Solar Panels Cost 5.4k-16k in Willmar, MN | October, 2024

Solar Panels Cost $5.4k-$16k in Willmar, MN | October, 2024

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How much do solar panels cost in Willmar, MN in 2024?

As of October, 2024, the current price to go solar in Willmar, MN is $3.92 per watt.

Utilizing the cost, you can conclude that for every 1 kW (1000 watts) your solar system can generate you will need to invest $3,920 to have your solar system installed. When you consider the 30% federal tax credit, you will pay about $13,720 for a 5 kW solar panel install in Willmar. It's vital to realize that a bigger system might be needed to fully meet your energy needs.

Use the left-hand menu to select your area and find the typical roof size and the maximum production capacity for solar panels on homes in your county. Below is a breakdown of the price, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system in your county.

Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Willmar: $13,720US Average: $12,562
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Willmar: 14 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Willmar: $-510US Average: $15,784

Solar Potential in Willmar

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

Roof size 724sq. ft.
Capacity 10.13kW DC
Electricity 11.5kkWh AC per yr.

Electricity Costs in Willmar, MN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing

The average electricity bill in Willmar, for a usage of 647 kWh per month, is $79.54. Small homes, including micro-apartments, are also included in the statistics cited in the previous sentence.

As of October 2024, the mean rate for electricity per kWh in Willmar, MN amounts to 12.3¢.

To take care of the electricity requirements of an average user in Willmar, a solar panel system of 6 kW or higher is a must. The estimated cost for a 6 kW solar panel installation is $23,520 before incentives, but with a 30% federal tax credit, it drops to $16,464.

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Average solar panel costs by system size in Willmar

Displayed on the left side, you'll see a thorough cost summary of the multiple sizes of solar panel systems installed in Willmar. Of course, a larger solar system means a higher initial expense, but it also translates to greater electricity savings and higher income tax credits.

Check a cost benefit analysis in the solar panel cost calculator below and to the right, for an average electric bill of $79.54 in Willmar. Personalized results can be obtained by changing the $79.54 to your typical bill amount.

System Size 2kW
Roof Size Min. space required
143 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $348 a year
Est. Price
$5,488
Savings from a 2kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 2,897 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $29
  • Full payback in 6 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.4 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 64 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 3,455 mi less a year
System Size 3kW
Roof Size Min. space required
215 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $522 a year
Est. Price
$8,232
Savings from a 3kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 4,346 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $43
  • Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.09 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 96 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 5,182 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $695 a year
Est. Price
$10,976
Savings from a 4kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 5,795 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $58
  • Full payback in 11 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.79 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 128 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 6,910 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $869 a year
Est. Price
$13,720
Savings from a 5kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 7,244 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $72
  • Full payback in 14 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.49 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 160 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 8,637 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,043 a year
Est. Price
$16,464
Savings from a 6kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 8,692 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $80
  • Full payback in 17 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.85 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 177 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 9,539 mi less a year

Willmar Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024

Rural entrepreneurs and farmers might find that the REAP Grant pays for 80% to 100% of their costs when installing photovoltaic or wind energy systems. To see if you qualify, use our REAP Grant eligibility tool.

For residential solar projects, most people are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit, making solar a sensible solution in many parts of the country. Moreover, several state and local efforts are in place to further encourage the adoption of solar energy.

In Minnesota, different utilities and government bodies offer 12 solar rebate and incentive programs.

Owatanna Public Utilities - Solar Rebate Program

Value:Up to $500

Commercial and residential customers of OPU, the municipal power utility for the city of Owatonna, may be entitled to rebates on solar PV systems and water heaters. Rebates add to existing federal tax incentives. New PV installations will yield a $500 rebate regardless of their rated capacity. Water heaters yield a rebate based on the area of the panels; the current rate is $15 per square foot. To qualify, systems should meet all city, state, and federal standards and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering contract. Interested customers should schedule an energy audit with an OPU participating solar contractor.

Minnesota Power - SolarSense Solar Rebate Program

Value:Up to $10,000

Minnesota Power customers may be entitled to rebates on new solar photovoltaic systems. To qualify, a system must meet all state and federal standards, be installed by a certified solar contractor, and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering contract. The incentive amount is determined through an NREL tool which considers the system's rated capacity and other design characteristics. Current rates are 56 cents/estimated kilowatt hour of production in the first year of the system's use. Minnesota Power must preapprove all incentives. Customers must therefore apply for the rebate before purchasing their system. Additional information is available from the website.

