What does this wind vs solar ROI calculator compare?

It builds two parallel cash-flow screens: solar PV and wind generation. For each, gross annual value equals annual kWh times your dollar-per-kWh value; net annual benefit subtracts annual operations and maintenance. Simple payback is installed cost divided by positive net annual benefit. First-year ROI percent is net annual benefit divided by installed cost times 100. The tool highlights which option has higher net annual benefit and which has shorter simple payback when payback exists.

What should I use for dollars per kWh?

Use a blended effective rate that reflects how generation offsets retail purchases, export credits, or a PPA-style value. If solar and wind would face different compensation rules, run two calculator passes with different rates instead of one shared rate.

How do tax credits and rebates enter?

Enter net installed cost after incentives in the cost fields. This keeps payback aligned with cash out of pocket.

Why might payback show as a dash?

If net annual benefit is zero or negative, payback is undefined. If installed cost is zero, ROI percent is omitted.

Is first-year ROI the same as lifetime ROI?

No. It is a simple year-one return on installed capital before degradation, inverter replacement, or changing utility rates.

Can I compare utility-scale wind to rooftop solar?

You can enter any production and cost pair, but the model does not add grid interconnection or land costs unless you fold them into installed cost.

How accurate is small wind production?

Highly site-specific. Use an installer estimate, monitoring data, or a qualified resource assessment rather than a national average.

Does solar include battery storage?

Only if you include storage cost in solar installed cost and adjust annual kWh value for how the battery shifts energy—this calculator does not model batteries explicitly.

Should I use NPV instead?

For financing decisions, discounted cash flow analysis with a chosen discount rate and equipment life is more complete. This page is a fast screening comparison.

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Renewables ROI

Wind vs Solar ROI Calculator — Net Benefit, Payback, First-Year Return

Free wind vs solar ROI calculator: enter installed cost, annual kWh, and annual O and M for each technology, plus one $/kWh value for generation. Compare net annual dollars, simple payback, and first-year ROI percent side by side.

Last updated: April 18, 2026

Shared energy value rate for apples-to-apples screening

Simple payback and first-year ROI percent per technology

Highlights better net benefit and shorter payback

Need a branded renewables ROI tool for your site? Get a Quote

Wind vs solar ROI

Same $/kWh value for both — net annual benefit, payback, first-year ROI %

Value of generated electricity ($/kWh)

Effective rate for offsetting purchases or export credit—use a blended or conservative value.

Solar PV

Installed cost ($)

Annual production (kWh)

Annual O and M ($)

Wind turbine

Installed cost ($)

Annual production (kWh)

Annual O and M ($)

Comparison

Solar

Gross value: $1,470 / yr

Net: $1,320 / yr

Payback: 16.67 yr

1st-yr ROI: 6%

Wind

Gross value: $1,372 / yr

Net: $922 / yr

Payback: 45.55 yr

1st-yr ROI: 2.2%

Higher net annual benefit

solar

Shorter simple payback: solar

Planning note

• Uses one $/kWh for both—split scenarios if export rules differ.
• Incentives: net out tax credits and rebates in installed cost before entry.
• Small wind is site- and permit-dependent; production is user-supplied.

Screening scenarios

Rooftop solar

Residential or C and I PV

Typical inputs

NEM-style value of kWh

Use production from PVWatts or a proposal, net cost after ITC and rebates.

Small wind

Permitted, resource-tested sites

Sensitivity

Annual kWh varies widely

Higher O and M and balance-of-system cost than PV in many cases.

Same $/kWh

Fair comparison rule

Caution

Tariffs may differ

If compensation differs, run two scenarios with separate rates.

Storage add-on

Not modeled separately

Battery

Roll into solar cost

Adjust kWh value if storage shifts time-of-use benefits.

Degradation

Year one only here

Lifetime

Multi-year models elsewhere

First-year ROI is a snapshot, not LCOE or NPV.

Pair with angle tool

Optimize solar tilt

Solar panel angle calculator

Refine annual kWh before locking ROI inputs.

