5.9 peak sun hours a day
Mbale receives 5.9 kWh/m² of solar energy a day, so each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1,672 kWh a year. July is the weakest month; size essential loads to still work then.
Vihiga County
Solar power in Vihiga County.
What solar, battery backup and EV charging look like in Vihiga: Mbale's solar resource month by month, what a typical system produces, local design points for a lake basin and western climate, and a calculator using your KPLC bill.
Frequent afternoon storms
The Lake Victoria basin and western highlands see frequent rain and afternoon thunderstorms. Fit surge protection on both DC and AC sides and good earthing.
Cold storage and processing
Farms, cooperatives and fish landing sites use solar for cooling, milling and processing, where daytime loads match solar output.
Electric boda bodas
Electric motorcycles are a growing market. Daytime solar charging or battery swapping stations can cut charging costs.
EV charging planningMonthly solar resource in Mbale
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 | 6.21 | 20.8 | 751 |
| February | 6.49 | 21.8 | 709 |
| March | 6.32 | 22.2 | 765 |
| April | 5.91 | 21.1 | 691 |
| May | 5.72 | 20.3 | 692 |
| June | 5.30 | 19.6 | 620 |
| July | 5.20 | 19.3 | 629 |
| August | 5.55 | 19.7 | 670 |
| September | 6.06 | 20.5 | 710 |
| October | 5.96 | 20.8 | 720 |
| November | 5.81 | 20.4 | 679 |
| December | 5.94 | 20.3 | 718 |
| Year | 5.87 average | 20.5 average | 8,354 |
Estimate a system in Vihiga
- 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 12,655/month 84% of energy charges, KES 151,865 a year
- Solar generation
- 6,215 kWh/year 5,366 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 | 559 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Feb | 527 | 412 | KES 11,659 |
| Mar | 569 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Apr | 514 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| May | 515 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Jun | 461 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Jul | 468 | 452 | KES 12,796 |
| Aug | 499 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Sep | 528 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Oct | 536 | 456 | KES 12,908 |
| Nov | 505 | 441 | KES 12,491 |
| Dec | 535 | 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 Mbale, 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 Vihiga get for solar?
Mbale receives about 5.9 kWh of solar energy per square metre per day on average (5.9 peak sun hours). February is the strongest month at 6.5 and July the weakest at 5.2. Source: NASA POWER long-term modelled data for Mbale.
How much does a 5 kW solar system produce in Vihiga?
About 8,354 kWh a year, or 22.9 kWh a day on average, assuming a 78% performance ratio for heat, dust, wiring and inverter losses. Output ranges from about 629 kWh in July to 709 kWh in February.
How many solar panels does a home in Vihiga 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 Vihiga?
Yes. StimaPulse sizes solar, storage and EV charging for homes, schools, businesses and fleets anywhere in Vihiga 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.