5.6 peak sun hours a day
Hola receives 5.6 kWh/m² of solar energy a day, so each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1,584 kWh a year. June is the weakest month; size essential loads to still work then.
Tana River County
Solar power in Tana River County.
What solar, battery backup and EV charging look like in Tana River: Hola'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 Hola
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 | 5.93 | 29.9 | 717 |
| February | 6.13 | 30.8 | 669 |
| March | 6.14 | 30.7 | 742 |
| April | 5.50 | 28.6 | 643 |
| May | 5.18 | 26.7 | 627 |
| June | 4.75 | 25.8 | 555 |
| July | 4.84 | 25.5 | 585 |
| August | 5.15 | 26.0 | 623 |
| September | 5.65 | 27.2 | 661 |
| October | 5.91 | 28.0 | 714 |
| November | 5.69 | 27.8 | 666 |
| December | 5.88 | 29.0 | 711 |
| Year | 5.56 average | 28.0 average | 7,914 |
Estimate a system in Tana River
- 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 12,456/month 83% of energy charges, KES 149,476 a year
- Solar generation
- 5,888 kWh/year 5,282 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 | 534 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Feb | 498 | 412 | KES 11,659 |
| Mar | 552 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Apr | 479 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| May | 466 | 450 | KES 12,748 |
| Jun | 413 | 401 | KES 11,350 |
| Jul | 435 | 422 | KES 11,939 |
| Aug | 463 | 448 | KES 12,677 |
| Sep | 492 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Oct | 531 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Nov | 496 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Dec | 529 | 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 Hola, 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 Tana River get for solar?
Hola receives about 5.6 kWh of solar energy per square metre per day on average (5.6 peak sun hours). March is the strongest month at 6.1 and June the weakest at 4.7. Source: NASA POWER long-term modelled data for Hola.
How much does a 5 kW solar system produce in Tana River?
About 7,914 kWh a year, or 21.7 kWh a day on average, assuming a 78% performance ratio for heat, dust, wiring and inverter losses. Output ranges from about 555 kWh in June to 742 kWh in March.
How many solar panels does a home in Tana River 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 Tana River?
Yes. StimaPulse sizes solar, storage and EV charging for homes, schools, businesses and fleets anywhere in Tana River 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.