5.7 peak sun hours a day
Kwale receives 5.7 kWh/m² of solar energy a day, so each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1,620 kWh a year. June is the weakest month; size essential loads to still work then.
Kwale County
Solar power in Kwale County.
What solar, battery backup and EV charging look like in Kwale: the county's solar resource month by month, what a typical system produces, local design points for a coastal climate, and a calculator using your KPLC bill.
Specify for salt air
Within a few kilometres of the sea, salt spray corrodes standard fixings and enclosures. Specify marine-grade or hot-dip galvanised mounting, stainless fasteners and outdoor-rated, sealed enclosures for inverters and isolators.
Allow for warm, humid days
High year-round temperatures reduce panel output a little and shorten battery life if batteries sit in hot rooms. Ventilate inverter and battery spaces and keep them out of direct sun.
Daytime loads suit solar
Hotels, resorts and offices with daytime cooling, laundry and kitchen loads use most of their solar on site, which gives the strongest savings.
Commercial solar guideMonthly solar resource in Kwale
Long-term average daily solar energy on a horizontal surface and air temperature from NASA POWER, with the output of an example 5 kW system. Near the equator a low-tilt array receives close to the horizontal value.
| Month | Solar energy (kWh/m²/day) | Air temperature (°C) | 5 kW system output (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.18 | 28.0 | 747 |
| February | 6.37 | 28.4 | 695 |
| March | 6.21 | 28.2 | 751 |
| April | 5.40 | 26.9 | 632 |
| May | 4.71 | 25.5 | 569 |
| June | 4.69 | 24.3 | 548 |
| July | 4.86 | 23.9 | 587 |
| August | 5.28 | 24.3 | 638 |
| September | 5.92 | 25.2 | 693 |
| October | 6.16 | 26.1 | 745 |
| November | 6.25 | 26.6 | 732 |
| December | 6.26 | 27.4 | 757 |
| Year | 5.69 average | 26.2 average | 8,095 |
Estimate a system in Kwale
- Solar array
- 3.72 kWp 6 × 620 W panels, about 17 m² of roof
- Inverter
- 3 kW Hybrid, with battery
- Battery
- 6.0 kWh usable About 6.7 kWh nominal lithium (LiFePO₄)
- Estimated savings
- KES 12,375/month 83% of energy charges, KES 148,503 a year
- Solar generation
- 6,023 kWh/year 5,247 kWh used on site
- Simple payback
- Add a quote Before financing and maintenance
Show monthly table
| Month | Generated (kWh) | Used on site (kWh) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 556 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Feb | 517 | 412 | KES 11,659 |
| Mar | 558 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Apr | 470 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| May | 423 | 411 | KES 11,634 |
| Jun | 408 | 396 | KES 11,210 |
| Jul | 437 | 424 | KES 11,989 |
| Aug | 475 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Sep | 516 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Oct | 555 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Nov | 544 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Dec | 563 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
Want this sized with real equipment, cable runs and supplier prices?
Get a detailed planEstimate only. It uses NASA POWER long-term modelled data for Kwale, a 78% performance ratio and reviewed KPLC all-in energy rates. Fixed and demand charges, shading, export credit and tariff changes are not included.
Frequently asked questions
How much sun does Kwale get for solar?
Kwale receives about 5.7 kWh of solar energy per square metre per day on average (5.7 peak sun hours). February is the strongest month at 6.4 and June the weakest at 4.7. Source: NASA POWER long-term modelled data for Kwale.
How much does a 5 kW solar system produce in Kwale?
About 8,095 kWh a year, or 22.2 kWh a day on average, assuming a 78% performance ratio for heat, dust, wiring and inverter losses. Output ranges from about 548 kWh in June to 695 kWh in February.
How many solar panels does a home in Kwale need?
A home using 300 kWh a month with half of it in daylight needs about 1.1 kW of solar for its daytime use, which is 2 panels of 620 W. Covering evening use as well needs a battery and a larger array. Use the calculator on this page with your own bill.
Can StimaPulse plan a solar, battery or EV charging project in Kwale?
Yes. StimaPulse sizes solar, storage and EV charging for homes, schools, businesses and fleets anywhere in Kwale County, using your bills or meter data, the site's own solar resource, real equipment and supplier quotes. A licensed engineer must verify the final design before installation.
Get a plan for your site.
Bring a utility bill, load list, fleet schedule or supplier quote. We will turn it into a sized, costed and comparable plan.