Solar in Wisconsin: payback, sun by city and utility-scale capacity
Across 5 Wisconsin cities, yearly output runs from 1,293 kWh per kW in Green Bay to 1,341 in Kenosha. Jul is the best month at 158 kWh per kW and Dec the worst at 51. Wisconsin pays back in 12.5 years at $3.00 a watt (rank 18 of 51), 1.0 years shorter than the middle state. 1,324 kWh per kW (rank 34) at 18.16 ¢ (rank 16 from the top): price of power drives it. Utility-scale solar in Wisconsin: 2,541 MW in 115 plants, 6.0% of 2025 generation; 3,050 MW more under construction or planned.
Sun inside Wisconsin: 5 cities, 4% apart
| Wisconsin city | kWh per kW a year | Against state point | Sun, kWh/m2 a day | Payback at $3.00 | Residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 1,338 | +1.0% | 4.61 | 12.3 | 569,756 |
| Madison | 1,314 | -0.8% | 4.53 | 12.6 | 275,568 |
| Green Bay | 1,293 | -2.4% | 4.43 | 12.8 | 106,585 |
| Kenosha | 1,341 | +1.3% | 4.61 | 12.3 | 99,147 |
| Eau Claire | 1,332 | +0.5% | 4.57 | 12.4 | 69,274 |
Wisconsin state point 43.56, -88.85; city points Milwaukee 43.06, -87.97; Madison 43.09, -89.43; Green Bay 44.52, -87.99; Kenosha 42.59, -87.88; Eau Claire 44.82, -91.50. Panel and method: solar method.
Output by month in Wisconsin cities: 12 rows
| Wisconsin month | Milwaukee | Madison | Green Bay | Kenosha | Eau Claire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66.8 | 71.7 | 58.5 | 63.1 | 72.8 |
| Feb | 93.0 | 94.1 | 87.9 | 89.0 | 88.1 |
| Mar | 119.6 | 121.4 | 118.7 | 117.4 | 130.4 |
| Apr | 123.3 | 126.1 | 127.4 | 128.5 | 131.4 |
| May | 146.1 | 141.6 | 147.6 | 148.4 | 138.3 |
| Jun | 146.7 | 141.8 | 139.4 | 148.9 | 146.4 |
| Jul | 152.0 | 145.4 | 154.2 | 152.2 | 158.5 |
| Aug | 143.7 | 135.3 | 134.2 | 149.8 | 136.2 |
| Sep | 118.8 | 119.4 | 116.2 | 123.8 | 116.7 |
| Oct | 93.4 | 87.1 | 89.9 | 91.1 | 88.3 |
| Nov | 72.3 | 71.6 | 65.2 | 69.3 | 66.6 |
| Dec | 62.1 | 58.5 | 53.8 | 59.2 | 57.8 |
Wisconsin: 5 cities, best month 158 and worst 54 kWh per kW across them.
CSVBest and worst month in Wisconsin: Jul 158, Dec 51 kWh per kW
| Wisconsin month | kWh per kW | Price ¢ | Value per kW | kWh per kW per sun unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63.5 | 17.36 | $11.02 | 0.88 |
| Feb | 90.7 | 17.41 | $15.79 | 0.86 |
| Mar | 119.0 | 17.75 | $21.12 | 0.83 |
| Apr | 134.5 | 18.21 | $24.49 | 0.80 |
| May | 146.4 | 18.94 | $27.73 | 0.78 |
| Jun | 148.6 | 18.52 | $27.52 | 0.76 |
| Jul | 157.5 | 18.25 | $28.74 | 0.75 |
| Aug | 139.1 | 18.52 | $25.76 | 0.76 |
| Sep | 117.4 | 18.73 | $21.99 | 0.78 |
| Oct | 91.4 | 18.37 | $16.79 | 0.81 |
| Nov | 65.2 | 18.39 | $11.99 | 0.84 |
| Dec | 51.1 | 17.84 | $9.12 | 0.86 |
Wisconsin: December to February give 16% of a year (rank 9 of 51, 1 = most winter); the best month is 3.1 times the worst. Output per unit of sun is highest in Jan (0.88) and lowest in Jul (0.75); PVWatts lowers cell output when the panel is hot, and the sun angle changes with the season. Our runs use one fixed 14% loss figure for every place, so snow or soiling in Wisconsin is not modelled separately.
