Kentucky solar panels
Updated August 18, 2020Main topics:
Solar panel cost in Kentucky
The average cost for an installed residential solar system in Kentucky is currently $10,398 after claiming the 26% federal solar tax credit. This is $2.34 per watt.
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Prices based on a 4.9kW system, after 26% federal tax credit
Solar prices near you
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$40,920-$50,013
Payback period
5.2-6.3 years
Recommended size for the selected utility bill
4.9kW
Chart 1: Distribution curve of KY residential solar cost 2020
$10K
SolarReviews average$10K
SolarReviews average
Note: Prices after 26% Federal Solar Tax Credit
KY solar panel cost calculator
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 4.9kW system
Kentucky solar power overview
Kentucky residents don’t have access to as many solar incentives as residents in other states. Although there is room for improvement in the realm of solar incentives, Kentucky does have a great net metering policy that gives customers a credit on their utility bill for the full retail value of each excess kWh their solar system produces.
The combination of the 26% federal tax credit and net metering creates the potential for a ton of savings on solar system installations in Kentucky.
Are solar panels worth it in Kentucky
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
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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
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6¢ /kWh
If you don't get solar
23¢ /kWh
(forecast avg Kentucky electric rates over the next 25 years)
Kentucky solar incentives & tax credits
Federal solar tax credit
The most significant incentive to install solar panels for homes and businesses in Kentucky is the federal solar tax credit. At the end of 2020, the amount of the credit will decrease from 26% to 22% of the cost of the solar installation.
Because home and business owners want to get the largest incentive amount possible, solar panel installation companies will likely be flooded with new projects before year’s end. In order to maximize your savings potential, the best time to go solar in Kentucky is now.
Net metering
Kentucky law used to require utilities to offer full retail net metering to their customers, which meant that customers received the full retail value for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy their solar panel systems produced.
However, in 2019, Kentucky passed a senate bill that could dramatically change the future of net metering. The new bill allows the Public Service Commission to determine the rate at which excess generation will be credited. This means that there is now no guarantee that customers will receive the full retail rate.
Table 2: Available incentive programs
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Eligibility: Federal incentive
Type: Personal Tax Credit
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Eligibility: Utility incentive
Type: Performance-Based Incentive
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Best unit price
$320.00 ($0.96 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,394.86
($2.47 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
$562.50 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$11,808.66
($2.42 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
$12,587.24
($2.58 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
$473.34 ($1.30 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$12,891.00
($2.52 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
$12,031.30
($2.43 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
$12,968.34
($2.54 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
$12,226.07
($2.47 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
$13,084.36
($2.60 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
$12,430.82
($2.53 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
$12,812.49
($2.54 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
$13,299.13
($2.71 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
$13,209.35
($2.69 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
$10,269.94
($2.14 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
$9,945.44
($2.00 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
$10,452.95
($2.07 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
$10,775.46
($2.18 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
$172.00 ($0.56 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,505.31
($1.95 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
$165.00 ($0.53 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$9,697.23
($1.96 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
$9,882.30
($1.94 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
$234.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$10,059.83
($1.98 p/w)
LR6-72HBD-390M overview
Rated power
390 watts
Efficiency
19.4
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Average cost of solar panel installation in Kentucky by system size
System size* |
Cash purchase(After tax credit) |
Financed purchase(After tax credit) |
|---|---|---|
| 4kW | $10,232 | $10,948 |
| 5kW | $12,250 | $13,108 |
| 6kW | $14,052 | $15,036 |
| 7kW | $16,205 | $17,339 |
| 8kW | $18,640 | $19,945 |
| 9kW | $20,430 | $21,860 |
| 10kW | $22,430 | $24,000 |
Best solar companies in the main cities of Kentucky
Home solar basics
Is it better to lease or buy solar panels in Kentucky
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 2020 "solar systems with battery storage" are becoming more popular. These are known as hybrid systems.
How do solar panels work?
Grid-tied solar system
Solar panels are mounted on your roof and wired together in groups called solar arrays. The power they generate flows into a solar inverter where the direct current (DC) electricity is converted into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used by your home or exported to the electric grid.
Off-grid solar system
Off-grid solar power involves meeting all your energy needs from the power of the sun. There’s no utility to fall back on. This means the solar installation needs to power the home not just during the day, when the sun is shining, but after dark as well.
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 Kentucky in 2020?
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 Kentucky will fall during 2020.
Can you buy DIY Solar Panel Kits and install them yourself in Kentucky?
Yes you can! In some cases, you can save $3,000 or more when you install solar yourself, even after receiving the federal tax credit. Despite the potential for savings, data from Lawrence Berkeley Labs shows that only about 3% of homeowners choose DIY solar.
Reasons for this include:
- The permitting and inspection process for the utility, the state, and municipalities can be quite complex.
- The installation work is both dangerous and difficult, with electrical work having to be performed at heights.
- Often times, solar electricity customers will be charged a premium for DIY installations, which can limit savings.
- In some states, a solar system needs to be installed by a qualified solar contractor in order to take advantage of incentives. In Kentucky, a licensed electrician must be involved in the project in order to pull permits and connect to the grid. TVA requires a NABCEP-certified installer to install the system in order to receive the rebate.
SolarReviews does not recommend DIY solar installations unless you have suitable skills. However, for those who do, SolarReviews published a comparison table displaying solar panel kit prices from the top 10 leading solar kit websites in the US.
How much electricity do solar panel systems generate in Kentucky?
Depending on the location, solar panels will generate different amounts of electricity.
A solar system that is installed on a south-facing 30-degree pitch roof Kentucky will generate 1,550kWh of peak DC (direct current) capacity per year per 1kW in Kentucky.
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 Kentucky?
The advantage of installing solar panels in Kentucky is the state-mandated net metering requirement. Utilities must offer kilowatt hour (kWh) credits to their solar customers for excess energy generated by their solar systems.
The disadvantage of installing solar panels in Kentucky is that there is very little in the way of state and utility-based incentives. Also, Kentucky recently enacted a new law that drastically changes the future of net metering. Starting in 2020, new net metering customers will not receive the full retail rate for excess energy their solar system produces.
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 Kentucky
- 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.
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
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