The first step in calculating your peak sun hours is to determine how many hours of daylight you get during the year.
The amount of daylight you get in one hour varies depending on where you live. The table below shows the number of hours of daylight for each month at different latitudes.
Peak sun hours are calculated by the formula: 1 peak sun hour = 1000 W/m² of sunlight per hour.
What Are Peak Sun Hours?
Peak sun hours are the hours of the day when the sun is at its highest position in the sky and provides maximum solar energy. Peak sun hours vary from location to location, depending on where you live and where you want to install your solar panels. The solar panels will operate more efficiently if they are placed in areas that have fewer clouds and more direct sunlight.
Peak sun hours may also be referred to as “high noon” or “midday.” Some people live in areas that have fewer peak sun hours than others, so it is important for them to find out which location in their area have peak sun hours during their time of year.
The sun’s intensity can vary from day to day, and from year to year. The best months for solar panels are March, April and May. The summer solstice occurs on June 21st each year, when the sun is highest in the sky. It is also a peak month for solar power production.
The winter solstice occurs on December 21st each year, when the sun is lowest in the sky. This is also a peak month for solar power production because it coincides with daylight savings time.
This post was written by Daniel Massaad, owner and expert solar technician at Energy Solutions Direct! ESD is the top choice for solar panels in Texas! Our licensed and certified contractors are masters of their craft; with years of experience servicing the great Tampa Bay area and beyond, the choice is simple. ESD excels at offering you the best in solar value!
