Based on: 40 kWh/day usage · 13 kW solar · 5 kWh battery · typical tariffs

Solar & Battery Savings in Hawaii, United States Get quotes from local installers

Design solar and battery systems for Hawaii using Photonik's professional design platform. Hawaii has the highest residential electricity rates in the US, making solar self-consumption extremely valuable. Hawaiian Electric serves most islands. Export compensation is modest, so sizing for daytime load and battery storage strongly affects payback.

Compare solar savings and payback across US states →

Solar Energy Savings in Hawaii

How Solar Reduces Your Electricity Bills

The calculations below show how your electricity bills change with solar.

Calculating...

Based on: 40 kWh/day usage · 13 kW solar · 5 kWh battery · typical tariffs

Adjust these amounts in the next section

Old Bill (Before Solar): Monthly: 264.0 | Annual: 3168.0

New Bill (With Solar): Monthly: 112.0 | Annual: 1348.0

Monthly Savings: $ 152.0 | Annual: $1820.0 | Bill Savings: 57%

Monthly Savings

$ 152.0

Annual savings: $1820.0 | Bill Savings: 57%

What drives your savings in Hawaii

Hawaii has the highest retail electricity rates in the US, averaging around 38c/kWh, with export credits near 12c/kWh under Hawaiian Electric's net energy metering rules — a wide gap that makes self-consumption the primary savings strategy. Excellent year-round solar resource (5+ kWh/m²/day) supports strong production on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Battery storage is increasingly paired with solar to shift generation into evening peak hours when grid power is most expensive.

Panel Placement Tool Hawaii

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This is a simplified panel layout tool — if you hit issues here, or need multiple groups, shading, or generation calcs, use the full Photonik design tool.

Your usage & system size Hawaii

Energy usage & tariffs

Energy consumption patterns in Hawaii reflect the state's humid subtropical climate, with high cooling needs during hot summers. The average Hawaii household uses between 30-40 kWh per day, with higher consumption during summer months for air conditioning. Energy-efficient properties throughout Hawaii often use significantly less through modern insulation, efficient HVAC systems, and smart thermostats.

Before installing solar, consider reducing your energy consumption through improved insulation and energy-efficient appliances. This is particularly valuable in Hawaii, where reducing consumption can lower required solar system size and improve returns.

Daily Energy Usage: 40 kWh (~$264.0/month)

5 kWh 100 kWh

Electricity Cost

$ /kWh

Sell Price (FiT)

$ /kWh

Self Use %

lightbulb Note: These are simplified estimates. For detailed tariff inputs and advanced calculations, use the full Photonik app.

Representative flat export rate (feed-in tariff). What you earn per kWh of surplus solar exported to the grid. Your actual rate depends on your provider, plan, and time of day.

See how export rates work →

Estimated at 75% of the retail grid rate. A battery lets you store daytime solar and export during expensive peak hours, so each exported kWh is typically worth more than a flat feed-in tariff. Real returns depend on your time-of-use tariff and battery efficiency.

See how export rates work →

Solar system size

You'll need around 10.5kW of solar to match your average consumption in Hawaii. We recommend sizing between 15.8kW and 21.1kW for optimal results, accounting for daily and seasonal variations. Hawaii has good solar potential, with most regions averaging 4.5-5.5 kWh/kW/day annually.

A 15.8 kW system in Hawaii generates approximately 71.2 kWh daily on average, with seasonal variation from 3.94 kWh/kW/day in December to 4.89 kWh/kW/day in April. Hawaii's solid solar irradiance and favourable net metering make solar attractive for homeowners across the state.

Solar System Size: 13 (59 kWh/day)

1 kW 20 kW

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A 13 kW system in Hawaii can generate approximately 21394.0 kWh annually based on local sun conditions.

Battery storage

With solar-only (no battery), a 15.8 kW system provides approximately 50% self-usage in Hawaii, depending on your consumption patterns, drawing 50% from the grid. Adding a 10 kWh battery increases energy independence to approximately 72% annually, reducing grid reliance to 28%. Battery storage is valuable in Hawaii, allowing you to store excess summer generation for evening use and providing backup power during outages.

A battery shifts solar energy from daytime overproduction into evening peak use. For accurate battery savings and ROI calculations specific to your utility, use the full Photonik design tool.

Battery Size: 5 kWh

0 kWh 30 kWh

lightbulb A 0kWh battery will make you about 0% self sufficient.

The sweet spot for most households is 5 – 13 kWh — larger batteries add independence but with diminishing payback, especially where feed-in tariffs are low.

System Pricing & Payback for Hawaii

Use the full Photonik solar planning and design platform to model a complete system for your home — including detailed costs, equipment options, and financial returns.

Try Photonik Solar Design

For a quick price guide, see the United States solar calculator.

Solar Installers Honolulu

Honolulu is Hawaii's dominant solar market in Hawaiian Electric (HECO) territory. Retail rates near 38c/kWh — highest in the US — make solar attractive even with modest export credits (~12c/kWh). Excellent irradiance year-round; self-consumption is critical given the retail/export gap. Dense urban lots and HOA rules in Kaimuki and Hawaii Kai can complicate installs.

Example local businesses with published addresses; not ranked by Photonik or by star ratings.

Independent Energy Systems LLC — 1580 Makaloa St, Suite 1210, Honolulu, HI 96814
RevoluSun Smart Home — 660 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 220A, Honolulu, HI 96813
Sunspear Energy LLC — 345 N Nimitz Hwy, Unit A, Honolulu, HI 96817