Solar · Virginia
How many solar panels do I need in Virginia?
For the average Virginia home, which uses 1,032 kWh a month (EIA, 2024), about 21 × 400 W solar panels (8.16 kW) facing south at the best tilt. One kW of panels in Virginia makes about 1,517 kWh a year, 4.7 kWh a day in April and 3.3 in December, the 21st sunniest of 51.
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Solar output by month in Virginia
Output falls to 70% of the April level in December. Grid-tied homes are sized on the year; anything off-grid has to be sized for December.
| Month | kWh per kW | Per day | 200 W panel, Wh/day into a battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 109 | 3.51 | 597 |
| February | 110 | 3.94 | 671 |
| March | 137 | 4.43 | 754 |
| April | 142 | 4.74 | 805 |
| May | 143 | 4.60 | 782 |
| June | 139 | 4.64 | 788 |
| July | 140 | 4.53 | 770 |
| August | 135 | 4.35 | 739 |
| September | 122 | 4.08 | 694 |
| October | 125 | 4.03 | 685 |
| November | 112 | 3.72 | 633 |
| December | 102 | 3.30 | 561 |
Charging a power station in Virginia
A 200 W panel propped up facing south refills a 1,000 Wh power station in about 1.2 days in April and 1.8 days in December. To refill it in one day you’d need about 250 W of panels in April and 360 W in December. Check your station and panel →
A balcony or plug-in panel in Virginia
A 400 W panel hanging upright on a south-facing railing makes about 401 kWh a year, worth about $70.66 at Virginia’s average rate (17.64¢/kWh, August 2026), if you use the power as it’s made. Shade and the rules where you live matter more than anything here. Try your kit →
The rules in Virginia: Virginia law (HB 395, Chapter 1052, 2026; signed April 22, 2026, takes effect January 1, 2027) on plug-in solar says: “has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts per customer or, in the case of multi-family housing, per residential building unit” … “shall notify the electric service provider by submitting the form established by the Commission, online or by mail, prior to the installation of a small portable solar generation device”. Check with your utility before connecting. Official source: Virginia LIS, HB 395 Chapter 1052; checked November 5, 2026. Every state we track →
Across Virginia
Virginia’s figure is the population-weighted average of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Richmond, its three largest cities; across them, a kW makes 1,485 to 1,535 kWh a year.
| City | Population (2024) | kWh per kW a year |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 454,808 | 1,535 |
| Chesapeake | 254,997 | 1,515 |
| Richmond | 233,655 | 1,485 |
Cross-check: an estimate from NASA POWER sunshine came out at 1,403 kWh per kW, 8% below the Global Solar Atlas figure. Within our 12% threshold.
Electricity rates and appliance costs in Virginia →
FAQ
How many solar panels do I need in Virginia?
For the average Virginia home, which uses 1,032 kWh a month (EIA, 2024), about 21 × 400 W solar panels (8.16 kW) facing south at the best tilt. One kW of panels in Virginia makes about 1,517 kWh a year, 4.7 kWh a day in April and 3.3 in December, the 21st sunniest of 51.
How much does a solar panel produce in Virginia?
A 400 W panel facing south at the best tilt makes about 607 kWh a year in Virginia: about 57 kWh in April and 41 kWh in December (Global Solar Atlas).
How long does a 200 W solar panel take to charge a 1,000 Wh power station in Virginia?
About 1.2 days in April and 1.8 days in December, propped up facing south, at 85% charging efficiency. Lying flat, about 3.1 days in December.
How many solar panels for the U.S. average home in Virginia?
The U.S. average home uses 863 kWh a month (EIA, 2024). In Virginia that takes about 6.83 kW: 18 × 400 W panels.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit?
Not under the residential credit for systems installed after 2025: the IRS says the section 25D credit will not be allowed for any expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed.
Sources and assumptions
- Solar output (kWh per kW of panels, by month): Global Solar Atlas 2.0, long-term averages to 2025 (data version 2.2.68, updated 2026-04-01), for crystalline-silicon panels facing south at the best fixed tilt, after typical system losses. Data obtained from the “Global Solar Atlas 2.0, a free, web-based application is developed and operated by the company Solargis s.r.o. on behalf of the World Bank Group, utilizing Solargis data, with funding provided by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). For additional information: https://globalsolaratlas.info” Licensed CC BY 4.0; we rounded and combined it as described here. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Solargis or the World Bank Group.
- State figure: population-weighted average of the state’s three largest cities (U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; coordinates from the 2020 Census Gazetteer). Hawaii and DC use one city.
- Cross-check: NASA POWER sunshine climatology (2001–2025), tilted with a standard isotropic-sky model × 0.80. States more than 12% apart were reviewed by hand; the gaps are explained on our methodology page.
- Home use: EIA Table 5A, 2024 average monthly residential kWh by state. Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, August 2026.
- Tax credit: IRS FAQ on the One, Big, Beautiful Bill (FS-2025-05, Aug. 21, 2025).
- Assumptions: 85% charging efficiency into a battery, 85% from battery to appliance, panel counts rounded up, off-grid sizing for the worst month.