Is there a limit to the amount of solar panels a house can have in Champaign?

As a general rule, unless there are local limitations, the main limitations to the amount of solar panels you can put on your roof are the available space on your roof, your electricity usage, your providers net metering rules, and the limitations of your house hold electrical system.

How much to install solar panels in Champaign?

Based on our research the average price per installed watt is $3.64 in Champaign. This means for a 10kW system you can expect to pay $36,400 though pricing can vary significantly between installers based on the projects requirements.

How much do solar panels add to house value in Champaign?

Based on a Zillow research study from 2019, home with solar panels sell for roughly 4.1% more.

What direction should solar panels face in Champaign?

To generate the most power, solar panels in the United States should face true south as this generally results in the solar panels receiving the most light each day throughout the course of the year. That said, given that energy prices are often variable throughout the day, your installer may recommend you rotate your panels slightly so that the panels will receive more light at the end of the day when energy prices can be more expensive. That said, for most consumers the positioning of solar panels is highly dependent on your home's roof.

How many solar panel installers in Champaign?

Based on our continuously updated database of solar installers, we have found 47 verified solar install companies in Champaign

Solar Energy in Champaign

Solar Rates, Incentives, Plans & Statistics

Going solar in Champaign, IL

In Champaign, an average home needs a 6kW solar system in order cover most of their electricity needs. Given the average residential price-per-watt of $3.64 in Champaign, a 6kW system can cost around $21,840 depending on applicable rebates and other factors.

Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.

Champaign: $18,200US Average: $18,172

Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.

Champaign: 13 yearsUS Average: 11 years

Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.

Champaign: $10,462US Average: $14,836

Solar Potential in Champaign

Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in
Champaign.

Roof size 804sq. ft.

Capacity 11.25kW DC

Electricity 13.2kkWh AC per yr.

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Compare solar panels by system size in Champaign

Get the most value out of your roof by comparing the different benefits a given system size has.

System Size 2kW

Roof Size Min. space required

143 ft²

Electricity Value Annual Production $497 a year

Est. Price

$7,280

Savings from a 2kWthis system

Est. yearly production 2,876 kWh
Est. monthly savings $41
Full payback in 15 years

Environmental Impacts

Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.85 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 39 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,096 mi less a year

System Size 3kW

Roof Size Min. space required

215 ft²

Electricity Value Annual Production $746 a year

Est. Price

$10,920

Savings from a 3kWthis system

Est. yearly production 4,315 kWh
Est. monthly savings $62
Full payback in 15 years

Environmental Impacts

Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.27 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 58 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,144 mi less a year

System Size 4kW

Roof Size Min. space required

286 ft²

Electricity Value Annual Production $994 a year

Est. Price

$14,560

Savings from a 4kWthis system

Est. yearly production 5,753 kWh
Est. monthly savings $83
Full payback in 15 years

Environmental Impacts

Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.69 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 78 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,192 mi less a year

System Size 5kW

Roof Size Min. space required

358 ft²

Electricity Value Annual Production $1,243 a year

Est. Price

$18,200

Savings from a 5kWthis system

Est. yearly production 7,191 kWh
Est. monthly savings $104
Full payback in 15 years

Environmental Impacts

Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.12 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 97 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,240 mi less a year

System Size 6kW

Roof Size Min. space required

429 ft²

Electricity Value Annual Production $1,491 a year

Est. Price

$21,840

Savings from a 6kWthis system

Est. yearly production 8,629 kWh
Est. monthly savings $119
Full payback in 15 years

Environmental Impacts

Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.43 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 112 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 6,021 mi less a year

Current utility bill:

Champaign solar incentives, tax credit, and rebates

Champaign has 7 rebates and tax credits that you may be eligable for. Visit the official links for more details to see if you apply.

Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Grants

Value:Varies

Commonwealth Edison funds the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF). The foundation supports private investment in renewable energy for Illinois through a variety of grant initiatives targeted at communities and schools. Eligible projects for a grant include solar, wind, and biomass installations interconnected to the grid. One initiative funding wind power for schools also supports related educational programs. Additional information is available through the ICECF website.

