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Canada's Best Communities for Rooftop Solar
Annual sunshine hours are the primary driver of rooftop solar output. More sun means more kilowatt-hours generated per panel, shorter payback periods, and higher lifetime returns. These communities rank highest nationally on solar resource potential.
Sunshine hours and solar ROI: A community with 2,400 sunshine hours per year generates roughly 40% more electricity per installed kW than one with 1,700 hours. At typical Canadian panel costs and utility rates, that difference can shift a solar investment from a 14-year payback to under 10 years. The Prairies and BC Interior lead because they sit east of the Coast Mountains, outside the Pacific rain shadow.
| # | Community | Sunshine hrs/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LethbridgeAB | 2,591 hrs/yr |
| 2 | CoaldaleAB | 2,557 hrs/yr |
| 3 | Medicine HatAB | 2,531 hrs/yr |
| 4 | TaberAB | 2,526 hrs/yr |
| 5 | Medicine HatAB | 2,511 hrs/yr |
| 6 | Calgary - TuscanyAB | 2,496 hrs/yr |
| 7 | Calgary - Industrial / FoothillsAB | 2,489 hrs/yr |
| 8 | Medicine HatAB | 2,483 hrs/yr |
| 9 | Calgary - BridlewoodAB | 2,483 hrs/yr |
| 10 | LethbridgeAB | 2,477 hrs/yr |
| 11 | Calgary - InglewoodAB | 2,477 hrs/yr |
| 12 | High RiverAB | 2,471 hrs/yr |
| 13 | Calgary - MissionAB | 2,470 hrs/yr |
| 14 | Calgary - FalconridgeAB | 2,469 hrs/yr |
| 15 | LethbridgeAB | 2,466 hrs/yr |
| 16 | Calgary - University HeightsAB | 2,464 hrs/yr |
| 17 | Calgary - KillarneyAB | 2,464 hrs/yr |
| 18 | Airdrie - WestAB | 2,463 hrs/yr |
| 19 | Calgary - BrentwoodAB | 2,457 hrs/yr |
| 20 | Calgary - Crescent HeightsAB | 2,445 hrs/yr |
| 21 | Calgary - BankviewAB | 2,438 hrs/yr |
| 22 | Calgary - Nolan HillAB | 2,433 hrs/yr |
| 23 | Calgary - DalhousieAB | 2,432 hrs/yr |
| 24 | Airdrie - EastAB | 2,426 hrs/yr |
| 25 | Calgary - RosemontAB | 2,425 hrs/yr |
Annual sunshine hours from ECCC Climate Normals 1991–2020. Data assigned from the nearest ECCC reporting climate station to each FSA centroid. Solar economics depend on local utility rates, roof orientation, shading, and panel specifications — consult a qualified solar installer for project-specific estimates. Source: ECCC open government licence.