5.7 peak sun hours a day
Machakos receives 5.7 kWh/m² of solar energy a day, so each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1,614 kWh a year. July is the weakest month; size essential loads to still work then.
Machakos County
Solar power in Machakos County.
What solar, battery backup and EV charging look like in Machakos: the county's solar resource month by month, what a typical system produces, local design points for a semi-arid climate, and a calculator using your KPLC bill.
Strong, reliable sun
Semi-arid counties get high solar energy for most of the year with short rainy seasons, which makes solar output predictable and payback faster.
Pumping and irrigation
Boreholes and irrigation are a common use for solar here. Storing water in a tank is often cheaper than storing electricity in batteries.
Solar water pumpingBackup where the grid is weak
Outages and long feeder lines are common outside towns. Size battery backup for the loads that must keep running.
Battery storage guideMonthly solar resource in Machakos
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 | 6.47 | 21.6 | 782 |
| February | 6.73 | 22.7 | 735 |
| March | 6.50 | 23.0 | 786 |
| April | 5.79 | 21.9 | 678 |
| May | 5.28 | 20.6 | 639 |
| June | 4.52 | 19.7 | 529 |
| July | 4.39 | 19.4 | 530 |
| August | 4.72 | 19.9 | 571 |
| September | 5.82 | 21.1 | 681 |
| October | 6.07 | 21.8 | 734 |
| November | 5.73 | 21.3 | 671 |
| December | 6.00 | 21.1 | 725 |
| Year | 5.67 average | 21.2 average | 8,061 |
Estimate a system in Machakos
- 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 12,256/month 82% of energy charges, KES 147,068 a year
- Solar generation
- 5,997 kWh/year 5,197 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 | 582 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Feb | 547 | 412 | KES 11,659 |
| Mar | 585 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Apr | 504 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| May | 475 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Jun | 394 | 383 | KES 10,839 |
| Jul | 395 | 385 | KES 10,886 |
| Aug | 425 | 412 | KES 11,672 |
| Sep | 507 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Oct | 546 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Nov | 499 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Dec | 539 | 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 Machakos, 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 Machakos get for solar?
Machakos 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 6.7 and July the weakest at 4.4. Source: NASA POWER long-term modelled data for Machakos.
How much does a 5 kW solar system produce in Machakos?
About 8,061 kWh a year, or 22.1 kWh a day on average, assuming a 78% performance ratio for heat, dust, wiring and inverter losses. Output ranges from about 530 kWh in July to 735 kWh in February.
How many solar panels does a home in Machakos 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 Machakos?
Yes. StimaPulse sizes solar, storage and EV charging for homes, schools, businesses and fleets anywhere in Machakos 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.