Peak Sun Hours in Shikarpur, Sindh, Pakistan
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- May (7.2)
- Worst month
- December (3.6)
- Climate
- Arid · 29.0°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.83 | 4.09 | 4.26 | 1.54 | 15.8 | 30 |
| Feb | 4.74 | 5.07 | 4.76 | 1.81 | 19.3 | 28 |
| Mar | 5.89 | 6.22 | 5.20 | 2.20 | 25.6 | 26 |
| Apr | 6.77 | 7.04 | 5.16 | 2.64 | 32.0 | 22 |
| May | 7.15 | 7.34 | 4.78 | 3.04 | 37.1 | 21 |
| Jun | 6.80 | 7.04 | 3.86 | 3.27 | 38.9 | 30 |
| Jul | 6.23 | 6.61 | 3.09 | 3.28 | 38.2 | 38 |
| Aug | 6.10 | 6.54 | 3.75 | 2.86 | 36.5 | 41 |
| Sep | 5.97 | 6.15 | 4.82 | 2.31 | 34.4 | 37 |
| Oct | 5.26 | 5.34 | 5.21 | 1.84 | 29.9 | 22 |
| Nov | 4.13 | 4.24 | 4.55 | 1.56 | 23.2 | 24 |
| Dec | 3.62 | 3.81 | 4.34 | 1.41 | 17.5 | 27 |
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 3.62 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in Shikarpur
Shikarpur, Pakistan has a dry climate with long hours of direct sunshine and low humidity. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.54 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in Shikarpur is May (spring) at 7.15 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 3.62 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.
Shikarpur'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 Shikarpur?
- Shikarpur averages 5.54 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 3.62 in December to 7.15 in May.
- How many solar panels do I need in Shikarpur?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At Shikarpur's annual average of 5.54 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 Shikarpur?
- Sizing against Shikarpur's worst month (December, 3.62 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 Shikarpur's solar resource compare globally?
- Shikarpur sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.54 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 Shikarpur?
- Arid climates can drop output 10–20% between cleanings. Quarterly cleaning is typical for Shikarpur; monthly during dust-storm seasons. Dew alone isn't enough when rainfall is infrequent.
- Does extreme heat hurt solar output in Shikarpur?
- Yes. Panel efficiency drops ~0.4% per °C above 25 °C cell temperature. In Shikarpur, midday cell temperatures of 55–70 °C can derate output 12–18% below nameplate.
- Is Shikarpur's solar resource as strong as the numbers suggest?
- Shikarpur's 5.54 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.