Peak Sun Hours in Likasi, Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- September (6.0)
- Worst month
- January (4.9)
- Climate
- Temperate · 21.7°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.89 | 7.73 | 1.93 | 2.75 | 21.4 | 83 |
| Feb | 5.17 | 7.69 | 2.29 | 2.74 | 21.7 | 82 |
| Mar | 5.37 | 7.41 | 2.85 | 2.69 | 21.6 | 83 |
| Apr | 5.64 | 6.86 | 4.30 | 2.35 | 21.0 | 79 |
| May | 5.76 | 6.18 | 6.17 | 1.62 | 19.7 | 67 |
| Jun | 5.57 | 5.75 | 6.61 | 1.30 | 18.1 | 59 |
| Jul | 5.67 | 5.81 | 6.36 | 1.40 | 18.3 | 51 |
| Aug | 5.86 | 6.11 | 5.40 | 1.90 | 21.3 | 40 |
| Sep | 6.05 | 6.61 | 4.53 | 2.31 | 24.8 | 34 |
| Oct | 5.89 | 7.19 | 3.70 | 2.55 | 26.2 | 46 |
| Nov | 5.43 | 7.64 | 2.87 | 2.64 | 24.0 | 68 |
| Dec | 5.02 | 7.78 | 2.17 | 2.75 | 22.0 | 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 4.89 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Likasi
Likasi, Democratic Republic of the Congo has a temperate climate with meaningful seasonal variation in solar resource. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.53 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Likasi is September (spring) at 6.05 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is January (summer) at 4.89 kWh/m²/day. When sizing a year-round off-grid system, it's standard practice to design against the January value rather than the annual average — otherwise the battery bank runs low during the darkest weeks.
Likasi'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 Likasi?
- Likasi averages 5.53 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 4.89 in January to 6.05 in September.
- How many solar panels do I need in Likasi?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Likasi's annual average of 5.53 kWh/m²/day, a 5 kWh/day load needs roughly 3 × 400 W panels. Use the calculator above for your actual load.
- What size battery do I need in Likasi?
- Sizing against Likasi's worst month (January, 4.89 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 Likasi's solar resource compare globally?
- Likasi sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.53 kWh/m²/day — excellent 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 Likasi?
- Likasi's worst month (January) delivers 4.89 kWh/m²/day — about 81% of the summer peak of 6.05. Off-grid systems here typically oversize 1.5–2× or pair with a backup source.
- Do cloudy days significantly affect Likasi's solar?
- Partly. Diffuse light still produces 10–25% of clear-sky output. Likasi's 5.53 kWh/m²/day already reflects average cloudiness, so no further derating is needed for sizing.
- What panel tilt works best in Likasi?
- At Likasi's latitude (11°), a fixed tilt near 11° balances year-round yield. Winter-heavy loads favor latitude + 15°; summer-heavy, latitude − 15°.