North Dakota · Tax credit

ND Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Reduces residential solar owners' tax liability in North Dakota -- see the credit amount, who qualifies, and how it shortens payback below.

3% of installed cost
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
18.2 yr
North Dakota baseline payback
2
other North Dakota programs

What it means

In North Dakota, a 6 kW system already pays back in about 18.2 years on ~$908/year of modeled savings, and the ND Renewable Energy Tax Credit stacks on top of that, on top of any federal credit.

3% of installe…
stated benefit
18.2 yr
baseline payback (pre-incentive)
3
North Dakota programs that stack
full
net-metering policy

Payback and savings are modeled from public NREL/EIA data; the program benefit is summarized from DSIRE and may change.

Program description

North Dakota income tax credit for renewable energy systems.

Program at a glance

Program type
Tax credit
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
3% of installed cost
State electricity rate
10.8¢/kWh
North Dakota solar score
24/100

How North Dakota compares to the U.S. average

Why this incentive matters more (or less) here - North Dakota's solar fundamentals against the national average.

Irradiance
North Dakota: 4.8 kWh/m²/day
U.S. avg: 4.82 kWh/m²/day
Electricity rate
North Dakota: 10.8¢/kWh
U.S. avg: 15.98¢/kWh
Modeled payback
North Dakota: 18.2 yr
U.S. avg: 14.2 yr

Source: NREL irradiance and U.S. EIA rates; payback modeled by PlainSolarData. Bars are scaled to the larger of the two values per metric.

North Dakota's solar incentive stack

How this tax credit sits among North Dakota's 2 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows North Dakota tracks 2 incentive types; 1 of them, including this one, are tax credits. Credits reduce what solar owners owe directly, on top of whatever the other stacked types provide.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

How this incentive fits North Dakota's solar picture

The ND Renewable Energy Tax Credit is a state-level credit against what you owe, tracked as one of North Dakota's solar incentives in the DSIRE registry. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of 3% of installed cost. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. North Dakota averages 4.8 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 10.8¢/kWh, producing an estimated 8,410 kWh/year and $908 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $16,500. That baseline already implies a 18.2-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $6,200 before this incentive - every dollar this tax credit delivers compresses that payback further.

A handful of other levers are worth checking alongside this one. North Dakota has 3 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like ND Net Metering. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Your next step

  • See North Dakota's full solar profile, score, irradiance, rates, payback, and every program you can claim. North Dakota solar data
  • Run the savings calculator with your real bill to see how this incentive changes your own payback. ROI calculator
  • Read how state and federal solar credits work together. Tax-credit guide

Estimates here are modeled from public data and are not financial advice; confirm program terms and your own eligibility before relying on a dollar figure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ND Renewable Energy Tax Credit?
The ND Renewable Energy Tax Credit is a tax credit available to residential solar customers in North Dakota. The stated benefit is 3% of installed cost.
How does the ND Renewable Energy Tax Credit work?
North Dakota income tax credit for renewable energy systems.
Who is eligible for the ND Renewable Energy Tax Credit?
The program is available to residential customers in North Dakota. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines.
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in North Dakota?
North Dakota has an estimated 18.2-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $908/year in modeled savings. A tax credit like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Are there other solar incentives in North Dakota?
Yes - North Dakota has 3 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including ND Net Metering. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology.