Solar panel cost and savings in Ames, Iowa
Ames sits at 42.05°N, 93.62°W in Iowa, United States. A typical residential solar system there is sized at 7.5 kW, laid out as 17 panels of 440 W each, mounted at a 40 degree tilt facing the sun's midday path.
Based on PVGIS solar radiation data for Ames's coordinates, that system produces an estimated 11,280 kWh in its first year. At the local electricity price of $0.18 per kWh (export $0.06 per kWh, daily supply charge $0.55), that generation is worth an estimated $1,280 a year to a household with typical usage patterns for a 3-person home.
Get a solar estimate for your home in AmesIncentives in Ames
No incentive currently applies to a system installed in Ames.
Cost and payback
A typical system in Ames costs an estimated $16,456 to $26,180 installed. With no incentive currently applying, that is also the net cost, and the system pays back in about 18 years at today's local electricity price.
These figures assume a typical 3-person household with no pool, electric vehicle or electric heating, and installation in 2026. Incentive schemes change, and one may apply here by the time you install. Electricity prices shown here are set at the country level. Incentive amounts, when present, use each scheme's national or regional scope as noted above, except where an incentive's value is itself calculated from Ames's local solar zone; only the production and payback figures are calculated specifically for Ames's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions
How much solar power can a typical home in Ames generate?
A typical 7.5 kW system (17 panels) in Ames produces an estimated 11,280 kWh a year, based on PVGIS solar radiation data for its coordinates.
What does solar cost in Ames?
A typical system costs $16,456 to $26,180 installed. No incentive currently applies, so that is also the estimated net cost.
How long does solar take to pay back in Ames?
At local electricity prices, a typical system in Ames pays back in about 18 years, with estimated annual savings of $1,280.