Kansas Solar Power Facts in 2024

Solar panels in Kansas make a lot of sense. The state enjoys 128 sunny days a year, notably less than some other US states, but the high average number of sunny hours of 2,900 per year makes the state good for solar nevertheless. Kansas solar panel companies offer panel systems at a relatively low price, and a short payback period makes investing in solar a sane decision. 

Solar panels in Kansas can produce as much renewable energy as you need, and the low solar panel cost is reduced even further by the Federal Solar Tax Credit (Federal ITC, Investment Tax Credit). The state has a few solar installers, and there is a lot of unused solar potential there. The state of Kansas can also offer net metering, which can be coupled with other incentives to further reduce the system cost and the payback period. 

Every new solar installation is welcomed in the state, as every home solar system means that the state of Kansas is a step closer to reaching its climate goals. Currently, Kansas residents are still beginning to realize the importance of going solar, but, considering how much electricity could be generated asie from the municipal electric providers, using the sheer power of the sun, they are likely to change their minds in the upcoming decades. All this green energy can easily take a load off the utility grid, but more needs to be done to incentivize people to switch to solar in Kansas. 

Kansas Solar Energy Data

In fact, Kansas only ranks 45th in the US. This means that there are not enough solar panel systems and that they do not produce enough energy. In fact, this booming industry seems to be stagnating in the state, as it can only produce very little electricity in the total energy mix: around 0.5%. Compared to some other states, with solar panels in California topping 100% of total energy production, it remains to be seen where Kansas is headed, especially considering the total number of sunny hours in the state. 

The total generation capacity installed, of only 115 MW pushed the state even further down in the ranking of the best solar states. Kansas solar panel incentives are simply not enough for more homeowners to go solar. Currently, only about 15,800 homes can be powered with solar energy, and the possible energy savings, Federal Tax Credit, and the Sales and Property Tax Exemption that comes with solar panels are not enough to stimulate more people to adopt the new technology. 

In fact, only about 970 solar jobs in the state speak volumes of the need to boost legislature and regulations to increase solar adoption in the state. The $216 million is simply not enough for a state with 2.95 million residents. However, a relatively short payback period of 6.3-12 years and $40,000-$52,000 in total energy savings over a 20-year period also say that there is a need to educate homeowners further on all solar benefits. 

Source: SEIA: Kansas

Notable Solar Installations in Kansas

On the bright side, there are three large solar projects in Kansas. The Johnson Corner Solar in Johnson City came online in 2020 and provides 27.5 MW of solar power – enough for 4,200 homes. The ALDI and IKEA centers feature 2 MW projects, enough to power their buildings and machines. The City of Pratt’s Solar installation of 7.7 MW is enough to power 1,170 homes. 

Average Cost of Solar Energy Systems in Kansas 

However, since solar panel systems in Kansas are cheap, it remains unclear where the slow adoption comes from. At an average price of $3.25 per watt of installed power, Kansas solar panels can provide electricity at a low rate of $0.05 per kWh during their lifetime, resulting in savings of around $40,000 in total. 

Furthermore, it takes an average of 6.3-12 years to get the solar panels’ worth back and around 3 years to recuperate the CO2 used in their manufacturing. When coupled with the 30% Federal ITC and net metering, Kansas solar panels are affordable and can help reduce your carbon footprint. 

Factors Affecting the Cost of Solar Panels in Kansas 

Whatever kind of solar panels in Kansas, you may choose, you should know that solar panel systems differ in price quite a lot. Renewable energy is a great thing, and so is energy efficiency, but overpaying for your solar panels may deem them hard to pay off. With this in mind, you should be able to understand how different factors affect the cost of solar panels in Kansas. Here are a few of them: 

• The solar system size, 
• The panel brand and quality, 
• The panel type (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or thin-film), 
• The state of your home roof and possible fixings that need to be made, 
• The installation company that you choose, and 
• The permits and interconnection fee (including the smart, two-way meter). 

System size

The system size is the sole biggest contributor to the cost of your solar system. Solar power got more than 80% cheaper in the past several years, but it can still cost a lot. Currently, the US federal government offers generous incentives for all those who would like to switch to solar power, including the federal solar tax credit or the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), while the state of Kansas offers net metering. They also offer sales and property tax exemptions. 

Even with all these incentives (all based on the percentage of the total cost of your solar system), the prices can still get high. For this reason, it is necessary to work with professionals to determine how large of a solar system you need. To start off, understanding your energy needs is a must: check your energy bills before you decide to install solar panels and see what your yearly energy consumption is. 

Once you know this, it is time to work with a professional solar system designer or installer to better understand how many panels you need. The number of panels, their type, and brand will be different in different parts of the state and the country, as they all depend on the local weather conditions. As there are no two places in the US with exactly the same number of sunny days and hours, precipitation patterns, and temperatures year-round, you need someone local to help you estimate the size of your system. 

