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How much do solar panels cost in Beaufort,SC in 2024?
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Currently, in Beaufort, SC in the month of August, 2024, the cost per each watt for solar is $3.43/W.
In accordance with this price, expect to spend $3,430, on average, for every 1000 watts (or 1 kW) of solar energy your solar system will need to produce. After receiving the 30% federal tax credit, you can expect to spend about $12,005, in Beaufort, for a 5 kW solar panel install. To ensure your energy requirements are met, you may require a larger system.
Select your county from the menu on the left to find the average roof size and maximum solar panel system capacity for homes in your area. Displayed below is a breakdown of the price, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system in your county.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Beaufort: $12,005US Average: $12,637
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Beaufort: 10 yearsUS Average: 11 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Beaufort: $17,331US Average: $15,245
Solar Potential in Beaufort
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in
Beaufort.
Roof size 626sq. ft.
Capacity 8.75kW DC
Electricity 11.1kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Beaufort, SC & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
An electricity consumer in Beaufort usually uses 1,018 kWh per month, leading to an average electric bill of $143.67. These figures also cover apartments and other smaller living spaces with lower energy requirements.
The mean rate for electricity in Beaufort, SC in August, 2024 is 14.11¢ per kWh.
To meet all of the energy requirements of a typical user in Beaufort, a solar power system of 8 kW or larger is required. The cost of a an 8 kW solar system is approximately $27,440 before any incentives, but the federal tax credit gives you back 30%, reducing your total to $19,208.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Beaufort
Below and to the left, the pricing details for different sizes of the solar panel systems installed in Beaufort is displayed. Of course, with a larger solar system, you'll see a greater initial expense, but the advantages consist of greater energy savings and greater income tax credits.
The cost and benefit breakdown for solar panels, shown in the calculator down and to the right, is based on an average electric bill of $143.67 in Beaufort. For a more precise estimate, change the $143.67 with your usual electricity bill amount.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $887 a year
Est. Price
$9,604
Savings froma 4kWthissystem
- Est. yearly production 6,336 kWh
- Est. monthly savings $74
- Full payback in 15 years
Environmental Impacts
- Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.11 tons a year
- Equivalent to planting 97 trees a year
- Equivalent to driving 5,230 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,109 a year
Est. Price
$12,005
Savings froma 5kWthissystem
- Est. yearly production 7,920 kWh
- Est. monthly savings $92
- Full payback in 15 years
Environmental Impacts
- Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.64 tons a year
- Equivalent to planting 121 trees a year
- Equivalent to driving 6,537 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,331 a year
Est. Price
$14,406
Savings froma 6kWthissystem
- Est. yearly production 9,504 kWh
- Est. monthly savings $111
- Full payback in 15 years
Environmental Impacts
- Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.17 tons a year
- Equivalent to planting 146 trees a year
- Equivalent to driving 7,845 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,552 a year
Est. Price
$16,807
Savings froma 7kWthissystem
- Est. yearly production 11,088 kWh
- Est. monthly savings $129
- Full payback in 15 years
Environmental Impacts
- Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.7 tons a year
- Equivalent to planting 170 trees a year
- Equivalent to driving 9,152 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,774 a year
Est. Price
$19,208
Savings froma 8kWthissystem
- Est. yearly production 12,672 kWh
- Est. monthly savings $144
- Full payback in 16 years
Environmental Impacts
- Reduces CO2 emissions by 4.12 tons a year
- Equivalent to planting 189 trees a year
- Equivalent to driving 10,188 mi less a year
Beaufort Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
The REAP Grant currently offers between 80% and 100% coverage for the installation costs of solar or wind turbines for rural small businesses and farms. If you think you might be eligible, try our REAP Grant eligibility tool to verify your qualification.
The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for residential solar systems, making solar attractive and practical for a variety of homeowners. Additionally, numerous state and local programs aim to promote further adoption of solar energy.
Various utilities and government entities in South Carolina provide 8 solar rebate and incentive programs.
Solar incentives in SCIncentive Description Value
Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Corporate)
Value:Up to $3,500
South Carolina businesses are eligible for tax credits on the equipment and installation expenses of a new renewable energy system or energy-efficient building materials. Qualifying technologies include solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal as used to generate electricity or for heating/cooling. All system components are also eligible for credits. The credit is valued at 25% of costs up to $3,500 per property and $5,000 per company. To claim the credit, interested businesses should obtain the proper paperwork from the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
ConserFund Loan Program
Value:Varies
ConserFund is a loan initiative overseen by the South Carolina Energy Office. Loans support state/local agencies, public colleges and schools, and nonprofits in making energy efficiency improvements, including installing new renewable energy devices. Qualifying projects include building retrofit work, geothermal pumps, solar panels, or biomass systems. The available principal per loan varies from $25,000 to $500,000 depending on the nature of the project. The borrower has six months to begin installation from the time of the loan's disbursem*nt. Qualifying public-sector borrowers may have 30% of their loan principal automatically forgiven.
