There are also solar water heaters that are a bunch of black pipes on a roof.
Napkin math based on Amazon/Home Depot prices
You can get a 80"x90"x95% = 2kW output solar heater for $2000
or eight 45"x70"x25% = 1.8kW solar panels for $2800
A regular water heater needs about 12kWh a day, which is about what both systems would produce.
However, a heat pump water heater is 4x as efficient, so you could get by with $700 of solar panels.
Except, a heat pump water heater costs $2000 instead of $500 for a regular electric heater.
There's also install, maintenance, and the fact that we're talking about grid prices, not home panels, but those won't fit on my napkin.
Napkin math based on Amazon/Home Depot prices
You can get a 80"x90"x95% = 2kW output solar heater for $2000
or eight 45"x70"x25% = 1.8kW solar panels for $2800
A regular water heater needs about 12kWh a day, which is about what both systems would produce.
However, a heat pump water heater is 4x as efficient, so you could get by with $700 of solar panels.
Except, a heat pump water heater costs $2000 instead of $500 for a regular electric heater.
There's also install, maintenance, and the fact that we're talking about grid prices, not home panels, but those won't fit on my napkin.