Value of Solar Tariff

Value:Varies

Net metering in Minnesota is set to be replaced by a Value of Solar (VOST) tariff program standardized by the Department of Commerce. No utility has implemented such a program as of 2021, though Xcel Energy is exploring retail-rate tariffs in a similar vein to VOST. VOST operates as an "inflow-outflow" program. Customers are technically billed for all electricity they generate, including excess generation (EG) sent to the grid. Rather than paying for all generated energy, however, they will only owe the cost of their "nettable energy" in that cycle. Nettable energy is equal to total power generated at the standard billed cost minus EG at a different "credit rate." As with net metering, should generation exceed consumption, the remaining credits will be applied to subsequent cycles. VOST contracts last for 20 years; credit rates are fixed for the length of the contract. "Virtual VOST" provisions exist to compensate microgrid subscribers in proportion.

Farm Opportunities Loan Program

Value:Varies

New sustainable farm equipment may be eligible for special financing through Minnesota's Farm Opportunity Loan Program. The program is administered by the state Rural Finance Authority in conjunction with various funding partners. Loans can cover up to 80% of purchase and installation costs. The RFA assumes responsibility for servicing 45% of the principal up to $45,000. Interest on the RFA portion is 3%; the remaining 55% will accrue interest at the current market rate. Additional information is available from the RFA website.

Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) Tariff

Value:Varies

Utilities in Minnesota are required to participate in Community-Based Energy Development tariff programs (C-BED) to support the construction and onboarding of new renewable energy facilities, including solar and wind farms. C-BED contracts last for 20 years. During the term, the state will pay utilities at a fixed rate for the energy they produce. The underlying goal is for utilities to more easily recoup the costs for their renewable facilities. Additional information is available from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission website.

Value-Added Stock Loan Participation Program

Value:Varies

The Minnesota Rural Finance Authority (RFA) operates a stock financing program to aid farmers in purchasing shares of nearby wind farms or biomass energy facilities. Loans are offered by private banking partners, though the RFA sets loan terms and low interest rates for up to 45% of the principal. Qualifying applicants must not be worth more than $450,000. Additional information is available from the RFA website.

Fix-Up Loan

Value:Varies

Minnesota homeowners making energy efficiency or accessibility improvements may be eligible for special loans from the state Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). "Fix-Up Loans" have a maximum of $15,000 in principal at market-rate interest. Applicants have direct access to MHFA lending partners and can negotiate loan terms. They may also use the contractors and builders of their choice. Lending partners differ between the 11-county Twin Cities area and the rest of the state. Additional information is available from the MHFA website.

Rural Minnesota Energy Board PACE Program

Value:Varies

The St. Paul Port Authority operates a PACE program in Duluth, Mankato, and certain Twin Cities suburbs and exurbs. Property owners will have access to an open market of local lenders offering competitive loans and terms for energy efficiency improvements. Effectively, funding comes from the government; repayment will therefore take the form of a tax lien senior to the property's mortgage. Residential structures are not eligible for PACE loans due to regulatory concerns from the FHFA. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are prohibited from acquiring a mortgage with an active PACE lien. Additional information is available from the Port Authority website.

Minnesota PACE Program (MinnPACE)

Value:Varies

The St. Paul Port Authority operates a PACE program in Duluth, Mankato, and certain Twin Cities suburbs and exurbs. Property owners will have access to an open market of local lenders offering competitive loans and terms for energy efficiency improvements. Effectively, funding comes from the government; repayment will therefore take the form of a tax lien senior to the property's mortgage. Residential structures are not eligible for PACE loans due to regulatory concerns from the FHFA. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are prohibited from acquiring a mortgage with an active PACE lien. Additional information is available from the Port Authority website.

Interconnection Standards

Value:Varies

Distributed generation and interconnection practices are standardized by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Standards were last updated in 2019 and continue to be amended regularly. Unlike states which use tiers and levels to organize energy systems, Minnesota uses permit processes as benchmarks. Systems at a qualifying capacity level may be eligible for a "Fast Track" permit review. All systems must follow recognized standards such as those set by IEEE or UL. Customers may be required by their utility to carry liability insurance coverage or install additional safety features.

Renewable Development Fund (RDF)

Value:Varies

Xcel Energy has administered a Renewable Development Fund since 1999. The fund's annual budget amounts to $9 million, the result of a state-set rate per nuclear waste reservoir at the Prairie Island, Minnesota plant. Additional funding comes from a surcharge on Xcel customer bills in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Funding supports incentive programs and other initiatives to adopt renewable energy. The University of Minnesota's Institute for the Environment also taps into the fund for its own research. Additional information is available from the Xcel website.