Net Metering
Value:Varies
South Carolina electric customers using an interconnected solar or wind energy system may enter net metering agreements with their utility. Any system rated for under 20 kW (residential) or 1 MW (nonresidential) qualifies. The utility will install a bidirectional meter onto the system to measure net excess generation (NEG) sent back to the grid. Customers will receive energy bill credits for the NEG they generate at a fixed avoided-cost rate. Excess bill credits that remain at the end of the year will be paid as a lump sum. Additional information is available from individual utilities. Utilities may set their own net metering terms within a certain domain.
South Carolina Municipalities - Green Power Purchasing
Value:Varies
In 2001, Santee Cooper established a Green Power Program allowing residential customers to purchase renewably-sourced energy at $3 for a 100 kWh block. Commercial customers may purchase 200 kWh blocks at $6. Any customer-member of a South Carolina electric cooperative, as well as customers in Georgetown, may participate. Additional information is available through the Santee Cooper website.
State Building Energy Standards
Value:Varies
New government buildings in South Carolina are subject to green construction requirements. Generally, new occupied state facilities should meet or exceed the standards for LEED Silver certification. Buildings receiving two Green Globes may also meet the standards. By 2020, existing buildings should take measures to cut energy consumption by 20% from a 2000 baseline. Exceptions apply to buildings of certain types, as well as any project where it is determined that project costs would exceed gained energy efficiency. Additional information is available from the South Carolina Energy Office.
Interconnection Guidelines
Value:Varies
Distributed generation and grid interconnection practices have been standardized in South Carolina since 2006. New renewable energy systems in the South Carolina Electric and Gas, Duke Energy, and Progress Energy service areas will be organized into three regulatory tiers based on capacity. A system's tier will determine available permitting processes, fees, review turnaround time, and safety/performance standards. The state requires all interconnected systems to have multiple external disconnect switches. Non-residential system owners are required to carry at least $300,000 of liability insurance on their system.
Renewable Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit
Value:Varies
In South Carolina, tax credits are available for businesses involved in the manufacture of renewable energy equipment. Qualifying equipment includes solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and a range of other technologies. The maximum available credit is $500,000 per year and $5 million per company. As a condition for receiving the credit, companies are required to invest a minimum amount in new manufacturing facilities, jobs, or other expenses. The required investment will vary from county to county. Additional information is available from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Personal)
Value:Varies
South Carolina homeowners are eligible for tax credits on the equipment and installation expenses of a new renewable energy system or energy-efficient building materials. Qualifying technologies include solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal as used to generate electricity or for heating/cooling. All system components are also eligible for credits. The credit is valued at 25% of costs up to $3,500 per property and $5,000 per taxpayer. To claim the credit, interested homeowners should obtain the proper paperwork from the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
Are solar panels worth it in South Carolina?
If you plan to own your residence longer than the solar system's payback period, solar panels are a wise investment in Beaufort. A 5 kW system in Beaufort, SC will enable you to save the average homeowner, on average, $22,475.8 over a 20 period and the average break even point is 6.96 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Beaufort, SC
Without solar panels or another backup power source, you miss out on the savings discussed previously and are entirely on your electric utility for electricity. Recent news examples have revealed that complete dependence on your utility provider isn't always the most favorable condition.
Beaufort utilities have reported 1.07 outages per customer per year over the past few years. On average, an outage lasts 78.4 minutes. Major events such as wildlife damage, grid management errors or thunderstorms can significantly extend these time frames.
A solar panel system, whether or not it has a backup battery, could help reduce the impact of future outages you might experience.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Beaufort, SC?
Your Energy Needs - Even if the initial expense is greater, the price per watt decreases with larger solar panel systems. Individuals often discover that setting up a solar system that can offset their entire electric bill is advantageous, ensuring optimal savings.
Make & Model - Just like any other product, solar panels are available in a wide variety of makes and models. Considering the system preferences that your installer may have, it's important to select a reputable contractor. For a superior long-term experience, buyers should consider better quality models.
Solar Panel Type - For good reasons, monocrystalline panels have become the industry standard. They come with a higher price, but they generate more energy. Many solar panel installers choose this material.