Quick example (defaults on load)

Higher net annual benefit and shorter payback (when both show payback):

Solar net / yr

$1,320

Wind net / yr

$922

Better net annual: solar · Shorter payback: solar

How the wind vs solar ROI calculator works

For each technology, gross annual value is annual kWh multiplied by your dollar per kWh. Net annual benefit subtracts fixed annual O and M. Simple payback divides net installed cost by positive net benefit. First-year ROI percent divides net benefit by installed cost for a one-year return-on-capital snapshot.

Core formulas

gross_value = annual_kWh × $/kWh
net_annual = gross_value − annual_O_and_M
payback = installed_cost / net_annual
first_year_ROI_% = (net_annual / installed_cost) × 100

Match production estimates to your site before trusting payback

References (education)

NREL PVWatts — Solar production estimationCommon starting point for annual kWh
AWEA / small wind — Siting and performance contextValidate wind kWh with qualified assessments

Tune array tilt with our solar panel angle calculator.

Get a custom calculator for your platform

Worked example

Defaults: $0.14/kWh value, costs and kWh as loaded

Compare net annual, payback years, and first-year ROI percent from the table in the form

Solar

Net annual: $1,320
Payback: 16.7 years

Wind

Net annual: $922
Payback: 45.6 years

Frequently Asked Questions

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Renewables ROI

Wind vs Solar ROI Calculator — Net Benefit, Payback, First-Year Return

Last updated: April 18, 2026

Shared energy value rate for apples-to-apples screening

Simple payback and first-year ROI percent per technology

Highlights better net benefit and shorter payback

Need a branded renewables ROI tool for your site? Get a Quote

Wind vs solar ROI

Same $/kWh value for both — net annual benefit, payback, first-year ROI %

Value of generated electricity ($/kWh)

Effective rate for offsetting purchases or export credit—use a blended or conservative value.

Solar PV

Installed cost ($)

Annual production (kWh)

Annual O and M ($)

Wind turbine

Installed cost ($)

Annual production (kWh)

Annual O and M ($)

Comparison

Solar

Gross value: $1,470 / yr

Net: $1,320 / yr

Payback: 16.67 yr

1st-yr ROI: 6%

Wind

Gross value: $1,372 / yr

Net: $922 / yr

Payback: 45.55 yr

1st-yr ROI: 2.2%

Higher net annual benefit

solar

Shorter simple payback: solar

Planning note

• Uses one $/kWh for both—split scenarios if export rules differ.
• Incentives: net out tax credits and rebates in installed cost before entry.
• Small wind is site- and permit-dependent; production is user-supplied.

Screening scenarios

Rooftop solar

Residential or C and I PV

Typical inputs

NEM-style value of kWh

Use production from PVWatts or a proposal, net cost after ITC and rebates.

Small wind

Permitted, resource-tested sites

Sensitivity

Annual kWh varies widely

Higher O and M and balance-of-system cost than PV in many cases.

Same $/kWh

Fair comparison rule

Caution

Tariffs may differ

If compensation differs, run two scenarios with separate rates.

Storage add-on

Not modeled separately

Battery

Roll into solar cost

Adjust kWh value if storage shifts time-of-use benefits.

Degradation

Year one only here

Lifetime

Multi-year models elsewhere

First-year ROI is a snapshot, not LCOE or NPV.

Pair with angle tool

Optimize solar tilt

Solar panel angle calculator

Refine annual kWh before locking ROI inputs.

Quick example (defaults on load)

Higher net annual benefit and shorter payback (when both show payback):

Solar net / yr

$1,320

Wind net / yr

$922

Better net annual: solar · Shorter payback: solar

How the wind vs solar ROI calculator works

Core formulas

gross_value = annual_kWh × $/kWh
net_annual = gross_value − annual_O_and_M
payback = installed_cost / net_annual
first_year_ROI_% = (net_annual / installed_cost) × 100

Match production estimates to your site before trusting payback

References (education)

NREL PVWatts — Solar production estimationCommon starting point for annual kWh
AWEA / small wind — Siting and performance contextValidate wind kWh with qualified assessments

Tune array tilt with our solar panel angle calculator.

Get a custom calculator for your platform