The cost of solar panels in Rochester, MN (2024)

Updated Oct 8, 2024

  • You'll pay an average of $15,407 to install a 5 kilowatt solar panel system in Rochester, MN, before incentives.

  • The federal investment tax credit (ITC) lowers that price by 30% of all your solar equipment and installation costs.

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Written by: Emily Walker

As of October 2024, the average solar panel system costs $3.08/W including installation in Rochester, MN. For a 5 kW installation, this comes out to about $15,407 before incentives, though prices range from $13,096 to $17,718. After the federal tax credit, the average price drops by 30%.

Average price of a 5 kW solar panel installation in Rochester, MN

Good Price
$13,096 or less
Market Average
$15,407
High Price
$17,718 or more

You'll probably pay even less than what we show here. It doesn't include the federal ITC or Rochester, MN state incentives, which will lower this price by at least a few thousand dollars.

Your solar panel cost depends on your system's size

It may seem obvious but larger solar panel systems cost more money. We use cost per watt ($/W) so you can easily compare quotes, controlling for slight variations in system size.

While a 5 kW system will only cost you $15,407 in Rochester, MN, doubling the system size effectively doubles the price, so you'll pay about twice that for a 10 kW system. The higher the price tag, though, the more you'll get back as a credit towards your federal tax bill.

Average solar cost by system size in Rochester, MN

System Size
System Cost
System Cost (after ITC)
3 kW$9,244$6,471
4 kW$12,325$8,628
5 kW$15,407$10,785
6 kW$18,488$12,942
7 kW$21,570$15,099
8 kW$24,651$17,256
9 kW$27,732$19,413
10 kW$30,814$21,570

Are solar panels worth it in Rochester, MN?

Solar panels are worth it in most areas, including Rochester, MN. Certain factors, including the cost of electricity, incentives, climate, and the angle at which the sun hits your roof impact how quickly you break even on your investment relative to other areas around the U.S. 

If you pay for your system with cash, you'll save about $33,748 over 25 years (the warranty term of most solar panels) on electricity costs with a 5 kW system in Rochester, MN. We generate this estimate based on real solar quote data from our Marketplace. It considers your system's cost, the federal tax credit, and inflation rates.

Payback Period
13.33 Years
25-Year Savings
$33,748
Cost-per-Watt
$3.08

If you can't shell out $15,407 in cash to pay for solar, don't sweat it. You can choose to finance your system with a loan instead. Some companies even offer $0-down loans so you can start saving on day one if your loan payments are less than your current electric bills. Just keep in mind that your long-term savings will be lower with a loan due to interest rates.

Find out what solar panels cost in your area in 2024
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The numbers we're showing are averages. The price you'll pay for solar depends on many factors unique to you and your home:

If you're looking for solar companies in MN, here are some popular suggestions:

  • All Energy Solar
    Saint Paul, MN
    Established 2009
    Elite+ Installer
    Our team of industry professionals have been focused on providing long term, trusted relationships since 2009. O...
    Elite+ Installer
    Screened & Verified

    Our team of industry professionals have been focused on providing long term, trusted relationships since 2009. O...
  • Centauri Systems
    New Hope, MN
    Established 2019
    Elite+ Installer
    Centauri Systems is Minnesota’s top choice for superior quality solar products and a 30-year warranty backed thro...
    Elite+ Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    68 Reviews

    Centauri Systems is Minnesota’s top choice for superior quality solar products and a 30-year warranty backed thro...
  • Wolf River Electric
    Isanti, MN
    Established 2014
    Elite Installer
    Wolf River prides itself on customer satisfaction, timely installation, and working with reputable distributors t...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified

    Wolf River prides itself on customer satisfaction, timely installation, and working with reputable distributors t...
  • Freedom Solar Pros
    Multi-state
    Established 2011
    Approved Installer
    Our main focus is always on quality, both with equipment used and the installation performed. We offer the best w...
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    3 Reviews

    Our main focus is always on quality, both with equipment used and the installation performed. We offer the best w...
  • Olson Solar Energy
    Multi-state
    Established 2017
    Approved Installer
    We are Passionate. We are driven. We care. We believe that our strong work ethic, desire to provide top-notch ...
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    4.5 /5.0
    12 Reviews

    We are Passionate. We are driven. We care. We believe that our strong work ethic, desire to provide top-notch ...

Solar is a major purchase, but you can get the price tag to come down a bit by being an educated shopper. Taking advantage of incentives and rebates and shopping around for quotes can bring down your cost of solar in Rochester, MN.

Take advantage of federal and local solar incentives

As long as your federal tax bill is high enough, you can take advantage of the federal tax credit in Rochester, MN. This incentive allows you to apply 30% of your solar installation and equipment costs toward your federal tax bill. If the amount exceeds your tax bill, you can roll over the remaining credit to the following year. Many states also offer great local incentives and rebates.

Get quotes from multiple installers

Comparing multiple solar quotes can save you money through competition and transparency. Each additional quote you receive for solar will help you find the right solar panel system at the right price.

This is where EnergySage can help. With funding from the Department of Energy’s SunShot Prize, EnergySage opened the country’s first (and now the largest) marketplace for home solar panel installations. We gather custom solar quotes from local installers on your behalf and put them in an easy-to-compare format. When you compare quotes for solar panels on the EnergySage Marketplace, you can expect to see prices up to 20% lower than if you work with a single solar company.

Why shop with EnergySage?

Save time & money

Request free quotes from vetted installers in minutes

Unbiased support

Our expert Energy Advisors will help you make the right decision

Trusted, local installers

We pre-screen and monitor all of our partners

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