Peak Sun Hours in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Solar zone
- Zone 1 (modest)
- Best month
- June (5.2)
- Worst month
- December (0.5)
- Climate
- Continental · 9.3°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.65 | 1.24 | 1.04 | 0.43 | 0.6 | 93 |
| Feb | 1.35 | 2.33 | 1.80 | 0.79 | 1.3 | 90 |
| Mar | 2.50 | 3.97 | 2.64 | 1.34 | 4.3 | 85 |
| Apr | 4.07 | 5.79 | 3.73 | 1.99 | 8.9 | 79 |
| May | 4.91 | 7.21 | 3.65 | 2.58 | 12.8 | 78 |
| Jun | 5.22 | 7.77 | 3.59 | 2.84 | 16.3 | 77 |
| Jul | 5.01 | 7.30 | 3.54 | 2.66 | 18.3 | 75 |
| Aug | 4.21 | 6.01 | 3.14 | 2.31 | 18.1 | 75 |
| Sep | 3.09 | 4.47 | 3.11 | 1.61 | 14.3 | 78 |
| Oct | 1.75 | 2.73 | 2.25 | 0.95 | 9.8 | 85 |
| Nov | 0.81 | 1.43 | 1.20 | 0.51 | 5.3 | 92 |
| Dec | 0.51 | 0.95 | 0.97 | 0.33 | 1.9 | 94 |
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 0.51 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Bielefeld
Bielefeld, Germany has a continental climate with cold winters and warmer summers. Its annual peak sun hours average 2.84 kWh/m²/day, a modest solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Bielefeld is June (summer) at 5.22 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 0.51 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.
Given the modest resource, Bielefeld installations typically oversize panels or combine solar with another source (grid, generator, hydro) for reliability.
FAQ
- What are the peak sun hours in Bielefeld?
- Bielefeld averages 2.84 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 0.51 in December to 5.22 in June.
- How many solar panels do I need in Bielefeld?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Bielefeld's annual average of 2.84 kWh/m²/day, a 5 kWh/day load needs roughly 6 × 400 W panels. Use the calculator above for your actual load.
- What size battery do I need in Bielefeld?
- Sizing against Bielefeld's worst month (December, 0.51 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 Bielefeld's solar resource compare globally?
- Bielefeld sits in solar zone 1 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 2.84 kWh/m²/day — modest 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 Bielefeld?
- Yes — snow cover can drop output to near zero. In Bielefeld'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 Bielefeld?
- Bielefeld's worst month is December at 0.51 kWh/m²/day versus 5.22 in June — a 166% 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 Bielefeld's?
- Yes, but the seasonal ratio matters. Bielefeld's annual 2.84 kWh/m²/day is solid; grid-tied net metering works well (summer credits offset winter draw). Full off-grid needs generator or hydro backup.