Peak Sun Hours in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Solar zone
- Zone 3 (good)
- Best month
- December (5.5)
- Worst month
- June (3.3)
- Climate
- Temperate · 19.6°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5.23 | 8.21 | 2.98 | 2.65 | 22.3 | 83 |
| Feb | 5.44 | 7.75 | 3.75 | 2.40 | 22.4 | 83 |
| Mar | 4.91 | 6.86 | 3.75 | 2.14 | 21.6 | 85 |
| Apr | 4.36 | 5.76 | 4.15 | 1.73 | 20.0 | 84 |
| May | 3.52 | 4.76 | 3.90 | 1.41 | 17.1 | 84 |
| Jun | 3.26 | 4.22 | 4.02 | 1.20 | 16.3 | 82 |
| Jul | 3.48 | 4.48 | 4.40 | 1.13 | 15.9 | 79 |
| Aug | 4.15 | 5.32 | 4.77 | 1.29 | 17.2 | 75 |
| Sep | 4.42 | 6.22 | 3.94 | 1.69 | 19.1 | 73 |
| Oct | 4.91 | 7.31 | 3.52 | 2.19 | 20.7 | 75 |
| Nov | 5.23 | 8.13 | 3.36 | 2.53 | 20.9 | 79 |
| Dec | 5.49 | 8.35 | 3.29 | 2.73 | 22.1 | 81 |
GHI, Clear-sky, DNI, DHI in kWh/m²/day. Data: NASA POWER climatology (long-term monthly averages).
Off-grid calculator
Add appliances
- Add an appliance to size a system.
Sizing
- Daily load
- 0.00 kWh
- Panel wattage
- 0 W
- Panel count (400W modules)
- 0
- Battery bank
- 0.0 kWh
Sizing against worst-month PSH of 3.26 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil has a temperate climate with meaningful seasonal variation in solar resource. Its annual peak sun hours average 4.53 kWh/m²/day, a good solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in São Paulo is December (summer) at 5.49 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is June (winter) at 3.26 kWh/m²/day. When sizing a year-round off-grid system, it's standard practice to design against the June value rather than the annual average — otherwise the battery bank runs low during the darkest weeks.
São Paulo's solar conditions are well within the range where off-grid PV is a straightforward engineering exercise with standard-sized arrays and lithium batteries.
FAQ
- What are the peak sun hours in São Paulo?
- São Paulo averages 4.53 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 3.26 in June to 5.49 in December.
- How many solar panels do I need in São Paulo?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At São Paulo's annual average of 4.53 kWh/m²/day, a 5 kWh/day load needs roughly 4 × 400 W panels. Use the calculator above for your actual load.
- What size battery do I need in São Paulo?
- Sizing against São Paulo's worst month (June, 3.26 kWh/m²/day) with 2 days of autonomy at 80% depth of discharge, a 5 kWh/day load needs about a 12.5 kWh battery bank.
- How does São Paulo's solar resource compare globally?
- São Paulo sits in solar zone 3 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 4.53 kWh/m²/day — good by global standards. For reference, top-tier desert sites average ~6.5 and high-latitude cities around 2.5 kWh/m²/day.
- How much does winter reduce solar output in São Paulo?
- São Paulo's worst month (June) delivers 3.26 kWh/m²/day — about 59% of the summer peak of 5.49. Off-grid systems here typically oversize 1.5–2× or pair with a backup source.
- Do cloudy days significantly affect São Paulo's solar?
- Partly. Diffuse light still produces 10–25% of clear-sky output. São Paulo's 4.53 kWh/m²/day already reflects average cloudiness, so no further derating is needed for sizing.
- What panel tilt works best in São Paulo?
- At São Paulo's latitude (24°), a fixed tilt near 24° balances year-round yield. Winter-heavy loads favor latitude + 15°; summer-heavy, latitude − 15°.