Solar Energy Potential in San Diego, California

of San Diego gets 75% of the annual sun
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Homes in San Diego Are Solar Viable
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Only 5.7% of Homes Have Solar Installations
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Solar potential in San Diego
Solar potential San diego

Rooftop Solar Capacity Distribution in San Diego

Below we outline how many homes are capable of handling different sized solar systems:

0 ~ 5 kW – 31.4K

5 ~ 10 kW – 72.1K

10 ~ 15 kW – 74.4K

15 ~20 kW – 56K

20 ~ 25 kW – 27.2K

25 ~ 30 kW – 13.4K 

30 ~ 35 kW – 8.6K

35 ~ 40 kW – 6K

40 ~ 45 kW – 4.4K

45 ~ 50 kW – 3.3K

Yearly Energy Generation Potential (MWh AC)

The below data shows the total solar energy potential if all homes were to install a solar system (A megawatt-hour (MWh) is a unit that measures electric energy.

Flat Roof – 3.8M MWh

South Facing – 1.9M MWh

West Facing – 1.5M MWh

East Facing – 1.2M mWh

North Facing – 528.6K MWh 

Solar potential san diego
Solar Energy
For Your Home
(On Average 1,822 hours of sunlight per year is useable in San Diego)

Solar System Size Breakdown

Your monthly electric bill is used to estimate how much solar electricity you would need based on typical utility rates in your area.

A 1.8kW solar system will cover about 88% of your electricity usage. 

A 2.5kW solar system will cover about 100% of your electricity usage. 

A 3.8kW solar system will cover about 99% of your electricity usage. 

A 5kW solar system will cover about 99% of your electricity usage. 

Cost of Solar Systems

Largest lifetime savings can be had by purchashing your solar system in full upfront. By doing this, you will be the outright owner, which means you may claim any local, state, or federal incentives in place.

A 1.8kW solar system will cost $10,503 (before federal tax incentives)

 

Total payments over 20 years:

Maintenance: $0

Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $4,504
Total: $10,503 + $4,504 = $15,007

 

State and Federal Incentives

Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $2,730
State tax credit: $0
$15,007 – $2,730 = $12,277

Total 20-year cost with solar

Includes above costs and incentives: $12,277

 

Total 20-year cost without solar

Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $24,036
 

Total 20-year savings

Net present value at 4% discount rate: $3,284.

$24,036 – $12007 = $12,029

You would save $12,029 in 20 years by installing a 1,8kW solar system. 

A 2.5kW solar system will cost $12,543 (before federal tax incentives)

 

Total payments over 20 years:

Maintenance: $0

Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $2,525
Total: $12,543+ $2,525 = $15,068

 

State and Federal Incentives

Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $3,261
State tax credit: $0
$15,068 – $3,261 = $11,807

 

Total 20-year cost with solar

Includes above costs and incentives: $11,807

 

Total 20-year cost without solar

Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $30,045
 

Total 20-year savings

$30,045 – $11,807 = $18,238

You would save $18,238 in 20 years by installing a 2.5kW solar system. 

A 3.8kW solar system will cost $15,943 (before federal tax incentives)

 

Total payments over 20 years:

Maintenance: $0

Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $4,034
Total: $15,943 + $4,034 = $19,977

 

State and Federal Incentives

Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $4,145
State tax credit: $0
$19,977 – $4,145 = $15,832

 

Total 20-year cost with solar

Includes above costs and incentives: $15,832

 

Total 20-year cost without solar

Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $45,068
 

Total 20-year savings

$45,068 – $15,832 = $29,236

You would save $29,236 in 20 years by installing a 3.8kW solar system. 

A 5 kW solar system will cost $19,343 (before federal tax incentives)

 

Total payments over 20 years:

Maintenance: $0

Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $5,619
Total: $19,343 + $5,619 = $24,962

 

State and Federal Incentives

Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $5,029
State tax credit: $0
$24,962 – $5,619 = $19,343

 

Total 20-year cost with solar

Includes above costs and incentives: $19,343

 

Total 20-year cost without solar

Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $60,091
 

Total 20-year savings

$60,091 – $19,343 = $40,748

You would save $40,748 in 20 years by installing a 5kW solar system. 

What if All Homes in San Diego Installed Solar?

If all solar viable homes were to install a solar system, the amount of avoided CO2 emissions from the electricity sector in San Diego would be the equivalent of the below metrics. (Please note that each metric is singular, therefore; 2.4 million metric tons of Co2 = 517,000 passenger cars off the road, which = 62,7M trees planted, which = 1.2 million less humans.) These metrics are updated as soon as new information becomes available.
2.4M Metric Tons
of carbon dioxide would be removed from our planets atmosphere. Energy consumption is the biggest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for an enormous 73% worldwide.
62,7M Trees Planted
would be planted throughout the city, each one with the ability to absorb the CO2 that we emit on a daily basis.
517K Passenger Cars
would essentially be removed from the streets of San Diego each year. Currently San Diego has roughly 2,246,409 registered auto vehicles.
1.2M Less Humans
Each human produces about 2 tons of CO2 a year. The amount of carbon reduced by installing solar systems on every home in San Diego would be the equivalent of reducing the cities population by 1.2 million people.
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