State solar profile · #17 of 51

Solar in South Carolina: mid payback · strong sun

South Carolina sits in the middle of the payback pack at 14 yr (#19), so irradiance (5.2 kWh/m²/day) and the 3 tracked programs matter more than ranking alone.

5.2
kWh/m²/day irradiance
13.2¢
avg electricity rate
14 yr
payback (#19)
3
incentive programs
34 Limited
Subscribe (RSS)

State solar nameplate strip

Nameplate SC · South Carolina score #17/51

South Carolina | 34/100 | 14 yr payback | 1.6 GW

  • CAP 34/100
  • PROG #17/51
  • NEM 5.2 kWh
  • PHOTO 13.2c/kWh
  • BOOK 14 yr
  • VS-AVG 1.6 GW
  • GW 3 programs
  • IRR near New Hampshire

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 → · Tax credits and incentives → · Personalized estimate → · All state rows → · States ranked → · Payback vs U.S. avg (14.2 yr): 0.2 yr faster

Modeled 6 kW payback · South Carolina and nearest peers

Shorter bars = faster simple payback on the NREL/EIA model

years

What this shows South Carolina sits at 14 years among nearest payback peers (0.2 yr faster vs the 14.2-yr U.S. average).

Source PlainSolarData model · NREL irradiance + EIA rates As of 2024

Mid-pack 25-year ROI · South Carolina

$16,800

system cost

$1,203/yr

modeled savings

14 yr

break-even

+$13,275

25-year net

Mid-band math for South Carolina: $16,800 system cost vs $1,203/yr savings. Incentive stacking usually decides the edge case. Run a personalized estimate →

Installed solar capacity in South Carolina, 2013–2024

Total solar nameplate capacity in South Carolina reported to the EIA, utility-scale and reported distributed systems. The number of reporting facilities grew 121x (1 to 121) between 2013 and 2024, and the average site size grew from 3 MW to 14 MW per site, a shift toward larger utility-scale installations.

0 MW500 MW1.0 GW1.5 GW2.0 GW 201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 1.6 GW
South Carolina now has about 1.6 GW of installed solar capacity across 121 reported facilities.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

The national sun-and-payback picture for South Carolina

Irradiance 5.2 kWh/m²/day (at/above the 4.8 national mean) vs 14-yr payback (mid band vs 14.2-yr mean). Crosshairs mark those means.

Modest sun · fast payback (high rates)Sun + speedModest sun · slowSunny but slow (cheap power)3.24.15.05.86.74.1 yr10.0 yr15.9 yr21.8 yr27.7 yrSolar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →← Faster payback (years)HI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 5.2 yrCA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 6.3 yrAZ, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 6.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 10.3 yrNM, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 6.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 10.3 yrNV, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 6.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.9 yrTX, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.7 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.8 yrFL, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.6 · ← Faster payback (years): 12 yrCO, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 12.3 yrCT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.1 · ← Faster payback (years): 8.9 yrMA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.2 yrUT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.5 yrNY, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.1 yrRI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.7 yrME, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.3 yrNH, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.8 yrNJ, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 12.8 yrSC, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 14 yrNC, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.4 yrKS, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 13.7 yrDC, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 13 yrGA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.5 yrVT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.1 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.5 yrMD, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.3 yrMT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.3 yrOK, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.5 yrIL, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14 yrWY, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.3 yrLA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.1 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.8 yrVA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 15 yrMN, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.9 yrTN, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.7 yrAL, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.4 yrAR, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.2 yrDE, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.4 yrMO, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.6 yrND, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 18.2 yrOR, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.9 yrPA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.2 yrWI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.2 yrMS, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.7 yrNE, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.4 yrSD, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.1 yrIA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.7 yrKY, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.7 yrID, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.7 · ← Faster payback (years): 20 yrMI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.4 yrOH, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.3 yrWV, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 19.4 yrIN, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.8 yrWA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 3.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 26.6 yrAK, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 3.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 17 yr
South Carolina (highlighted): 5.2 kWh/m²/day, 14-yr modeled payback - faster than the national average.

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

South Carolina vs the national payback spread

South Carolina's 14-yr modeled break-even sits near the 14.2-yr national average, banded here in 2-year steps.

South Carolina vs all states by modeled payback

Modeled 6 kW simple payback, banded in 2-year steps.

14 Lower than most faster than 61% of 51 states

all tracked states, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainSolarData model, NREL irradiance + EIA rates · 2024

Solar & grid details

Net-metering policy
partial
Renewable portfolio standard
Voluntary (2% by 2021)
Installed cost / watt
$2.80/W
Annual production (6 kW)
9,110 kWh
Installed capacity (EIA 2024)
1.6 GW
Notable programs
Dominion SC Solar Program

Top incentive programs

3 programs available for South Carolina residents

Tax exemption SC Solar Property Tax Exemption · Property tax exemption Net metering SC Net Metering · Retail rate credit Tax credit SC Solar Energy Tax Credit · 25% of cost, max $3,500/year

All South Carolina solar incentives (3)

Tax exemption

SC Solar Property Tax Exemption

Property tax exemption

South Carolina exempts solar energy systems from property tax assessment.

 Net metering

SC Net Metering

Retail rate credit

South Carolina utilities offer net metering for systems up to 20 kW.

 Tax credit

SC Solar Energy Tax Credit

25% of cost, max $3,500/year

South Carolina income tax credit of 25% of installed solar cost, up to $3,500 per year.

South Carolina's nearest score and payback peers

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

Peer states by composite solar score

Nearest nationwide matches on the NREL/EIA/DSIRE blend (34/100 here).

Closest match: modeled payback

Nearest payback-year peers nationwide (14 yr modeled here).

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.