Solar panels in Tanga: size, cost and payback

Tanga gets about 5.75 peak sun hours a day, above the average of 5.6 across Tanzania's main towns. The table below sizes solar for a small home, a family home with a water pump and a small shop or office, using Tanga's own sunshine and TSh 292 per kWh electricity, with estimated cost and payback for each.

The numbers

ExamplePanelsBatteryEstimated costPayback
Small home (lights, TV, fridge): 5 kWh/day 1.1 kWp 1.0 kWh TZS 3,471,468 6.5 years
Family home with water pump: 10 kWh/day 2.2 kWp 2.1 kWh TZS 6,321,876 5.9 years
Small shop or office: 20 kWh/day 4.3 kWp 4.2 kWh TZS 12,643,751 5.9 years

Worked with 5.75 peak sun hours a day and an electricity price of TZS 292/kWh, standard-quality equipment and 4 hours of battery backup. Estimates only; get quotes from local installers.

Worth knowing

Tanga sits on the coast, close to sea level. Sunshine peaks in February at about 6.6 hours a day and is lowest in May at about 4.58, a seasonal drop of 31%. That is a large swing: if you rely on solar without the grid, size your panels and battery for the weaker months, not the yearly average.

Size your own system for Tanga →

Questions

How many peak sun hours does Tanga get?

About 5.75 hours a day on average over the year, above the average of 5.6 across Tanzania's main towns. Source: Global Solar Atlas long-term averages.

Which month is weakest for solar in Tanga?

May, at about 4.58 peak sun hours a day. The strongest is February, at about 6.6. Off-grid systems should be sized with the weaker months in mind.

What electricity price do these estimates use?

TSh 292 per kWh, TANESCO's general-use tariff, before VAT. Payback depends heavily on this figure, so enter your own rate from your bill in the calculator.

How do I size a system for my own home or business?

Use the free calculator. Enter your appliances or your electricity bill, and it applies Tanga's sun hours to suggest panels, battery and inverter sizes.

Are these costs quotes?

No. They are estimates for standard-quality equipment with 4 hours of battery backup. Ask local installers for quotes before you buy.