South Carolina Solar Calculator
South Carolina averages about 4.8 peak sun hours per day (state-average approximation from NREL PVWatts/NSRDB data — a specific roof can differ by 25% or more, especially in large or mountainous states). This page presets 4.8 sun hours in the solar panel calculator: at the default 80% system output factor, 1 kW of panels in South Carolina produces roughly 1,402 kWh a year. South Carolina's average residential electricity price is about 14.23¢/kWh (EIA), so each self-consumed solar kWh is worth roughly that much against a bill.
South Carolina Solar Calculator reference last updated · reference source
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Dated static reference; no live data is fetched. Verify current source values and assumptions before relying on results.
What this tool does
South Carolina averages about 4.8 peak sun hours per day (state-average approximation from NREL PVWatts/NSRDB data — a specific roof can differ by 25% or more, especially in large or mountainous states). This page presets 4.8 sun hours in the solar panel calculator: at the default 80% system output factor, 1 kW of panels in South Carolina produces roughly 1,402 kWh a year. South Carolina's average residential electricity price is about 14.23¢/kWh (EIA), so each self-consumed solar kWh is worth roughly that much against a bill.
How to use the South Carolina Solar Calculator
- Check Peak sun hours per day: 4.8.
- Review the South Carolina Solar Calculator result and its exact-value comparison table.
- Verify assumptions before applying the result.
Formula
system kW=daily kWh/(sun hours×output factor/100); panels=ceil(system kW×1000/panel watts)
- daily
- Daily energy demand (kWh)
- sun
- Peak sun hours per day
- efficiency
- System output factor (%)
- panel
- Panel rating (watts)
Peak sun hours are not daylight duration. Shading, seasonal production, storage and export rules require site-specific design.
Worked example
South Carolina Solar Calculator: Peak sun hours per day = 4.8. South Carolina averages about 4.8 peak sun hours per day (state-average approximation from NREL PVWatts/NSRDB data — a specific roof can differ by 25% or more, especially in large or mountainous states). This page presets 4.8 sun hours in the solar panel calculator: at the default 80% system output factor, 1 kW of panels in South Carolina produces roughly 1,402 kWh a year. South Carolina's average residential electricity price is about 14.23¢/kWh (EIA), so each self-consumed solar kWh is worth roughly that much against a bill.
Inputs
- Daily energy demand (kWh)30
- Peak sun hours per day4.8
- System output factor (%)80
- Panel rating (watts)400
Result
- Panels required20
- System capacity (kW)7.81
- Panels20
South Carolina solar reference
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Average peak sun hours / day (state average) | 4.8 |
| Approx. annual yield per kW at 80% output factor | 1,402 kWh |
| Average residential electricity price (EIA) | 14.23¢/kWh |
| Panels for 30 kWh/day at the default settings | 20 |
Results explained
- Panels required
- Panels required from the formula above. Peak sun hours are not daylight duration. Shading, seasonal production, storage and export rules require site-specific design.
- System capacity (kW)
- System capacity (kW) from the formula above. Peak sun hours are not daylight duration. Shading, seasonal production, storage and export rules require site-specific design.
- Panels
- Panels from the formula above. Peak sun hours are not daylight duration. Shading, seasonal production, storage and export rules require site-specific design.
Frequently asked questions
About 4.8 per day as a state average from NREL PVWatts/NSRDB data. Peak sun hours are the equivalent hours of full-strength (1,000 W/m²) sun — not daylight hours — and your exact location, roof angle and shading move the real figure.
At 4.8 peak sun hours and an 80% output factor, covering 30 kWh a day needs about 20 × 400 W panels (a 7.8 kW system). Change the daily demand above to size for your own usage.
Roughly 1,402 kWh a year at an 80% system output factor (4.8 × 365 × 0.8). PVWatts runs for your exact address give the site-specific figure.
The two state-level inputs are sun (4.8 peak hours — around the US middle) and price (about 14.23¢/kWh average residential). High prices can make moderate-sun states pay back faster than sunny, cheap-electricity states; your tariff, roof and net-metering terms decide it.
NREL PVWatts models production for a point location, not a state. The state figure averages representative locations; coastal, valley and mountain sites inside one state can differ by a quarter or more, so use it for comparisons, then run PVWatts for your address before buying.