Your Property - Each property and home has its own characteristics. Factors such as trees, sloped land, or additional considerations can make the installation more challenging. Nowadays, most solar installers can assess your home with satellite images and incorporate these considerations in the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - The costs connected to the varying wages offered by companies to their employees are passed on to the consumers. Companies that invest in higher wages usually see higher reviews for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Permitting and utility interconnection fees change locally and will impact your installation cost. Good installers will factor these costs into your preliminary quotes to prevent unexpected expenses.
See what solar panels cost in other SC cities
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Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Who are the best solar installers in Beaufort?
Freedom Forever
Temecula, CA(800) 685-1850
Services
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Titan Solar Power
Mesa, AZ(855) 729-7652
Services
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Blue Ridge Sun
Max Meadows CDP, VA(276) 637-0117
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
Mountain Ridge Energy Service
Conway, AR(501) 499-1529
Services
- Reparation of solar arrays.
- Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Powur PBC
Del Mar, CA(866) 467-6987
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Core Development Group
(201) 825-2195
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
Renu Energy Solutions
Charlotte, NC(336) 565-7291
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Reparation of batteries.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Installation of solar arrays.
SolFarm Solar co.
Asheville, NC(828) 332-3003
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Solar Alliance Southeast
Knoxville, TN(865) 309-4674
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
LUX Energy
San Antonio, TX(830) 308-7475
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
Go Solar Power
Boca Raton, FL(800) 530-9597
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
SunPro Solar
Mandeville, LA(866) 599-3643
Services
- Monitoring of independent energy generation.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Consulting on all things solar related.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Power Home Solar
Mooresville, NC(704) 870-3670
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Consulting on all things solar related.
- Reparation of solar arrays.
SunPower by South Coast Solar
Columbia, SC(803) 471-4354
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Reparation of solar arrays.
Hannah Solar Government Services
Summerville, SC(843) 718-1866
Services
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
Summit Energy Group
Weymouth Town, MA(888) 578-6648
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
Rogers, AZ(479) 278-2990
Services
- Reparation of solar arrays.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Greenskies Renewable Energy
North Haven CDP, CT(860) 398-5408
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Palmetto Solar
Charleston, SC(855) 339-1831
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Reparation of solar arrays.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
SunPower Corporation
San Jose, CA(800) 786-7693
Services
- Reparation of solar arrays.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Consulting on all things solar related.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Monitoring of independent energy generation.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
Shiloh, GA(706) 846-3121
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Consulting on all things solar related.
Silver Sun Solar
Deltona, FL(340) 227-7785
Services
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Generac
Waukesha, WI(888) 436-3722
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
Sunnova Energy
Houston, TX(866) 786-6682
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
Sunrun
San Francisco, CA(833) 394-3384
Services
- Monitoring of independent energy generation.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
Pure Power Engineering
Hoboken, NJ(201) 687-9975
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Consulting on all things solar related.
Sigora Solar
Charlottesville, VA(434) 465-6192
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Knight Electric
Ogden, UT(801) 782-8219
Services
- Reparation of solar arrays.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
Entegrity
Little Rock, AR(800) 700-1414
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
City Electric Supply
Dallas, TX(866) 634-9853
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Consulting on all things solar related.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
PowerHome Solar
Mooresville, NC(704) 870-3670
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Solar Plus
Atlanta, GA(470) 378-1182
Services
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
- Reparation of solar arrays.
- Installation of solar arrays.
- Consulting on all things solar related.
Cinci Home Solar
Cincinnati, OH(513) 616-6044
Services
- Consulting on all things solar related.
- Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Greer, SC(888) 748-9165
Services
- Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
- Installation of batteries for energy storage.
- Reparation of solar arrays.
- Installation of solar arrays.
Veteran Supply Services
Los Angeles, CA(323) 332-6896
Services
- Installation of solar arrays.
Beaufort, SC Solar Panel Cost FAQs
The typical cost per watt for solar panels in Beaufort, SC as of August, 2024 is $3.43/W. With the federal tax credit, the cost of a 5 kW solar panel system in Beaufort, SC drops to roughly $12,005.
As of now, there are 8 rebates and incentives offered by various utilities and government entities in South Carolina. Additionally, the vast majority qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
Even though paying cash yields the most savings, there are now several financing options for solar panels that also are financially sensible. Installers often have partnerships with financing companies and will include this information in your initial quotes.
Yes, the payback period for 5 kW solar energy systems in Beaufort, SC averages 6.96 years, with electricity savings of about $22,475.8 over 20 years.
Last Reviewed By: Alex Zdanov
Published: 2024-08-01
