The cost of solar panels in Clay County, NC (2024)

Updated Aug 13, 2024

  • You'll pay an average of $13,240 to install a 5 kilowatt solar panel system in Clay County, NC, 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 August 2024, the average solar panel system costs $2.65/W including installation in Clay County, NC. For a 5 kW installation, this comes out to about $13,240 before incentives, though prices range from $11,254 to $15,226. After the federal tax credit, the average price drops by 30%.

Average price of a 5 kW solar panel installation in Clay County, NC

Good Price
$11,254 or less
Market Average
$13,240
High Price
$15,226 or more

You'll probably pay even less than what we show here. It doesn't include the federal ITC or Clay County, NC 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 $13,240 in Clay County, NC, 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 Clay County, NC

System Size
System Cost
System Cost (after ITC)
3 kW$7,944$5,561
4 kW$10,592$7,414
5 kW$13,240$9,268
6 kW$15,888$11,122
7 kW$18,536$12,975
8 kW$21,184$14,829
9 kW$23,832$16,682
10 kW$26,480$18,536

Are solar panels worth it in Clay County, NC?

Solar panels are worth it in most areas, including Clay County, NC. 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 $26,177 over 20 years on electricity costs with a 5 kW system in Clay County, NC. 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
12.12 Years
20-Year Savings
$26,177
Cost-per-Watt
$2.65

If you can't shell out $13,240 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 NC, here are some popular suggestions:

  • Olympus Home
    Multi-state
    Established 2019
    Elite Installer
    Olympus Home is a leading installer of solar and roofing in the southeast. We handle everything you need to tran...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    11 Reviews

    Olympus Home is a leading installer of solar and roofing in the southeast. We handle everything you need to tran...
  • 8MSolar
    Cary, NC
    Established 2015
    Elite Installer
    8MSolar aims to provide environmental and financial sustainability through solar energy systems.

    We are a Chapter...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified

    8MSolar aims to provide environmental and financial sustainability through solar energy systems.

    We are a Chapter...
  • Renu Energy Solutions
    Arden, NC
    Established 2010
    Elite Installer
    For over a decade, Renu Energy Solutions has been a leader in the Carolina's as a premier solar installer with mo...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified

    For over a decade, Renu Energy Solutions has been a leader in the Carolina's as a premier solar installer with mo...
  • Cosmo Solaris
    Multi-state
    Established 2018
    Elite Installer
    We are a solar installation company that handles both installations and permit acquisition in-house. With a team ...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified

    We are a solar installation company that handles both installations and permit acquisition in-house. With a team ...
  • CAPE FEAR SOLAR SYSTEMS, LLC
    Wilmington, NC
    Established 2007
    Elite Installer
    We are on a mission to empower our region to live better by making it easy and affordable for home and business o...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    37 Reviews

    We are on a mission to empower our region to live better by making it easy and affordable for home and business o...

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 Clay County, NC.

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 Clay County, NC. 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

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