Solar Energy in South Carolina: Facts, Statistics, Companies

Solar Energy in South Carolina

Solar Rates, Incentives, Plans & Statistics

Going solar in South Carolina

In South Carolina, an average home needs a 9kW solar system in order cover most of their electricity needs. Given the average residential price-per-watt of $3.45 in South Carolina, a 9kW system can cost around $31,089 depending on applicable rebates and other factors.

Select your county by clicking on the map and see the potential generated solar power and panel pricing. See how it compares with the US state average.

Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
South Carolina: $17,271US Average: $18,171
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
South Carolina: 10 yearsUS Average: 11 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
South Carolina: $17,901US Average: $14,760

Solar Potential in South Carolina

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

Roof size 822sq. ft.
Capacity 11.5kW DC
Electricity 14.5kkWh AC per yr.

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Compare solar panels by system size in South Carolina

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

System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,096 a year
Est. Price
$17,271
Savings from a 5kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 7,775 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $91
  • Full payback in 16 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.51 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 115 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 6,211 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,315 a year
Est. Price
$20,726
Savings from a 6kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 9,330 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $110
  • Full payback in 16 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.01 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 138 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 7,453 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,534 a year
Est. Price
$24,180
Savings from a 7kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 10,885 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $128
  • Full payback in 16 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.51 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 161 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 8,695 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,754 a year
Est. Price
$27,634
Savings from a 8kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 12,440 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $146
  • Full payback in 16 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 4.01 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 184 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 9,937 mi less a year
System Size 9kW
Roof Size Min. space required
644 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,973 a year
Est. Price
$31,089
Savings from a 9kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 13,995 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $147
  • Full payback in 18 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 4.04 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 185 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 9,996 mi less a year

South Carolina solar incentives, tax credit, and rebates

South Carolina has 10 rebates and tax credits that you may be eligable for. Visit the official links for more details to see if you apply.

Solar incentives in SC

Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Corporate)

Value:Up to $3,500

South Carolina businesses are eligible for tax credits on the equipment and installation expenses of a new renewable energy system or energy-efficient building materials. Qualifying technologies include solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal as used to generate electricity or for heating/cooling. All system components are also eligible for credits. The credit is valued at 25% of costs up to $3,500 per property and $5,000 per company. To claim the credit, interested businesses should obtain the proper paperwork from the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

Santee Cooper - Rooftop Solar Rebate Program

Value:Up to $6,300

Residential and small commercial Santee Cooper customers may be entitled to rebates on new rooftop solar panels used for photovoltaic energy. Installations must be performed by a participating contractor and meet certain performance and safety standards. Additional information is available from the Santee Cooper website.

ConserFund Loan Program

Value:Varies

ConserFund is a loan initiative overseen by the South Carolina Energy Office. Loans support state/local agencies, public colleges and schools, and nonprofits in making energy efficiency improvements, including installing new renewable energy devices. Qualifying projects include building retrofit work, geothermal pumps, solar panels, or biomass systems. The available principal per loan varies from $25,000 to $500,000 depending on the nature of the project. The borrower has six months to begin installation from the time of the loan's disbursement. Qualifying public-sector borrowers may have 30% of their loan principal automatically forgiven.

Net Metering

Value:Varies

South Carolina electric customers using an interconnected solar or wind energy system may enter net metering agreements with their utility. Any system rated for under 20 kW (residential) or 1 MW (nonresidential) qualifies. The utility will install a bidirectional meter onto the system to measure net excess generation (NEG) sent back to the grid. Customers will receive energy bill credits for the NEG they generate at a fixed avoided-cost rate. Excess bill credits that remain at the end of the year will be paid as a lump sum. Additional information is available from individual utilities. Utilities may set their own net metering terms within a certain domain.

South Carolina Municipalities - Green Power Purchasing

Value:Varies

In 2001, Santee Cooper established a Green Power Program allowing residential customers to purchase renewably-sourced energy at $3 for a 100 kWh block. Commercial customers may purchase 200 kWh blocks at $6. Any customer-member of a South Carolina electric cooperative, as well as customers in Georgetown, may participate. Additional information is available through the Santee Cooper website.

