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Solar in New Hanover County, NC

Solar panels in Wilmington, NC

5 peak sun hours per day. See what the data says about Wilmington, then check your specific roof free.

Utility territory: Duke Energy Progress

Local context

What limits Wilmington roofs

Wilmington averages 5 peak sun hours per day in the regional data. Roof orientation, usable area, and shade can reduce production further for an individual property.

Solar data for Wilmington

Peak sun hours / day
5 hrs

Modeled annual average.

Typical system size
5–8 kW

Residential, based on typical household load.

Estimated first-year savings
$600–$950

Per year for a typical 5–8 kW system. The high end assumes the larger array.

Roofs suitable for solar
62–74%

Modeled from regional adoption data.

Primary utility
Duke Energy Progress

Contact your utility for current net billing enrollment status.

Net metering / billing
Net Billing (RCP)

Duke Energy ended 1:1 net metering for new solar; under Residential Solar Choice / the Net-Metering Bridge, energy you use on-site offsets at full retail while net excess is credited near avoided cost (~3.5¢/kWh), with time-of-use periods and a monthly minimum bill — the older 1:1 program is closed.

Estimates use the average North Carolina current utility rate (before solar) of $0.12/kWh (EIA, retrieved Aug 2026) and modeled solar production; individual results vary with your rate, usage, roof orientation, and shading.

Personalized estimate

Estimate your first-year solar savings

Start with your bill or adjust the rate and typical system size for Wilmington.

kW

Typical homes: 5–8 kW.

$/ kWh

Prefilled with the state residential average.

Estimated first-year savings

$800/ yr

$600–$950/yr for a typical 5–8 kW system — the low end is a smaller array, the high end a larger one.

Estimate — individual results vary with your rate, usage, roof orientation, and shading. Assumes an 85% system derate and 50% self-consumption; exported energy uses the local net-billing estimate.

City averages are a starting point — check your address for your verified result.

Frequently asked questions

How much sun does Wilmington get for solar?

Wilmington receives approximately 5 peak sun hours per day on average, based on modeled regional data.

What is the estimated first-year savings from solar in Wilmington?

For a typical 5–8 kW system in Wilmington, first-year savings are estimated at $600–$950 per year: the low end uses the smaller system, while the high end is up to the larger system. Estimates use the average North Carolina current utility rate (before solar) of $0.12/kWh (EIA, retrieved Aug 2026) and modeled solar production; individual results vary with your rate, usage, roof orientation, and shading. These are educational estimates, not guarantees.

What can limit solar production in Wilmington?

Wilmington averages 5 peak sun hours per day in the regional data. Roof orientation, usable area, and shade can reduce production further for an individual property.

Data source: City figures are modeled estimates for general guidance — not a quote for any specific property.

Ready to check your roof in Wilmington?

The city data above is a regional estimate. Enter your address to get a personalized result based on your actual roof.

Solar data for nearby North Carolina cities

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