Solar Atlas · Minnesota
Is solar worth it in Minneapolis, MN?
A 7 kWdc rooftop array in Minneapolis makes about 9,330 kWh a year (NLR PVWatts, modeled) and pays back in 15.6 years at Northern States Power Co - Minnesota’s 17.1¢/kWh residential rate (Aug 2025–Jul 2026), with no federal credit. Exports follow Minnesota net metering (average retail energy rate).
44.98°N · 8.6–15.4 h daylight · site signature
- Production
- 1,333 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 15.2% AC
- Residential rate
- 17.1¢/kWh · Northern States Power Co - Minnesota
- Exported solar
- Minnesota net metering (average retail energy rate) · credited at retail
- Climate
- hot-summer humid continental (Köppen Dfa) · 8.3 °C mean, 803 mm/yr
Source: NLR PVWatts v8.5.0 (NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0) — 1 kW, tilt 20°, azimuth 180°, roof mount, 14% losses · fetched 2026-09-24 · modeled, not metered
Source: EIA-861M utility average · Aug 2025–Jul 2026 · EIA Minnesota average Jan–Jul 2026 16.3¢ · utility’s EIA-861 2024 average 17.0¢
Source: Public-utility (investor-owned) customers with qualifying facilities < 40 kW who elect the average retail utility energy rate · checked 2026-09-24
Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AP, MN US (11.3 km away) · fetched 2026-09-24
No federal credit: the homeowner credit (§25D) ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. A lease or PPA price may reflect the lessor’s §48E credit. 26 U.S.C. §25D(h) and (e)(8)(A) · policy as of 2026-09-24
Make it your answer
Start from your bill. Everything else is prefilled from this page and can be changed.
Your exact roof, or a business
The payback calculator runs hourly PVWatts at your address. The Modeler opens a grid-tied home at Minneapolis. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 12.7¢/kWh commercial rate.