Solar Panel Value Add Calculator

Work out solar panel value add instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Solar Panel Value Add Calculator

Rooftop solar delivers two returns: reduced electricity bills and a modest uplift in property value, typically two to four percent for an owned system. Combining ten years of savings with the value uplift and netting the installed cost gives the total benefit, while payback from savings alone is the figure most buyers focus on.

Formulas

Total benefit

Benefit = home value x uplift percentage + annual savings x 10 - system cost

Payback

Years = system cost / annual savings

Worked example

With the default values below, Solar Panel Value Add Calculator returns Total benefit over ten years of $440,000.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Solar system costminimum 0.01: 400,000
Annual electricity savingsminimum 0: 60,000
Value uplift from solaraccepts 0–15 %: 3 %
Current home valueminimum 0.01: 8,000,000

Results

Total benefit over ten years: $440,000.00
Value uplift: $240,000.00
Payback from savings alone: 6.67 years
Ten years of electricity savings: $600,000.00

Step by step

1Values used
2Total benefit
3Payback
4Total benefit over ten years= 440,000.00
5Value uplift= 240,000.00
6Payback from savings alone= 6.67 years
7Ten years of electricity savings= 600,000.00

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation or tax into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Solar Panel Value Add figure worked out?

Benefit = home value x uplift percentage + annual savings x 10 - system cost. Rooftop solar delivers two returns: reduced electricity bills and a modest uplift in property value, typically two to four percent for an owned system.

Does a leased system add value?

Generally not, and it can deter buyers who must assume the lease. The value uplift evidence relates to owned systems.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 4 inputs: Solar system cost, Annual electricity savings, Value uplift from solar, Current home value. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.