Panel brand and quality

The panel’s brand and quality will add volumes to the price of your solar power system. Different brands will offer solar panels of varying quality and power output, and navigating this maze can be difficult. The best recommendation is to avoid the cheapest deals that you can find, but also to avoid overly expensive panels. 

This will leave you with dozens of solar panel brands and models to choose from. The best way to do it: look at online reviews to determine which of the remaining panels work the best, offer the longest lifespan, and break down the least. This should narrow down your list even further. Among the remaining panels, you should calculate cost-per-watt to get a quantifiable way to present the value you will be getting for your money. Only price-per-watt can help you navigate this maze, as different technologies, solar panel brands and types can be confusing to navigate through. 

Panel Type

There are three basic types of solar panels, with more being developed as you read. Which type of solar panels will work the best for you depends on the location you will be installing your solar panel, your solar power needs, your current energy bills, as well as the orientation and the tilt of the solar panels. This does not mean that simply choosing the most expensive kind of panels will be the right solution for you, so let’s move on and consider solar panel type in more detail. 

The three basic types of solar panels include monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film solar panels. Monocrystalline solar panels offer the highest conversion rate (efficiency rate) of 18-22%. They are black in color and are perfect for cold climates with little sunshine and a lot of snow – in part because they help the snow melt and stay operable for longer hours. They are also perfect for all looking for ways to produce a lot of power in a small rooftop area. They are also perfect for hot climates, as they can withstand high temperatures with little conversion efficiency loss. 

The second type of solar panel is polycrystalline solar panels. They are less efficient than their monocrystalline counterparts and are very likely to help you produce a lot of power with a lower investment. However, the efficiency of 15-17% means that you will need a higher number of solar panels and a larger rooftop area. These panels will also be a bit less efficient during temperature extremes – both cold and hot. 

Finally, thin-film solar panels have a very low-efficiency reading, usually not higher than 10%. This renders them the cheapest on our list. However, choosing these panels for home application may prove to be a bad idea. These panels are usually used on buildings with a lot of uneven surfaces, on boats, or even on RVs, providing small amounts of much-needed energy. For home solar systems, they are not the best option. 

Home Roof

Your home roof also has a say in how much you will pay for your solar panels. The home roof is where they will be placed, and the space underneath the roof is the space where the energy produced will be used. In single-floor homes, you will really only need a few solar panels, especially as the space that can use the energy is small. For spaces like this, you may want to consider going with polycrystalline solar panels. 

However, in two-, or multi-story buildings, you should consider going with a larger solar system, or even a system that has monocrystalline solar panels. A system like this will help you produce enough solar power for your needs, and renewable energy will also help you reduce your carbon footprint. 

In very hot climates, your home roof can also be used to produce hot water. Solar collectors are inexpensive and serve this exact purpose. This way, your home will always have hot water and lower energy needs – effectively reducing the size of the solar system you need to purchase. 

In addition to this, your roof should face South and have a tilt that corresponds to the latitude where your home is. If your home roof does not face South, East or West will have to do. In this case, you may need a slightly larger solar panel system. 

Installation Company

The installation company that will be installing solar panels on your home is also important to consider. Overly cheap companies may prove to be providing only as much value as you pay for, and overly expensive companies may be spending too much on their marketing efforts. As always, the golden middle is the price segment to strive for. Once you have a few solar companies on your mind, check out their rating on BBB.org (Better Business Bureau), and see what kind of experience other people have had with them. 

Also beware that, sometimes, it may be better to purchase your own solar panel system and then have a professional install them. This way, you may get the panels at a lower price. On the other hand, in some areas, it may be better to simply let the solar installer install the panels that you need and to purchase them for you as well – as they can get a lower price due to a higher purchase volume. 

Permits & Interconnection Fee

The necessary permits and the interconnection fee also cost some money, although they usually present a smaller portion of the total cost of solar panel systems. These permits are necessary, so please bear in mind that doing a solar panel installation without them may be illegal and may cost you a fortune in fines. Always check with professional installers AND your municipality office to be able to make the best decision. 

Benefits of Switching to Solar Energy

Once you understand which factors contribute to the price of using green solar energy in your home, it is also time to consider the benefits of running solar in the US. The benefits of solar panels in Kansas include but are not limited to: 

• Lower energy costs and energy bills, 
• Energy independence for you and your family, and 
• Clean energy and a reduced carbon footprint. 

Lower Energy Costs

Lower energy costs are simple enough to understand. You use energy every day and now, you can produce at least a part of that energy. Since you draw less energy from your utility company, your solar panels’ worth will return to you in the form of savings over the course of the next 8-12 years. 

