Peak Sun Hours in Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- September (6.5)
- Worst month
- January (5.1)
- Climate
- Temperate · 20.8°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5.13 | 7.73 | 2.04 | 2.86 | 21.1 | 84 |
| Feb | 5.26 | 7.67 | 2.32 | 2.80 | 21.2 | 84 |
| Mar | 5.48 | 7.37 | 2.97 | 2.72 | 21.2 | 84 |
| Apr | 5.64 | 6.84 | 4.41 | 2.30 | 20.1 | 81 |
| May | 5.74 | 6.15 | 6.32 | 1.54 | 18.4 | 73 |
| Jun | 5.56 | 5.75 | 6.88 | 1.19 | 16.7 | 65 |
| Jul | 5.70 | 5.86 | 6.78 | 1.26 | 16.8 | 58 |
| Aug | 6.10 | 6.28 | 6.18 | 1.68 | 19.7 | 47 |
| Sep | 6.49 | 6.84 | 5.60 | 2.07 | 23.4 | 38 |
| Oct | 6.45 | 7.41 | 4.77 | 2.44 | 25.7 | 44 |
| Nov | 5.84 | 7.73 | 3.48 | 2.66 | 23.8 | 66 |
| Dec | 5.21 | 7.78 | 2.30 | 2.80 | 21.6 | 82 |
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 5.13 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo has a temperate climate with meaningful seasonal variation in solar resource. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.72 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Lubumbashi is September (spring) at 6.49 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is January (summer) at 5.13 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.
Lubumbashi'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 Lubumbashi?
- Lubumbashi averages 5.72 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 5.13 in January to 6.49 in September.
- How many solar panels do I need in Lubumbashi?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Lubumbashi's annual average of 5.72 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 Lubumbashi?
- Sizing against Lubumbashi's worst month (January, 5.13 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 Lubumbashi's solar resource compare globally?
- Lubumbashi sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.72 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 Lubumbashi?
- Lubumbashi's worst month (January) delivers 5.13 kWh/m²/day — about 79% of the summer peak of 6.49. Off-grid systems here typically oversize 1.5–2× or pair with a backup source.
- Do cloudy days significantly affect Lubumbashi's solar?
- Partly. Diffuse light still produces 10–25% of clear-sky output. Lubumbashi's 5.72 kWh/m²/day already reflects average cloudiness, so no further derating is needed for sizing.
- What panel tilt works best in Lubumbashi?
- At Lubumbashi's latitude (12°), a fixed tilt near 12° balances year-round yield. Winter-heavy loads favor latitude + 15°; summer-heavy, latitude − 15°.