Wisconsin: payback 12.5 years, rank 18 of 51
| Measure | Value | Rank of 51 | Median state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output of 1 kW a year, kWh | 1,324 | 34 | 1,372 |
| Home price, ¢ per kWh | 18.16 | 16 | 15.37 |
| Value of 1 kW a year | $240 | 18 | $222 |
| Payback at $3.00 a watt | 12.5 years | 18 | 13.5 years |
EIA-861 (2024): 19,116 home net-metered systems in Wisconsin, 6.7 per 1,000 accounts (rank 36), average 7.3 kW.
Utility-scale solar in Wisconsin: 2,541 MW
Wisconsin: 2,541 MW of operable utility-scale solar in 115 plants across 45 counties (EIA-860, 2025), rank 17 of 51; 431 W per resident, rank 16. Solar made 6.0% of Wisconsin's net generation in 2025 (EIA-923), rank 21, -0.8 points against the national share. Biggest plants: Darien Solar in Rock County, 250 MW (2025); Grant County in Grant County, 200 MW (2024); Paris Solar in Racine County, 200 MW (2024). By county: Rock 425 MW, Iowa 300 MW, Grant 254 MW, Manitowoc 250 MW. Proposed: 639 MW under construction (8 plants) and 2,411 MW planned (15 plants); batteries 294 MW running and 340 MW proposed.
| Wisconsin year | MW added | Cumulative share of today's MW |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 18 | 1% |
| 2020 | 176 | 8% |
| 2021 | 306 | 20% |
| 2022 | 271 | 30% |
| 2023 | 864 | 64% |
| 2024 | 453 | 82% |
| 2025 | 429 | 99% |
Sizes and prices per watt in Wisconsin
| Wisconsin kW | kWh a year | Value a year | Cost at $2.50 | At $3.00 | At $3.50 | t CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5,297 | $962 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $14,000 | 2.8 |
| 6 | 7,946 | $1,443 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $21,000 | 4.2 |
| 8 | 10,594 | $1,924 | $20,000 | $24,000 | $28,000 | 5.6 |
| 10 | 13,243 | $2,405 | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 | 6.9 |
| 12 | 15,892 | $2,886 | $30,000 | $36,000 | $42,000 | 8.3 |
| Wisconsin $ per watt | 100% retail | 75% | 50% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.00 | 8.3 | 11.1 | 16.6 | 33.3 |
| $2.50 | 10.4 | 13.9 | 20.8 | 41.6 |
| $3.00 | 12.5 | 16.6 | 24.9 | 49.9 |
| $3.50 | 14.6 | 19.4 | 29.1 | 58.2 |
| $4.00 | 16.6 | 22.2 | 33.3 | 66.5 |
Wisconsin: 1,324 kWh/kW × 18.16 ¢ = 240 a year per kW; the 30% column (8.7 years at $3.00) is arithmetic only.
CSVNet metering and CO2 in Wisconsin
EIA-861 (2024): 19,116 home net-metered systems in Wisconsin, 6.7 per 1,000 accounts (rank 36), average 7.3 kW.
6 kW in Wisconsin: 7,946 kWh a year displaces 4.2 t CO2 at 0.525 kg per kWh, +1.1 t against the average state.
