver area.
Enter your details into the solar panel calculator to see how your location, roof tilt, and roof direction impacts solar panel production.
What are the pros and cons of installing solar panels in Colorado?
The biggest advantages in Colorado for installing solar panels are the Xcel Energy Solar*Rewards program and the 26% federal tax credit. Colorado also offers those solar tax exemptions that make doing the right thing easier by reducing cost and uncertainty.
One downside to installing solar panels in Colorado is the relatively low cost of electricity here. At about $.12/kWh, Colorado is below the national average of $.13/kWh. That means if you’re not an Xcel customer, you might find the financial benefits of solar to be less great than they are in other states.
Still, Colorado rooftops get lots of sun, meaning every solar panel generates more electricity here than it does in cloudy states at higher latitudes. With incentives set to go away soon, now is the time to see how much you can save with solar in the Centennial state!
Enter your details to calculate the cost and savings you are likely to get from installing solar panels for your home.
What you can learn from our state solar panel calculator
This solar calculator requires you to input your address, utility company, your average monthly power spend - it tells you:
- What size solar system do you need?
- Answers the question of How many solar panels do I need?
- How many square feet of roof space you need for solar panels
- Solar electricity production in annual kWh (kilowatt-hours) you can expect from your solar system in Colorado
- The value of solar tax credits and other incentives you are entitled to based on the estimated size of system you need, your location and your utility provider.
- Likely cost based on an average of prices charged for solar systems of that size in the last year in Colorado or
- The likely payback period on your solar panels and your investment return.
- Your total lifetime solar savings based on each of the major solar finance options, a cash purchase, a cash purchase funded with a HELOC (home equity line of credit) and a zero-down PPA or third party lease product.
If you want to see all of the above but also see live pricing, the three best solar deals available in your city and get binding quotes from each of these solar companies then use this Colorado solar panels calculator. This calculator requires you to also input your name and contact details because most of our 200+ installer partners will only authorize the sharing of their live solar pricing where we have validated that you are a real homeowner with a home in their service area. We respect the privacy of your data and only share your contact details with the solar companies you ask us to get binding quotes from.
Note: Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives are the solar installers who specialize in your area.
Useful links
Related solar news
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January 26, 2021
The state of net metering in the United States in 2021
This annual report ranks the states for friendliness to home solar based on their net metering programs.
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July 2, 2020
Low-income solar incentives in the US
Across the US, several states have programs that provide free solar panels for low-income households.
Ben Zientara
January 21, 2019
What is a solar carve-out?
A solar-carve out sets a specific goal for electricity generation from solar panels in a state’s energy mix. It often includes incentives for installing solar.
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October 19, 2021
What is a solar array and are they right for your home?
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How SCE customers can save money with solar panels
Southern California Edison (SCE) has solar programs that can help you save money on energy bills, but they are set to expire soon.