Location data · Baden-Württemberg

Sun hours in Heidelberg

How sunny is Heidelberg? Over a year the sun delivers 1,286 kilowatt-hours onto every square metre here — in June roughly 10 times as much per day as in December. “Sun hours” has two meanings: the weather report counts how long the sun shines. For solar power what matters is how much energy arrives — and that is what this page shows, as peak sun hours (hours of full sun power).

For solar planning this means: an optimally tilted, south-facing array (35°) harvests an annual average of 3.52 peak sun hours per day in Heidelberg. In 9 out of 10 years at least 1,181 kWh/m² are reached. All values are computed from this location’s satellite hourly data, not estimated.

Annual average (PSH)
3.52 kWh/m²/d
P90 annual total
1,181 kWh/m²
Optimal tilt
35°
Terrain horizon max.
16.8°

Sun hours per month

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PSH/day (35° south)1.022.303.614.945.085.555.545.044.392.811.390.57
P900.751.662.773.994.084.834.724.393.732.240.980.44

Daily average per month in kWh/m² at 35° tilt, south-facing, including the terrain horizon of Heidelberg. P90 = reached in 9 out of 10 years.

Optimal tilt angle in Heidelberg

The annual optimum for Heidelberg is 35° south; anything between 19° and 47° counts as equivalent (below 2% difference). For winter operation (off-grid) 60° is optimal, for summer use 20°. Flat-laid modules lose 11.4 % versus the optimum. Adjusting twice a year would add 1.9 % here, monthly adjustment 2.5 % — only relevant for adjustable mounts.

Is a balcony solar kit worth it in Heidelberg?

A vertical south-facing railing in Heidelberg harvests 875 kWh/m² per year — 68 % of what an optimally tilted 35° panel yields at the same spot. December softens the penalty: with the low winter sun, the vertical plane reaches 76 % of the 35° December value, computed from the same hourly data with its own plane transposition. Open the balcony solar calculator with these coordinates →

Neighbouring places compared

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