Peak Sun Hours in El Paso, Texas, United States
- Solar zone
- Zone 4 (excellent)
- Best month
- June (8.1)
- Worst month
- December (3.4)
- Climate
- Arid · 17.4°C
Monthly solar breakdown
| Month | GHI | Clear-sky | DNI | DHI | Temp °C | Humid % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.73 | 4.29 | 6.29 | 0.98 | 5.8 | 49 |
| Feb | 4.74 | 5.41 | 6.87 | 1.25 | 8.3 | 44 |
| Mar | 6.10 | 6.79 | 7.70 | 1.51 | 12.8 | 36 |
| Apr | 7.39 | 8.01 | 8.65 | 1.68 | 17.3 | 28 |
| May | 8.10 | 8.65 | 9.17 | 1.74 | 22.2 | 26 |
| Jun | 8.13 | 8.65 | 8.79 | 1.79 | 28.0 | 27 |
| Jul | 7.28 | 8.20 | 6.93 | 2.15 | 28.3 | 41 |
| Aug | 6.79 | 7.60 | 6.82 | 1.94 | 27.3 | 44 |
| Sep | 5.99 | 6.67 | 6.85 | 1.60 | 23.6 | 46 |
| Oct | 5.10 | 5.59 | 7.29 | 1.15 | 17.9 | 43 |
| Nov | 3.99 | 4.48 | 6.54 | 0.99 | 11.0 | 45 |
| Dec | 3.40 | 3.94 | 6.03 | 0.92 | 5.8 | 50 |
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 3.40 kWh/m²/day, 0.77 system efficiency.
About solar in El Paso
El Paso, United States has a dry climate with long hours of direct sunshine and low humidity. Its annual peak sun hours average 5.9 kWh/m²/day, a excellent solar resource by global standards.
The strongest month in El Paso is June (summer) at 8.13 kWh/m²/day, and the weakest is December (winter) at 3.4 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.
El Paso'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 El Paso?
- El Paso averages 5.9 peak sun hours per day annually, ranging from 3.4 in December to 8.13 in June.
- How many solar panels do I need in El Paso?
- Panel count depends on your daily load. At El Paso's annual average of 5.9 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 El Paso?
- Sizing against El Paso's worst month (December, 3.4 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 El Paso's solar resource compare globally?
- El Paso sits in solar zone 4 out of 5 (where 5 is strongest) at 5.9 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 El Paso?
- Arid climates can drop output 10–20% between cleanings. Quarterly cleaning is typical for El Paso; monthly during dust-storm seasons. Dew alone isn't enough when rainfall is infrequent.
- Does extreme heat hurt solar output in El Paso?
- Yes. Panel efficiency drops ~0.4% per °C above 25 °C cell temperature. In El Paso, midday cell temperatures of 55–70 °C can derate output 12–18% below nameplate.
- Is El Paso's solar resource as strong as the numbers suggest?
- El Paso's 5.9 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.