Peak Sun Hours in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
- Solar zone
- Zone 3 (good)
- Best month
- May (6.1)
- Worst month
- December (2.5)
- Climate
- Continental · 8.5°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.64 | 3.07 | 3.94 | 1.13 | -7.1 | 61 |
| Feb | 3.33 | 3.99 | 3.96 | 1.43 | -3.3 | 58 |
| Mar | 4.61 | 5.45 | 4.68 | 1.83 | 2.8 | 47 |
| Apr | 5.48 | 6.70 | 4.63 | 2.30 | 9.8 | 45 |
| May | 6.06 | 7.51 | 4.60 | 2.62 | 16.4 | 43 |
| Jun | 5.63 | 7.33 | 3.57 | 2.71 | 21.3 | 50 |
| Jul | 5.13 | 6.96 | 2.79 | 2.73 | 23.0 | 62 |
| Aug | 4.77 | 6.41 | 3.00 | 2.41 | 20.9 | 67 |
| Sep | 4.06 | 5.48 | 3.24 | 1.88 | 15.6 | 66 |
| Oct | 3.51 | 4.32 | 3.90 | 1.41 | 8.7 | 62 |
| Nov | 2.82 | 3.28 | 4.12 | 1.06 | 0.6 | 62 |
| Dec | 2.48 | 2.83 | 4.25 | 0.96 | -6.2 | 62 |
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 2.48 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Taiyuan
Taiyuan, China has a continental climate with cold winters and warmer summers. Its annual peak sun hours average 4.21 kWh/m²/day, a good solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Taiyuan is May (spring) at 6.06 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 2.48 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.
Taiyuan'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 Taiyuan?
- Taiyuan averages 4.21 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 2.48 in December to 6.06 in May.
- How many solar panels do I need in Taiyuan?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Taiyuan's annual average of 4.21 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 Taiyuan?
- Sizing against Taiyuan's worst month (December, 2.48 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 Taiyuan's solar resource compare globally?
- Taiyuan sits in solar zone 3 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 4.21 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 Taiyuan?
- Yes — snow cover can drop output to near zero. In Taiyuan'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 Taiyuan?
- Taiyuan's worst month is December at 2.48 kWh/m²/day versus 6.06 in May — a 85% 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 Taiyuan's?
- Yes, but the seasonal ratio matters. Taiyuan's annual 4.21 kWh/m²/day is solid; grid-tied net metering works well (summer credits offset winter draw). Full off-grid needs generator or hydro backup.