Peak sun hours in Alaska
Alaska averages 3 peak sun hours a day across the year, 50th of the 50 states. At that figure a 400-watt panel produces about 0.92 kWh a day after real-world losses, and covering the 900 kWh average US bill takes about 33 panels. Anchorage, the state's biggest city, sits at 3 hours, close to the statewide figure, though microclimates and elevation still move the local number.
cloudy-country sun: 3 of a possible ~6.5 hours
Panel counts for Alaska bills
Computed at Alaska's 3 hours with 400W panels and the 0.77 derate; the US-average column shows what the same bill takes at 4.5 hours, so you can see what your state's sun is worth in hardware.
| Monthly usage | Alaska | System size | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh/mo | 18 panels | 7.2 kW | 12 panels |
| 750 kWh/mo | 27 panels | 10.8 kW | 18 panels |
| 900 kWh/mo | 33 panels | 13.2 kW | 22 panels |
| 1,000 kWh/mo | 36 panels | 14.4 kW | 24 panels |
| 1,500 kWh/mo | 54 panels | 21.6 kW | 36 panels |
| 2,000 kWh/mo | 72 panels | 28.8 kW | 48 panels |
What 3 hours means in practice
Alaska is at the cloudy end of the table: 50th of 50 at 3 peak sun hours, 33% under the national average. Covering the 900 kWh average bill takes 33 panels here against 22 nationally. Solar still works at this latitude and cloud cover (panels run cooler, which claws a little back), but the December trough is deep, so the difference between a grid-tied system that banks summer credits and an off-grid system that must survive winter is bigger here than anywhere in the Sun Belt.
For a location-exact figure, run your address through NREL's free PVWatts; it uses measured weather for your grid cell and will also model roof tilt and direction, which statewide numbers cannot. Then compare its annual kWh against a quote's promise before you sign anything.
Questions people ask
How many solar panels do I need in Alaska?
About 33 400-watt panels (13.2 kW) for the 900 kWh a month an average US home uses, at Alaska's 3 peak sun hours. Your bill is the variable that matters: the table on this page covers 500 to 2,000 kWh, and the calculator takes any figure.
Is 3 peak sun hours good for solar?
It is below the 4.5-hour national average but far from disqualifying. Panel counts run about 50% higher here for the same bill, and the December-January trough deserves respect in any off-grid plan. Grid-tied systems ride through it on net metering.
Do peak sun hours change with the seasons in Alaska?
Yes, everywhere: the figure on this page is the annual average of a curve that peaks in June and bottoms out in December. At Alaska’s latitude and cloud cover the winter trough is deep, often a third of the summer figure or less. Grid-tied homes bank summer overproduction as credit; off-grid designs must size for the trough, not the average.