Peak Sun Hours in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- June (8.2)
- Worst month
- January (3.7)
- Climate
- Arid · 16.3°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.67 | 4.42 | 5.76 | 1.07 | 4.1 | 48 |
| Feb | 4.35 | 5.39 | 5.51 | 1.43 | 6.3 | 49 |
| Mar | 5.76 | 6.68 | 6.35 | 1.78 | 11.3 | 44 |
| Apr | 6.87 | 7.74 | 6.64 | 2.15 | 17.2 | 35 |
| May | 7.85 | 8.46 | 7.71 | 2.17 | 22.4 | 23 |
| Jun | 8.20 | 8.65 | 8.08 | 2.20 | 26.2 | 22 |
| Jul | 7.53 | 8.10 | 6.31 | 2.58 | 27.2 | 33 |
| Aug | 7.10 | 7.64 | 6.38 | 2.32 | 25.6 | 33 |
| Sep | 6.72 | 6.97 | 7.46 | 1.70 | 22.0 | 22 |
| Oct | 5.73 | 5.90 | 7.96 | 1.17 | 16.5 | 21 |
| Nov | 4.37 | 4.71 | 7.12 | 0.97 | 10.5 | 33 |
| Dec | 3.73 | 4.13 | 6.59 | 0.89 | 5.9 | 39 |
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 3.67 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Quetta
Quetta, Pakistan has a dry climate with long hours of direct sunshine and low humidity. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.99 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Quetta is June (summer) at 8.2 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is January (winter) at 3.67 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.
Quetta'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 Quetta?
- Quetta averages 5.99 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 3.67 in January to 8.2 in June.
- How many solar panels do I need in Quetta?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Quetta's annual average of 5.99 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 Quetta?
- Sizing against Quetta's worst month (January, 3.67 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 Quetta's solar resource compare globally?
- Quetta sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.99 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 Quetta?
- Arid climates can drop output 10–20% between cleanings. Quarterly cleaning is typical for Quetta; monthly during dust-storm seasons. Dew alone isn't enough when rainfall is infrequent.
- Does extreme heat hurt solar output in Quetta?
- Yes. Panel efficiency drops ~0.4% per °C above 25 °C cell temperature. In Quetta, midday cell temperatures of 55–70 °C can derate output 12–18% below nameplate.
- Is Quetta's solar resource as strong as the numbers suggest?
- Quetta's 5.99 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.