Peak Sun Hours in Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Solar zone
- Zone 3 (good)
- Best month
- May (6.0)
- Worst month
- December (2.8)
- Climate
- Continental · 7.7°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.95 | 3.45 | 4.44 | 1.15 | -6.0 | 60 |
| Feb | 3.78 | 4.50 | 4.46 | 1.56 | -2.5 | 57 |
| Mar | 4.78 | 5.83 | 4.29 | 2.09 | 2.6 | 51 |
| Apr | 5.64 | 7.12 | 4.29 | 2.56 | 8.8 | 47 |
| May | 6.03 | 8.00 | 4.28 | 2.76 | 13.7 | 49 |
| Jun | 5.98 | 8.21 | 3.96 | 2.84 | 18.3 | 53 |
| Jul | 5.77 | 7.96 | 4.33 | 2.49 | 20.4 | 58 |
| Aug | 5.28 | 7.16 | 4.05 | 2.32 | 19.1 | 62 |
| Sep | 4.21 | 6.07 | 3.43 | 1.93 | 14.1 | 66 |
| Oct | 3.76 | 4.83 | 4.11 | 1.54 | 7.9 | 63 |
| Nov | 3.18 | 3.70 | 4.80 | 1.10 | 0.9 | 58 |
| Dec | 2.79 | 3.16 | 4.96 | 0.95 | -4.8 | 59 |
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 2.79 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Lanzhou
Lanzhou, China has a continental climate with cold winters and warmer summers. Its annual peak sun hours average 4.51 kWh/m²/day, a good solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Lanzhou is May (spring) at 6.03 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 2.79 kWh/m²/day. When sizing a year-round off-grid system, it's standard practice to design against the December value rather than the annual average — otherwise the battery bank runs low during the darkest weeks.
Lanzhou'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 Lanzhou?
- Lanzhou averages 4.51 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 2.79 in December to 6.03 in May.
- How many solar panels do I need in Lanzhou?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Lanzhou's annual average of 4.51 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 Lanzhou?
- Sizing against Lanzhou's worst month (December, 2.79 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 Lanzhou's solar resource compare globally?
- Lanzhou sits in solar zone 3 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 4.51 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.
- Does snow block solar panels in Lanzhou?
- Yes — snow cover can drop output to near zero. In Lanzhou's winter months (around December), brush panels after significant snowfall or design with steep tilt (45°+) so snow slides off naturally.
- How much does winter hurt solar output in Lanzhou?
- Lanzhou's worst month is December at 2.79 kWh/m²/day versus 6.03 in May — a 72% seasonal swing. Off-grid continental systems usually combine oversized arrays with wood-stove or generator backup.
- Is solar worth it in a continental climate like Lanzhou's?
- Yes, but the seasonal ratio matters. Lanzhou's annual 4.51 kWh/m²/day is solid; grid-tied net metering works well (summer credits offset winter draw). Full off-grid needs generator or hydro backup.