6.3 peak sun hours a day
Maralal receives 6.3 kWh/m² of solar energy a day, so each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1,785 kWh a year. July is the weakest month; size essential loads to still work then.
Samburu County
Solar power in Samburu County.
What solar, battery backup and EV charging look like in Samburu: Maralal's solar resource month by month, what a typical system produces, local design points for a arid climate, and a calculator using your KPLC bill.
Some of Kenya's strongest sun
Arid counties receive high, steady solar energy, so each panel produces more than in the highlands. Plan the array for the hottest months, when heat derates output.
Plan for cleaning
Dust and sand settle on panels and can cut output noticeably between rains. Budget for regular cleaning and choose a tilt that sheds dust and rain.
Solar first, diesel as backup
Many sites are far from the grid or have weak supply. Solar with batteries or water storage usually costs less per kWh than running a diesel generator.
Solar water pumpingMonthly solar resource in Maralal
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 | 6.62 | 20.0 | 801 |
| February | 6.92 | 21.1 | 756 |
| March | 6.73 | 21.9 | 813 |
| April | 6.19 | 21.5 | 725 |
| May | 6.24 | 21.1 | 755 |
| June | 5.81 | 20.5 | 680 |
| July | 5.59 | 19.8 | 676 |
| August | 6.07 | 20.0 | 733 |
| September | 6.70 | 21.0 | 784 |
| October | 6.26 | 21.2 | 757 |
| November | 5.92 | 20.3 | 692 |
| December | 6.16 | 19.7 | 745 |
| Year | 6.27 average | 20.7 average | 8,918 |
Estimate a system in Samburu
- 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 12,665/month 84% of energy charges, KES 151,977 a year
- Solar generation
- 6,635 kWh/year 5,370 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 | 596 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Feb | 562 | 412 | KES 11,659 |
| Mar | 605 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Apr | 539 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| May | 562 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Jun | 506 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Jul | 503 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Aug | 546 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Sep | 583 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Oct | 563 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Nov | 515 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Dec | 554 | 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 Maralal, 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 Samburu get for solar?
Maralal receives about 6.3 kWh of solar energy per square metre per day on average (6.3 peak sun hours). February is the strongest month at 6.9 and July the weakest at 5.6. Source: NASA POWER long-term modelled data for Maralal.
How much does a 5 kW solar system produce in Samburu?
About 8,918 kWh a year, or 24.4 kWh a day on average, assuming a 78% performance ratio for heat, dust, wiring and inverter losses. Output ranges from about 676 kWh in July to 756 kWh in February.
How many solar panels does a home in Samburu need?
A home using 300 kWh a month with half of it in daylight needs about 1.0 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 Samburu?
Yes. StimaPulse sizes solar, storage and EV charging for homes, schools, businesses and fleets anywhere in Samburu 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.