Solar panels New Jersey:

Prices, incentives and best companies 2023

Avg NJ solar panel cost:

$12,694 - $15,515*

Avg 25 year savings:

$53,247 - $65,080

Avg payback period:

4 - 4.9 years

Estimate cost and savings based on your location and power usage

* Cost data based on quotes for fully-installed solar panel systems submitted on our platform. Prices are shown after applying the 30% federal tax credit.

New Jersey solar panels guide 2023

Updated December 7, 2022

New Jersey is one of the top states to install solar in the nation. High electricity rates, the federal tax credit, net metering, and the state’s renewable energy credit program mean that homeowners in the Garden State can get an excellent return on their investment when installing residential solar panels.

On this page:

Solar power prices, savings and payback in your part of New Jersey

The average cost for an installed residential solar system in New Jersey is currently $11,676 after claiming the 30% federal solar tax credit. This is $2.78 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 6.3kW system, after 30% federal tax credit

Cost range of local prices

$12,694-$15,515

Net profit (savings less system cost)

$53,247-$65,080

Payback period

4-4.9 years

Recommended size for the selected utility bill

6.3kW

Solar panel cost calculator

Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 6.3kW system

Are solar panels worth it in New Jersey

Solar panels have fallen in price by more than 80% in the last ten years. In 2022 they also remain subsidized by the 30% 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

7¢ /kWh

If you don't get solar

42¢ /kWh

(forecast avg New Jersey electric rates over the next 25 years)

NJ solar panel cost calculator

Best 10 solar installers in New Jersey

 

New Jersey solar incentives & tax credits

Federal solar tax credit

The most significant incentive to install solar panels for homes and businesses is the federal tax credit. Right now, the federal tax credit is equal to 30% of the total installed costs of installing a solar system. So, a $20,000 solar system will earn a tax credit of $6,000!

Net metering

New Jersey has a state-wide net metering policy that applies to all utilities regulated by the Board of Public Utilities. Each utility must compensate customers for net excess solar generation at the average retail utility energy rate. This means you can see big savings on your electricity bills!

 

 

Utility incentives 

Utilities in New Jersey do not offer direct incentives to their solar customers. However, New Jersey utilities must meet specific renewable energy goals, which they reach by purchasing solar renewable energy credits, called SREC-IIs, under the Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) program. 

For each megawatt hour of solar energy your solar system produces, you will receive $90. That means if your solar panels produce 6 megawatt-hours of electricity in a year, you'll earn $540 - and that's on top of the savings you get through net metering! 

Property tax exemption

New Jersey has a property tax exemption for solar panel systems. Under the Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems, 100% of the assessed value of the solar system is exempt from the homeowner's property taxes.

Table 2: Available incentive programs
Eligibility: Federal incentive
Type: Personal Tax Credit
Eligibility: State incentive
Type: Property Tax Incentive

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Top models of solar panel installed in New Jersey 2023

Average cost of solar panel installation in New Jersey by system size

System size*
Cash purchase

(After tax credit)

Financed purchase

(After tax credit)

4kW $12,104 $12,951
5kW $14,500 $15,515
6kW $16,680 $17,848
7kW $19,292 $20,642
8kW $22,056 $23,600
9kW $23,913 $25,587
10kW $26,260 $28,098

Find city information in New Jersey

 

Best solar companies in the main cities of New Jersey

Solar Companies in Newark

Different types of solar companies

Solar company reviews

Home solar basics

Is it better to lease or buy solar panels in New Jersey

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 2023 "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 New Jersey in 2023?

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 New Jersey will fall during 2023.

How much electricity do solar panel systems generate in New Jersey?

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 New Jersey will generate 1,203kWh of peak DC (direct current) capacity per year per 1kW in the Newark 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 New Jersey?

The biggest advantages in New Jersey for installing solar panels are the SuSI program and the 30% federal tax credit. 

New Jersey also offers full retail net metering, which is great because the retail rate of electricity in New Jersey is high. This means solar can save homeowners significantly on their utility bills.

There are not many disadvantages to installing solar panels in New Jersey. If you’re a New Jersey homeowner, you’ll be kicking yourself that you didn’t get solar while all of these incentives were still around. Enter your details to calculate the cost and savings you are likely to get from installing solar panels for your home.

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:

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 New Jersey 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.

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