Peak Sun Hours in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- June (8.4)
- Worst month
- December (3.2)
- Climate
- Arid · 23.4°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.57 | 4.03 | 6.02 | 0.97 | 13.1 | 44 |
| Feb | 4.55 | 5.13 | 6.59 | 1.23 | 14.8 | 43 |
| Mar | 5.97 | 6.50 | 7.67 | 1.42 | 18.2 | 39 |
| Apr | 7.27 | 7.72 | 8.72 | 1.53 | 21.4 | 33 |
| May | 8.09 | 8.45 | 9.46 | 1.54 | 25.8 | 28 |
| Jun | 8.41 | 8.70 | 10.09 | 1.39 | 31.6 | 21 |
| Jul | 7.68 | 8.22 | 8.55 | 1.68 | 35.0 | 23 |
| Aug | 7.16 | 7.61 | 8.37 | 1.47 | 34.7 | 24 |
| Sep | 6.28 | 6.64 | 8.16 | 1.20 | 31.3 | 26 |
| Oct | 5.12 | 5.43 | 7.62 | 1.02 | 24.5 | 30 |
| Nov | 3.87 | 4.25 | 6.52 | 0.94 | 18.1 | 35 |
| Dec | 3.19 | 3.67 | 5.56 | 0.94 | 12.7 | 44 |
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 3.19 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Mexicali
Mexicali, Mexico has a dry climate with long hours of direct sunshine and low humidity. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.93 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Mexicali is June (summer) at 8.41 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 3.19 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.
Mexicali'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 Mexicali?
- Mexicali averages 5.93 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 3.19 in December to 8.41 in June.
- How many solar panels do I need in Mexicali?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Mexicali's annual average of 5.93 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 Mexicali?
- Sizing against Mexicali's worst month (December, 3.19 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 Mexicali's solar resource compare globally?
- Mexicali sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.93 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 often should I clean solar panels in Mexicali?
- Arid climates can drop output 10–20% between cleanings. Quarterly cleaning is typical for Mexicali; monthly during dust-storm seasons. Dew alone isn't enough when rainfall is infrequent.
- Does extreme heat hurt solar output in Mexicali?
- Yes. Panel efficiency drops ~0.4% per °C above 25 °C cell temperature. In Mexicali, midday cell temperatures of 55–70 °C can derate output 12–18% below nameplate.
- Is Mexicali's solar resource as strong as the numbers suggest?
- Mexicali's 5.93 kWh/m²/day is excellent globally. But heat derating and dust accumulation mean real-world yields typically land 10–15% below this headline figure — factor that into sizing.