After the initial pay-off period, the solar panels are yours, but so are the savings. With these panels, now you get completely free energy (as a percentage of the power bill that the panels are supposed to cover). This extra money can then be used to invest or increase the quality of your life. In any case, you should be able to recuperate most of the costs and earn at least twice the money invested. 

Energy Independence

Being able to gain energy independence from the utility company is also important for many. However, although solar panels can generate clean energy, it is important to note that most solar customers decide to keep their connection to the grid. This gives them the ability to send excess electricity to the grid, and the magic of net metering ensures that they can get that energy back. 

This way, many solar panel owners can avoid having to purchase a solar battery, which can be quite costly and can almost double the total cost of the solar panel system. A solar battery is then reserved for those who want to keep their access to electricity even when there is a power outage, or for those living off-grid. These are the only two scenarios where a solar battery can pay off. 

Clean Energy

Many eco-conscious residents of Kansas can enjoy the ecological benefits of solar panel systems as well. One of the biggest advantages of owning a solar panel system can be seen in the ability to use clean energy to power your home, your solar batteries, and even your EV – Electric Vehicle. With a setup like this, you will be doing more than enough to help combat climate change and Kansas solar installers can help you achieve that. 

Kansas Solar Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Credits

The state of Kansas offers some incentives and tax credits, although it remains to be seen how these can be used for your own benefit. Beware that some may be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis, so that your Kansas solar panels may not be incentivized after all. Always ask around before making any important decisions. 

Federal Solar Tax Credit

The Federal Solar Tax Credit is a solar investment tax credit that is available to all federal tax-eligible households. The credits allow you to subtract up to 30% of your total solar investment’s worth from your federal taxes owed. The program is available till the end of 2032. 

Net Metering

With net metering in place, it is important to note that you can opt for it for as long as you have a smart meter. In case you do not, you should first have it installed and then opt for the program and solar panels in Kansas. Under this program, once your solar panels are installed, you will be sent excess power to the grid, which effectively acts as if you installed solar batteries. 

Of course, excess electricity will only be there when there is sunshine. During overcast days, nights, or even during winter time, your utility company will be sending you back the electricity you have sent them while effectively charging you nothing until you have some energy credits left on your meter. All in all, you are only expected to pay for the energy you have used on top of the energy you have generated by your system. 

Sales & Property Tax Exemptions

If you decide to install solar panels on your home, you should know that your home value can increase with their installation. Under the sales and property tax exemption, you will not be paying any extra taxes on the increased value of your home. Its resale value, however, will increase. 

Is it Worth it to Buy Solar Panels in Kansas?

Yes, it is worth buying solar panels in Kansas. In fact, Kansas solar panel payback period starts off at around 6.3 years. It can produce power at a very competitive rate, and the solar panels cost can be offset (partially, at least), by means of net metering and Federal ITC. Your solar panels’ worth will keep being paid back and the solar panels’ cost is low enough as it is. 

Buying vs Leasing Solar Panels

Solar panels in Kansas can help you out tremendously. Each solar panel installation can help you reach energy independence and lower energy bills, as solar panels save money from the moment they are installed. Electricity rates are getting higher, so it is wise to start your journey to energy freedom as soon as possible. However, this can prove to be a costly journey, as the price tag of a solar installation is quite high. 

Buying solar panels right away can cost a lot and it can take years to save that money. For this reason, many people decide to go for a solar loan and to use all the solar incentives that they can. Solar installers know about these options and can even help you out by providing you with more information when needed and even free advice. 

On the other hand, there is the option of leasing solar panels. However, you should be careful of all the disadvantages that come with this kind of setup, as leasing solar panels means that you do not own them until you’ve paid them off. This is less than ideal, but this option can help install more panels in Kansas, reduce pollution levels, and provide energy independence for more people than ever before. Each solar installation can be purchased by these two means. 

Besides these two ways to obtain a solar system, there is also a solar PPA – probably the least favorable of the three. Under a Solar PPA – Solar Power Purchase Agreement – the solar company installs solar panels on your rooftop, but keeps the ownership over them. As the solar installation produces electricity, you purchase it, but there is no payback period. If you would like to own the system, you can use the buyout option, but this will cost more, and you may spend years before able to do so. 

Top Solar Companies in Kansas

There are not that many Kansas solar panel companies. Still, here are some of the most popular ones in the market: 

• BMK Plumbing and Solar, 
• Cromwell Environmental, 
• Diamond Solar Solutions, 
• Energy Savings Store, 
• Stanion Wholesale Electric, and 
• Ulteig. 

FAQs

Conclusion

There are not as many Kansas solar panel incentives, but the few there are can help Kansas residents reduce their solar system cost below the national average, and help avoid power outages when coupled with a battery. As our solar calculator points out, any solar system can be paid off in 6-12 years, and the cost of solar panels keeps going down. The electricity generated is low in cost and green and may help you reach your own financial and ecological goals. 

Updated on 06-13-23