Wisconsin among its neighbours
| Closest to Wisconsin | Payback, years | kWh per kW | Price, ¢ | Utility-scale solar, points of generation | Miles away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin (this page) | 12.5 | 1,324 | 18.16 | 6.0 | - |
| Illinois | +0.5 | -17 | -0.47 | -2.5 | 151 |
| Iowa | +3.5 | +48 | -4.44 | -4.3 | 241 |
| Michigan | -0.8 | -44 | +1.85 | -3.9 | 246 |
| Minnesota | +1.5 | +29 | -2.34 | -1.0 | 252 |
Wisconsin against its neighbours in the payback ranking
- -1 places, Michigan -0.8 years against Wisconsin
- +0 places, Colorado -0.1 years against Wisconsin
- Wisconsin, rank 18: 12.5 years
- +2 places, Pennsylvania +0.1 years against Wisconsin
- +3 places, Nevada +0.1 years against Wisconsin
Wisconsin utilities and solar payback
| Wisconsin utility | Homes | Price ¢ | Value of 1 kW | Payback at $3.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Electric Power Co | 1,048,148 | 19.23 | $255 | 11.8 yr |
| Wisconsin Power & Light Co | 437,211 | 16.89 | $224 | 13.4 yr |
| Wisconsin Public Service Corp | 411,775 | 16.23 | $215 | 14.0 yr |
| Northern States Power Co | 220,574 | 15.83 | $210 | 14.3 yr |
| Madison Gas & Electric Co | 147,501 | 20.34 | $269 | 11.1 yr |
| Adams-Columbia Electric Coop | 35,910 | 17.63 | $234 | 12.8 yr |
| Polk-Burnett Electric Coop | 20,379 | 15.90 | $211 | 14.2 yr |
| Barron Electric Coop | 19,266 | 15.72 | $208 | 14.4 yr |
| Riverland Energy Cooperative | 18,970 | 16.30 | $216 | 13.9 yr |
| Oakdale Electric Coop | 17,027 | 15.87 | $210 | 14.3 yr |
| Sun Prairie Utilities | 16,647 | 12.13 | $161 | 18.7 yr |
| Manitowoc Public Utilities | 16,152 | 11.15 | $148 | 20.3 yr |
Your numbers for Wisconsin
Limits in Wisconsin
Wisconsin: with the old 30% credit (IRS, ended 2025) payback would be 8.7 years instead of 12.5, so the calculator starts at 0%. No Wisconsin export rates in our data: output counts at 18.16 ¢. All limits.
Sources for Wisconsin
- PVWatts v8 (NLR), 5 Wisconsin cities and one state point: 1,324 kWh per kW
- EIA-860 2025 and EIA-923 2025: 2,541 MW of solar in Wisconsin
- EIA-861 2024: 19,116 net-metered systems in Wisconsin
- EIA retail sales 2025: 18.16 ¢ per kWh in Wisconsin
- IRS 25D (ended 2025): 8.7 years in Wisconsin with it; licences and periods for Wisconsin
More about Wisconsin
Wisconsin electricity hub, Wisconsin EV charging: 892 stations, where Wisconsin ranks for rooftop solar, 12.5 years against 51 states, Wisconsin calculators.
Questions
Where in Wisconsin is solar best?
Yes: 4% between Green Bay and Kenosha in yearly output.
Winter cut in Wisconsin solar output?
December to February give 16% of the year; Jul makes 158 kWh per kW and Dec 51.
Wisconsin utility-scale solar capacity?
2,541 MW in 115 plants (EIA-860), 431 W per resident, rank 16; 3,050 MW proposed.
Net metering in Wisconsin?
19,116 systems, 6.7 per 1,000 accounts, rank 36.
Solar payback in Wisconsin?
12.5 years at $3.00 a watt; 10.4 at $2.50; 14.6 at $3.50; 1,324 kWh per kW at 18.16 ¢.
Wisconsin sunshine for solar panels?
1,324 kWh per kW a year at the state point, rank 34 of 51; from 1,293 in Green Bay to 1,341 in Kenosha.
Wisconsin electricity from solar, what share?
6.0% of 2025 net generation, rank 21 of 51, -0.8 points against the nation.
Wisconsin pays half price for exports?
Payback 24.9 years at a 50% retail share.
CO2 displaced in Wisconsin?
4.2 t a year on 6 kW at 0.525 kg per kWh.
Federal solar credit in Wisconsin: still available?
Ended 2025 (IRS 25D); with it Wisconsin payback would be 8.7 years, not 12.5.