What is the solar score for Alaska?

Alaska has a solar score of 10/100 (Marginal), ranking #51 of 51. The composite blends solar irradiance (3.4 kWh/m²/day, 40%), incentive density (30%), and modeled payback (30%).

How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves in Alaska?

The estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Alaska is 17 years, ranking #43 of 51 for speed to break-even. At a $22,800 system cost and $1,340/year modeled savings, that implies +$10,700 net over 25 years before rate escalation.

How much does a solar system cost in Alaska?

A 6 kW residential system in Alaska averages $22,800 before incentives, or $3.80 per watt. Alaska has 2 tracked state and utility incentive programs that can lower net cost.

How much electricity do solar panels produce in Alaska?

A 6 kW system in Alaska produces an estimated 5,957 kWh/year, based on average irradiance of 3.4 kWh/m²/day. Actual output varies with roof orientation, shading, and panel efficiency.

What solar incentives are available in Alaska?

Alaska offers 2 solar incentive programs including tax exemption, grant. Net metering here is classified as full.

Does Alaska have net metering for solar?

Alaska's net-metering policy is classified as "full." Homeowners receive full retail credit for excess solar exported to the grid.

State solar profile · #51 of 51

Solar in Alaska: slow payback · modest sun

Name: Alaska Solar Data, Cost, Incentives & ROI
Creator: PlainSolarData
Published: 2024-10-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Alaska's 17-yr modeled payback (#43 of 51) is on the slow side of the corpus; rates (22.5¢/kWh) and 2 programs decide whether sun (3.4 kWh/m²/day) still pays.

3.4
kWh/m²/day irradiance: 22.5¢
avg electricity rate: 17 yr
payback (#43): 2
incentive programs

10 Marginal

Subscribe (RSS)

Form 860 capacity strip

Nameplate AK · Alaska score #51/51

Alaska | 10/100 | 17 yr payback | 8 MW

RATE 10/100
PAY #51/51
CAP 3.4 kWh
PROG 22.5c/kWh
NEM 17 yr
PHOTO 8 MW
BOOK 2 programs
VS-AVG near Washington

Stamps derive from this state's NREL irradiance, EIA Form 860 / Electric Power Monthly nameplate, and DSIRE incentive row (score, rank, sun, rate, payback, capacity, programs, peer), not a quote or site assessment. Modeled figures use a typical 6 kW system; your roof, shading, and utility tariff decide the real return. See our disclaimer. Verify with EIA Form 860 → · Read with methodology → · Net-metering guide → · Personalized estimate → · All state rows → · States ranked → · Payback vs U.S. avg (14.2 yr): 2.8 yr slower

IA

17
TN

17
OR

17
AK

17
SD

17
AR

17

What this shows Alaska sits at 17 years among nearest payback peers (2.8 yr slower vs the 14.2-yr U.S. average).

Slow-band 25-year ROI · Alaska

$22,800

system cost

$1,340/yr

modeled savings

17 yr

break-even

+$10,700

25-year net

Slow-band math: $22,800 in vs $1,340/yr out. Check net-metering (full) and program stack before treating the 25-year net as settled. Run a personalized estimate →

Alaska's national sun-vs-payback seat

Irradiance 3.4 kWh/m²/day (below the 4.8 national mean) vs 17-yr payback (slow band vs 14.2-yr mean). Crosshairs mark those means.

Alaska (highlighted): 3.4 kWh/m²/day, 17-yr modeled payback - slower than the national average.

Source: PlainSolarData model, NREL irradiance + EIA rates As of 2024

Solar & grid details

Net-metering policy: full
Renewable portfolio standard: None
Installed cost / watt: $3.80/W
Annual production (6 kW): 5,957 kWh
Installed capacity (EIA 2024): 8 MW
Notable programs: Alaska Renewable Energy Fund

Top incentive programs

2 programs available for Alaska residents

Tax exemption Alaska Solar Property Tax Exemption · Property tax exemption Grant Alaska Renewable Energy Fund · Varies by project

All Alaska solar incentives (2)

Tax exemption

Alaska Solar Property Tax Exemption

Property tax exemption

Solar energy systems are exempt from property tax assessment in Alaska.

Grant

Alaska Renewable Energy Fund

Varies by project

AEA awards grants for renewable energy feasibility studies and project construction.

Slower-payback neighbors for Alaska

Two non-geographic peer sets for Alaska: composite score neighbors and payback-year neighbors (deduped so each row links a distinct comparison).

Similar composite solar score

Nearest nationwide matches on the NREL/EIA/DSIRE blend (10/100 here).

Washington · score 14/100
Indiana · score 17/100
Michigan · score 18/100
Ohio · score 18/100

Similar modeled payback

Nearest payback-year peers nationwide (17 yr modeled here).

Oregon · 16.9 yr payback
South Dakota · 17.1 yr payback
Arkansas · 17.2 yr payback
Iowa · 16.7 yr payback

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published composite scores and modeled 6 kW payback years; rankings above use the same fields but sort the full corpus.

Solar resource from NREL; electricity rates and installed capacity from the U.S. EIA; incentive programs from DSIRE. See our methodology.

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher. · Updated July 2026