Is solar energy easy to get? Short answer: yes, for most US homeowners, though it got pricier on January 1, 2026. NREL found 83% of small buildings in 128 cities have a location suitable for panels, projects typically run 60-90 days from contract to switch-on (EnergySage), and the physical install takes just 1-3 days. Expect about $2.57 per watt, so an 8-10 kW system lands at roughly $20,500-$25,700, and the 30% federal credit no longer applies to systems you own. The installer handles permits, utility applications, and wiring; you're mostly picking a quote and deciding how to pay.
This guide covers the process: timeline, qualifying steps, and the permit and utility-interconnection flow. For the technical side, system sizing, string vs microinverter trade-offs, and battery decisions, read the residential solar systems guide.
The "easy" framing is true once you have an installer locked in. The search-and-vet phase is the real work, and it's where comparing three or more quotes earns its keep, because the same roof can draw very different prices and equipment choices.
Is Your Home a Good Candidate for Solar?
NREL's 2016 lidar study of 128 US cities found 83% of small buildings have a location suitable for PV, though only 26% of their total roof area is usable. Chances are your home qualifies. Installers typically pull satellite imagery and a roof-tilt estimate before they'll even quote. Here's what they look at:
- Roof condition and age: A roof with less than 5 years of remaining life should be replaced before you install solar. Panels carry 25-year warranties, so you want the roof to last as long. If you're due for a re-roof, do it now: removing and resetting panels later runs roughly $200-$300 per panel in cost-guide estimates.
- Orientation and tilt: South-facing roofs at a 30-45 degree pitch produce the most energy in the US. East and west-facing roofs still work well, typically producing 15-20% less than south-facing. Most installers treat a north-facing roof in the northern hemisphere as a non-starter, and many will decline to quote it on that single criterion.
- Shading: Trees, chimneys, and neighboring buildings that cast shade between 9 AM and 3 PM reduce output. Power optimizers or microinverters (like the Enphase IQ8A) can minimize shade losses if your roof has partial shading.
- Electrical panel: Most modern homes have a 200-amp panel, which is sufficient. Older homes with 100-amp panels may need an upgrade, which cost guides put at roughly $2,500-$4,500.
How Much Does Getting Solar Cost?
For process-planning purposes, here's the budget range to expect before quoting in detail:
| System Size | EnergySage median ($2.57/W) | What the expired 30% credit was worth |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,420 | $4,626 |
| 8 kW | $20,560 | $6,168 |
| 10 kW | $25,700 | $7,710 |
The numbers above use EnergySage's H1 2026 median of $2.57/W, up about 3% from H2 2025. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS, so a homeowner who buys a system in 2026 pays the left-hand price with no federal offset. The third column shows what that credit would have returned.
Third-party ownership is the workaround. EnergySage reports that the share of installers quoting leases or PPAs climbed from about 14% to roughly 41% during H1 2026, because those projects can still draw federal incentives through 2027. In its H1 2026 data, a pre-paid lease priced 39% below a cash purchase per kWh and a pre-paid PPA 57% below. You don't own the system in those deals, so compare contract terms, escalators, and transfer rules before you sign.
The panels go up in 1-3 days. The permit and utility wait is what stretches solar to 60-90 days.
What Happens During the Installation Process?
Here's what the full process looks like from quote to activation:
Weeks 1-2, Quotes and contract signing. Request quotes from 3-5 local installers. Compare price per watt, panel brand, and warranty terms. Once you sign, your installer kicks off the permit process.
Weeks 3-8, Permits and utility approval. Your installer files applications with the local building department and your utility. This is typically the longest wait in the process. You don't need to do anything during this stage. EnergySage's timeline guide puts permitting at 30-45 days in a typical project, and it varies a lot by jurisdiction and utility.
Installation day(s). A crew completes the physical work in 1-3 days. They'll mount the racking, install panels, connect the inverter, and wire the system into your electrical panel.
Post-installation, Inspection and PTO. A local inspector signs off, then the utility grants permission to operate. This final step can take 2-4 weeks. Once you've got PTO, your installer activates the system.
The US passed 6 million solar installations in the first quarter of 2026, two years after hitting 5 million (SEIA). That means a large installed base of local installers and a well-developed permitting process, although SEIA's Q3 2026 report shows the residential segment shrinking year over year since the credit's expiration.
What Are the Requirements for Getting Solar?
To qualify for a standard rooftop solar installation, you generally need:
- Home ownership (or landlord written approval)
- A structurally sound roof with at least 5-10 years of remaining life
- Adequate unshaded roof space, a 10 kW system needs roughly 600-650 square feet
- A 200-amp electrical panel (or budget for an upgrade)
- A credit score that clears the lender's floor (commonly around 640-700) if you plan to use a solar loan
If your roof isn't suitable, community solar subscriptions let you buy into a shared solar farm and receive bill credits without any roof installation. Check SEIA's community solar map for programs in your state. Renters in Europe have a third option: plug-in panels that hang off a balcony railing. Our guide to EU balcony solar regulations covers the 800W limits and registration rules country by country.
Summary
Getting solar is still accessible for most US homeowners. NREL found 83% of small buildings have a suitable spot. The process takes 60-90 days from contract to activation, with 1-3 days of actual install work. The median quote is $2.57 per watt, and the 30% federal credit ended for systems placed in service after 2025, so leases and PPAs are now a mainstream option alongside loans and cash. The installer handles permits, utility paperwork, and the technical work.
For the best pricing, compare at least 3 quotes and consider the SolarEdge P370 power optimizer if your roof has any shading. Payback now depends heavily on your state's electricity rates and incentives, so run the numbers for your utility before assuming a fixed number of years. For what's still available, see our solar tax credits 2026 guide.