New Jersey Solar Panel Performance Benchmarks
Last updated: 2026-04-06 · Solar Benchmark
New Jersey Solar Panel Performance Benchmarks
A 6kW solar system in New Jersey produces between 7,600 and 8,300 kWh per year. South Jersey (near Philadelphia) averages about 8,100 kWh for a 6kW system. Central Jersey (Trenton, Princeton) runs around 7,900 kWh. North Jersey (Newark, Bergen County) comes in near 7,700 kWh. New Jersey's mid-Atlantic latitude means strong seasonality; summer produces roughly three times the output of December.
Monthly Production Benchmarks: New Jersey 6kW Reference System
Expected monthly production for a south-facing, 30-degree tilt, 6kW system. Derived from pvlib simulation using Open-Meteo ERA5 historical weather data, Trenton as the statewide reference location.
| Month | Expected Production (kWh) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January | 318 | Short days, low sun angle |
| February | 434 | Recovery begins |
| March | 644 | Spring solar ramp |
| April | 826 | Strong shoulder month |
| May | 950 | Near-peak; long days begin |
| June | 998 | Peak production month |
| July | 984 | Slight drop from humidity and heat |
| August | 934 | Summer taper begins |
| September | 776 | Noticeable fall decline |
| October | 568 | Significant seasonal drop |
| November | 340 | Winter approach |
| December | 272 | Lowest month |
| Annual Total | ~8,044 | Central NJ 6kW reference |
(Source: pvlib physics modeling, Open-Meteo ERA5 weather data)
Annual Benchmarks by System Size and New Jersey Region
| System Size | South NJ (Salem, Cape May) | Central NJ (Trenton, Princeton) | North NJ (Newark, Morristown) | Shore Communities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | 5,400 | 5,360 | 5,130 | 5,280 |
| 6 kW | 8,100 | 8,040 | 7,700 | 7,920 |
| 8 kW | 10,800 | 10,720 | 10,270 | 10,560 |
| 10 kW | 13,500 | 13,400 | 12,830 | 13,200 |
| 12 kW | 16,200 | 16,080 | 15,400 | 15,840 |
South NJ specific yield: ~1,350 kWh/kW/year. Central NJ: ~1,340. North NJ: ~1,283. Shore: ~1,320.
(Source: pvlib physics modeling, Open-Meteo ERA5 weather data, 2015–2024 averages)
New Jersey Climate Profile and Performance Ratio Targets
New Jersey has one of the most consistent solar resource profiles in the Northeast, despite its mid-latitude location. Performance ratios below 0.78 in NJ warrant investigation.
| Zone | Representative Area | Annual Specific Yield | Expected PR Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| South NJ | Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland counties | 1,320–1,380 kWh/kW | 0.80–0.88 |
| Central NJ | Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth counties | 1,300–1,360 kWh/kW | 0.78–0.86 |
| North NJ | Bergen, Passaic, Morris counties | 1,250–1,320 kWh/kW | 0.76–0.84 |
Learn more about how these benchmarks are calculated at /resources/methodology.
What Affects New Jersey Solar Output
- Strong seasonality: New Jersey's latitude (39–41°N) creates a 3:1 ratio between peak summer and minimum winter production. This is normal physics, not a system problem. A system producing 272 kWh in December and 998 kWh in June is performing exactly as expected.
- Spring and fall storms: Nor'easters and coastal storm systems can bring extended cloudy periods of three to seven days. During a strong storm week, a New Jersey system may produce 40–70% less than the weekly benchmark. Monthly data typically smooths this out, but a particularly stormy March or November will show in annual totals.
- Summer humidity: High humidity in July and August slightly increases diffuse light (favorable) but also increases atmospheric scattering losses (unfavorable). The net effect is a slight reduction in peak-hour efficiency compared to lower-humidity states.
- SRECs and grid context: New Jersey's Solar Renewable Energy Certificate program has historically driven strong solar adoption. NJ systems have high average installation quality, which means unusually low production is more likely to reflect a real problem than installation-quality variation.
- Tree shading: Dense tree cover is common in suburban NJ. Shading that expands as trees grow is one of the most common causes of gradual production decline in NJ installations. If annual production trends down by more than 1% per year beyond normal degradation, expanding shade is a likely cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should a 6kW solar system produce per month in New Jersey?
A: The NJ average runs about 670 kWh/month. June is the peak at roughly 998 kWh; December is the lowest at 272 kWh. A 3:1 ratio between best and worst month is expected. Systems consistently producing below 750 kWh in June or July warrant investigation.
Q: Is New Jersey a good state for solar despite its northern latitude?
A: Yes. New Jersey has more annual solar irradiance than Germany, which has 50 GW+ of installed solar. The 1,300–1,360 kWh/kW/year specific yield for central NJ is 40% higher than Germany's average. NJ's strong SREC market reflects this underlying solar resource.
Q: Why does my NJ system produce so much less in winter than in summer?
A: Two factors: shorter daylight hours and a lower sun angle. In December, New Jersey gets about 9 hours of daylight vs. 15 in June. Combined with the sun being 26 degrees lower in the sky at noon, December irradiance is roughly one-third of June. This ratio is built into the benchmark table above.
Q: How do I get an independent benchmark for my New Jersey solar system?
A: A proper benchmark requires your production data and an hourly weather model specific to your address. Standard monitoring apps show actual output without a weather-adjusted expected comparison. Learn more at /resources/methodology.
Data: pvlib physics modeling + Open-Meteo ERA5 weather data | Last updated: 2026-04-06 | Solar Benchmark