Xcel Energy - Solar*Rewards Program

Value:Varies

Solar*Rewards is the formal name for Xcel Energy's net metering and distributed generation tariff incentive programs nationwide. Under Minnesota law, renewable energy customers hold ownership of renewable energy credits (RECs) they generate. With a Solar*Rewards contract, the customer agrees to sell all RECs to the utility for a fixed amount of time and have a bidirectional meter installed on their system to track energy sent back to the grid. In exchange, the utility will provide fair compensation for both excess generation and credits accrued. To qualify for incentives, a new PV system must pass an engineering audit and not exceed 20 kW of DC capacity. Leased systems do not qualify for Solar*Rewards contracts. Additional information is available from the Xcel website.

Are solar panels worth it in Minnesota?

If you plan living in your home longer than the solar system's payback period, installing solar panels is an smart decision in Willmar. By installing a 5 kW solar system in Willmar, MN, you can expect to save around $5,369.6 over 20 years, with the break even point usually being 14 years.

The cost of not having solar panels in Willmar, MN

If you don't install solar panels or an alternative backup power source, you miss out on the previously mentioned savings and your household is entirely dependent on your electric utility for electricity. Complete dependence on your utility is not always ideal, as several recent news reports have illustrated.

Each year, customers in Willmar experience about 0.42 outages. On average, an outage lasts 24.5 minutes. When major events such as planned maintenance, aging infrastructure or tornadoes occur, these durations can increase significantly

Whether equipped with a backup battery or not, a solar panel system can help alleviate the stress of possible future outages.

Power Outages

Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Kandiyohi County.

Learn more

Customers Out:

0

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What impacts the cost of solar panels in Willmar, MN?

Your Energy Needs - The cost per watt is lower with larger solar panel systems, even though the initial cost is larger. Consumers often realize that installing a solar system to offset their electric bill is a good move, leading to the most savings.

Make & Model - There are a variety of makes and models of solar panels and mounting equipment. Because the installer you choose might have specific system preferences, selecting a highly rated installer is especially important. Superior materials generally provide an improved long-term experience for the buyer.

Solar Panel Type - Monocrystalline panels are broadly acknowledged as the standard in the industry, and for good cause. Although the cost is higher, they deliver more energy. The majority of installers use these kinds of panels.

Your Property - Uneven ground, trees, or additional obstacles can increase the difficulty of the installation. Solar installers now have the ability to use satellite images to assess your home and include these elements in the preliminary cost estimate.

Labor Rates - Variations in employee wages across companies result in expenses that are passed on to the consumers. Businesses paying higher wages often garner better reviews for their services and customer service.

Permitting & Interconnection - Local permitting and utility interconnection fees, which change by area, will impact your installation cost. Good local installers will incorporate these figures into your initial estimates to prevent any surprises.

See what solar panels cost in other MN cities

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Who are the best solar installers in Willmar?

Academy Energy Group

Newburgh, IN(812) 518-2150

Services

  • Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Solar Farm

St. Paul, MN(651) 271-8410

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.

Dividend Finance

San Francisco, CA(415) 805-7000

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Sundial Energy

St. Louis Park, MN(612) 439-9591

Services

  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

SunPower Corporation

San Jose, CA(800) 786-7693

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.

Harvest Solar

Jackson, MI(888) 907-6527

Services

  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Sunnova Energy

Houston, TX(866) 786-6682

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

GRNE Solar

Palatine, IL(312) 859-3417

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Entegrity

Little Rock, AR(800) 700-1414

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Ideal Energy

Fairfield, IA(800) 634-4454

Services

  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

LightEdison

Denver, CO(888) 966-6377

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Empire Solar Group

Salt Lake City, UT(800) 467-4562

Services

  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Willmar, MN Solar Panel Cost FAQs

  • In October, 2024, the average cost of solar panels per watt in Willmar, MN is $3.92/W. The installation of a 5 kW solar panel system in Willmar, MN will cost about $13,720 after federal tax credits.

  • Minnesota offers 12 different rebates and incentives from a range of utilities and government organizations. In addition, nearly all people are eligible for the 30%federal tax credit.

  • Even though cash payments yield the greatest savings, numerous financing options for solar panels today are also advantageous. Financing options are often provided by installers and may be specified in your initial quotes.

  • Yes, in Willmar, MN, the average payback period for 5 kW solar panels is 14 years, resulting in average electricity savings of $5,369.6 over 20 years.
Ginalyn Gelera
Last Reviewed By: Ginalyn Gelera
Published: 2024-10-01