State Building Energy Standards

Value:Varies

New government buildings in South Carolina are subject to green construction requirements. Generally, new occupied state facilities should meet or exceed the standards for LEED Silver certification. Buildings receiving two Green Globes may also meet the standards. By 2020, existing buildings should take measures to cut energy consumption by 20% from a 2000 baseline. Exceptions apply to buildings of certain types, as well as any project where it is determined that project costs would exceed gained energy efficiency. Additional information is available from the South Carolina Energy Office.

Interconnection Guidelines

Value:Varies

Distributed generation and grid interconnection practices have been standardized in South Carolina since 2006. New renewable energy systems in the South Carolina Electric and Gas, Duke Energy, and Progress Energy service areas will be organized into three regulatory tiers based on capacity. A system's tier will determine available permitting processes, fees, review turnaround time, and safety/performance standards. The state requires all interconnected systems to have multiple external disconnect switches. Non-residential system owners are required to carry at least $300,000 of liability insurance on their system.

Renewable Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit

Value:Varies

In South Carolina, tax credits are available for businesses involved in the manufacture of renewable energy equipment. Qualifying equipment includes solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and a range of other technologies. The maximum available credit is $500,000 per year and $5 million per company. As a condition for receiving the credit, companies are required to invest a minimum amount in new manufacturing facilities, jobs, or other expenses. The required investment will vary from county to county. Additional information is available from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Santee Cooper - Renewable Energy Resource Loans

Value:Varies

Residential Santee Cooper customers may be eligible for special financing on new solar PV, wind, biomass, or energy-efficient water heating projects. Qualifying systems should be installed by a participating contractor and meet the requirements for grid interconnection and net billing. The maximum available principal per loan is $40,000, to be repaid over ten years at a low interest rate. To apply, customers should schedule an energy efficiency audit with a Santee Cooper representative and obtain preapproval for the interconnection of their system. Additional information is available from the Santee Cooper website.

Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Personal)

Value:Varies

South Carolina homeowners are eligible for tax credits on the equipment and installation expenses of a new renewable energy system or energy-efficient building materials. Qualifying technologies include solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal as used to generate electricity or for heating/cooling. All system components are also eligible for credits. The credit is valued at 25% of costs up to $3,500 per property and $5,000 per taxpayer. To claim the credit, interested homeowners should obtain the proper paperwork from the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

Find out who’s the best installer for you in your city

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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 $3.45 in South Carolina. This means for a 10kW system you can expect to pay $34,543 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 40 verified solar install companies in South Carolina

Solar installers in South Carolina (40)

Freedom Forever

Temecula, CA(800) 685-1850

Services

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

Powur PBC

Del Mar, CA(866) 467-6987

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Renu Energy Solutions

Charlotte, NC(336) 565-7291

Services

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

SolFarm Solar co.

Asheville, NC(828) 332-3003

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Emerald Energy

Raleigh, NC(919) 247-3670

Services

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

Go Solar Power

Boca Raton, FL(800) 530-9597

Services

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

SunPro Solar

Mandeville, LA(866) 599-3643

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
  • 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.

Power Home Solar

Mooresville, NC(704) 870-3670

Services

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

RayWell Solar

Charleston, SC(843) 203-0320

Services

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

Summit Energy Group

Weymouth Town, MA(888) 578-6648

Services

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

Palmetto Solar

Charleston, SC(855) 339-1831

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Silver Sun Solar

Deltona, FL(340) 227-7785

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Hannah Solar

Atlanta, GA(404) 736-7244

Services

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

Generac

Waukesha, WI(888) 436-3722

Services

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

Boss Energy

Charleston, SC(843) 864-7503

Services

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

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.

Sunrun

San Francisco, CA(833) 394-3384

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • 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.

Sigora Solar

Charlottesville, VA(434) 465-6192

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Centroplan USA

Greer, SC(617) 657-1313

Services

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

Knight Electric

Ogden, UT(801) 782-8219

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Entegrity

Little Rock, AR(800) 700-1414

Services

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

City Electric Supply

Dallas, TX(866) 634-9853

Services

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

PowerHome Solar

Mooresville, NC(704) 870-3670

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Solar Plus

Atlanta, GA(470) 378-1182

Services

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

Cinci Home Solar

Cincinnati, OH(513) 616-6044

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.

R&C Construction Solar

Greer, SC(888) 748-9165

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Matt Hope
Last Reviewed By: Matt Hope
Published: 2024-03-01