How long does a solar PV system take to pay back?

Energy payback estimates for both rooftop and ground-mounted PV systems are roughly the same, depending on the technology and type of framing used. Paybacks for multicrystalline modules are 4 years for systems using recent technology and 2 years for anticipated tech-nology.

What is a solar PV payback period?

One crucial metric that can illuminate the financial viability of a solar PV investment is the payback period. In essence, the payback period signifies the duration it takes for the cumulative savings generated by your solar system to offset its initial installation cost.

How long does a solar energy payback last?

Based on a solar- grade feedstock, Japanese researchers Kato et al. calculated a multi-crystalline payback of about 2 years (adjusted for the U.S. solar resource). Palz and Zibetta also calculated an energy payback of about 2 years for current multicrystalline-silicon PV.

How do solar PV installation costs affect payback times?

The installation costs associated with solar PV systems play a vital role in determining payback periods. Generally, higher upfront costs correlate with longer payback times.

How do you calculate solar payback?

Here is how we calculate the solar payback period for that project: Initial Cost: $28,480 30% Federal Tax Credit: -$8,544 This system generates enough energy to save the homeowner $2,208 a year by reducing the monthly payment on their energy bill (we go over how to calculate savings per year below*).

What factors affect the payback period of a solar project?

The most accurate payback period will also take into account external factors, such as the long-term trend for electric rates to increase and the degradation of your solar panels production over time. Consider a 6.4kw solar project scheduled to be installed on a sunny site in eastern Massachusetts.