New Hampshire ranks #8 in America for savings from installing solar panels on your home
Our complete guide to solar power in New Hampshire
Solar power in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has the fundamental basics in place when it come to Solar Incentives. The Federal 30% Tax Rebate, Net-Metering and the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) rebate program provide solid incentive to go solar.
The economics of installing a solar power system on your home are also improved (when compared to other states) because New Hampshire has expensive power.
Although New Hampshire has a RPS (Renewables Portfolio Standard) there is no solar carve out and therefore no solar carve out (Renewable Energy Credits) or solar carve out (Solar Renewable Energy Credits).
So while things are good for those who want to install solar they could be better.
Estimate your solar savings

New Hampshire solar power facts
$3.82
/watt
Average cost of a 5kw solar power system in 2019
Price shown before incentives
8 Years 6 Months
Average payback time
$53,661
Average lifetime savings
Price shown after repayments of capital
8¢
/kWh
levelized cost of solar energy
36¢
/kWh
If you don't get solar
The forecast average utility price over the next 25 years
8,823
kWh
Annual power production
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 7.7kW system
This 7.7kW system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill in New Hampshire is $150, however your situation may vary so try our solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
Solar companies in New Hampshire that provide pricing through the Solar-Estimate marketplace
5
Best solar offers currently available in your city
How much do solar panels cost in New Hampshire
$3.82 per watt
Cash purchased solar system
Before 30% solar tax credit
$4.21 per watt
Financed solar system
Before 30% solar tax credit
17.5¢ cents/kWh
Lease/PPA
Av. 15 year term, 2.5% price escalator
See local solar panel cost data for your city
What are the pros and cons of buying solar panels for your home in New Hampshire
The advantages of installing solar panels in New Hampshire is there is both state based incentives and the federal tax credit. In addition New Hampshire also has expensive power meaning overall the return on investment for an installation of residential solar panels in New Hampshire is one of the the best in the nation.
The disadvantage of installing solar panels for your home in New Hampshire is that there is less overall solar irradiation in New Hampshire per year and so a solar system, produces less than it would in some other areas. However, the local incentives more than make up for this and I think New Hampshire homeowners will be kicking themselves they didn't install solar panels while these generous incentives are around. Enter your details to calculate the cost and savings you are likely to get from installing solar panels for your home.
Best solar companies in New Hampshire
Best brands of solar panels
To find the best brands of solar panels you can use America's most trusted solar panel comparison and reviews website, SolarReviews.
However, reviews of solar panels can be a bit meaningless because most consumer owners have not had any issues and so whilst solar company reviews are very important when choosing solar installers they are of less use when choosing solar panels.
For more information to help you make an informed decision about this topic, I would recommend this article about buying solar panels.
Unlock live pricing on the best solar panel brands!
How much electricity will solar panels produce in New Hampshire
Solar panels produce different amounts of energy in different locations.
Around the Manchester area solar panels installed on a south facing 33 degree pitch roof will typically produce:
1,150kWh per year per 1kw of peak DC (direct current) capacity
For more information about how your location, roof direction and roof tilt affects solar power production use the solar panels calculator and enter your zipcode below.
See how much electricty your solar panels could produce
I want to buy a solar panel kit and install it myself
What rebates, solar tax credits and other solar incentives are available in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Solar Incentives
The rebate incentive program run by the New Hampshire PUC (Public Utilities Commission) is worth $500 per kilowatt up to a maximum rebate value of $2,500 or 50% of the installation cost, the lowest figure naturally applies.
If you are a New Hampshire Electric Co-Op customer, you can get an additional rebate of $250/kW, up to a maximum of $1,375. In this case your total state and utility rebate would be $38,750.
Conditions and standards apply and any rebate must be applied for prior to construction of a solar system there is more info here.
It gets even better for those folks who buy their power from New Hampshire Electric co-op you can get an additional $250 per kilowatt (kW) up to a max of $1,375.
Now these incentives need to be applied for BEFORE construction of your Solar Panel system, and conditions apply.
Your local solar installers have the low-down on all the applications and assorted paperwork.
Why are you still reading this, contact your local solar installers already!
Net Metering in New Hampshire
Many people don't understand the importance of net metering policy to the residential solar industry.
Solar by its nature generates most power during the middle of the day when most people are at work or school and little power is being used in the home.
Net metering means that for every unit of surplus solar generation generated during the day you effectively get a credit for a kilowatt hour of power purchased from the grid at another time.
http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/836
Tax Exemptions for Solar New Hampshire
In New Hampshire some 80 or so cities have adopted a solar property tax exemption and there is no solar PV systems sales tax.
Is it better to lease or purchase solar panels in New Hampshire?
Whilst third party ownership of solar panels New Hampshire has made various zero down solar lease and solar PPA products popular in NH generally speaking you will make far greater savings over the life of a system if you purchase your solar panels (whether with cash you have available or through a HELOC loan) rather than enter into a third party owned solar lease or Solar PPA agreement.
You can use the solar savings calculator to see the difference in the overall savings over the life of a system.
See you:
www.solarreviews.com/solar-energy/pros-and-cons-of-leasing-solar-buying-ppa-agreements/
www.solarreviews.com/free-solar-panels
New Hampshire Interconnection guidelines
Connecting solar to the various different utilities in New Hampshire is a process that can differ somewhat depending on the type of electricity customer you are and the size of the solar system you wish to install.
There is more info about it here but your best source of current info is likely to be your local solar installers.
New Hampshire Solar Calculator
Regardless of what you want to know about the economics of installing solar panels for your home or business in New Hampshire we have a solar calculator that can show you exactly the information your require.
You can either use our full monty solar calculator that shows you everything you could possibly want to know or you can use one of our range of smaller calculators for specific solar calculations that focus on providing you only with the specific information you require.
What you can find out about installing solar panels in New Hampshire using our full monty solar 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 New Hampshire
- 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 New Hampshire or Manchester ;
- 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 sol (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 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.
Unlock live pricing in your state!
Going solar in New Hampshire
Check out all of the ways energy providers of New Hampshire can help you be more energy efficient and save money.
The following programs are available:
Incentive Name | Eligibility | Type |
---|---|---|
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
Residential Small Renewable Energy Rebate Program | State | Rebate Program |
Find your local rebates and incentives
Your city may have further incentives to offer. Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives are the solar installers who specialize in your area.