Net Metering

Value:Varies

Renewable energy and distributed generation customers in Illinois may enter net metering or "dual metering" arrangements with their utility. By using their generation system, customers generate renewable energy credits. By law, they hold ownership of the RECs they generate, but they may choose to sell them to the utility upon signing a net metering contract. Dual metering is for property types in a "competitive class". Utilities should install a dual-channel meter to measure net excess generation (NEG) sent back to the grid. The customer will receive a bill credit for monthly NEG at a variable rate. Net metering operates in a similar fashion, but uses a single bidirectional meter and is designed for residential and certain commercial properties (these are "non-competitive classes".) Additional information is available from the Illinois Department of Energy.

Interconnection Standards

Value:Varies

Illinois has adopted various state standards for distributed generation and interconnection using systems rated for less than 10 MW. Regulations are amended and enforced by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Each connected generation system is sorted into one of four tiers based on capacity. Which tier a system falls into determines engineering standards, permit processes, and the minimum liability insurance coverage that the system's owner must carry. Distributed generation for systems over 10 MW is also standardized under a different set of rules. Additional information is available from the ICC website.

Renewable Portfolio Standard

Value:Varies

The Illinois legislature enacted the state's first renewable portfolio standard in 2007 and established the Illinois Power Agency for its enforcement. The current standard requires 25% of the state's renewable energy to come from renewable sources by 2026, with 6% coming from solar installations, 75% from wind turbines, and 1% from distributed generation systems. Compliance is measured using a renewable energy credit (REC) system pegging electric capacity to an adjusted dollar value. Utilities in the state must obtain these credits through their own generation activities or by purchasing them from distributed generation customers.

Energy Efficiency in State Government

Value:Varies

New government buildings or renovation projects in Illinois should comply with certain green building standards. Any new occupied state building or renovation affecting a maximum of 10,000 square feet should meet the highest feasible LEED standard, though the state does not need to apply for formal LEED certification. New buildings or renovation projects over 10,000 square feet must meet LEED Silver standards and apply for formal certification. A project may be exempt if costs toward meeting green building standards exceed benefits. Historic buildings may carry an exemption by default if improvements would negatively affect their aesthetics or status. Additional information is available from the Illinois Department of Commerce website.

Illinois Municipal Electric Agency - Electric Efficiency Program

Value:Varies

Residential, commercial, and wholesale customers of the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency may be eligible for a variety of financial incentives on energy efficiency equipment and projects. Eligible items and services will change from time to time. Current programs include rebate offers on HVAC, lighting, motors, and generation equipment. For each of these projects, the rebate amount averages at 7 cents per saved kilowatt hour for the first year of the improvements' deployment. The application process involves project reviews. Customers should submit copies of the city permits they have obtained for their proposed projects. To ensure accountability, IMEA requires the submission of receipts and a final inspection upon completion of the project. Additional information is available from the IMEA website.

Solar Renewable Energy Credits

Value:Varies

The Illinois Power Agency is a legislative organization that aids several private electrical utilities (Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, specifically) in purchasing renewable energy credits, including credits designated exclusively for solar energy. To meet renewable portfolio standards, the IPA acts as a diplomatic middleman to create purchasing agreements between utilities. As IPA both designs and operates procurement programs using a variety of tracking systems, customers participating in arrangements such as net metering may interface directly with the IPA. Additional information is available from the agency website.

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Frequently Asked Questions

As a general rule, unless there are local limitations, the main limitations to the amount of solar panels you can put on your roof are the available space on your roof, your electricity usage, your providers net metering rules, and the limitations of your house hold electrical system.
Based on our research the average price per installed watt is $3.64 in Champaign. This means for a 10kW system you can expect to pay $36,400 though pricing can vary significantly between installers based on the projects requirements.
Based on a Zillow research study from 2019, home with solar panels sell for roughly 4.1% more.
To generate the most power, solar panels in the United States should face true south as this generally results in the solar panels receiving the most light each day throughout the course of the year. That said, given that energy prices are often variable throughout the day, your installer may recommend you rotate your panels slightly so that the panels will receive more light at the end of the day when energy prices can be more expensive. That said, for most consumers the positioning of solar panels is highly dependent on your home's roof.
Based on our continuously updated database of solar installers, we have found 47 verified solar install companies in Champaign