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Solar data for French Polynesia

Across the 3 places in French Polynesia the best fixed tilt for solar panels runs from 17° in Faaa to 18° in Punaauia, and flat ground gets 5.4 to 5.4 peak sun hours a day. Every number is computed for each place.

Solar power in French Polynesia at a glance

Averages over 3 places with climate data, for a fixed array facing north.

Best panel angle17°average, facing north
Peak sun hours5.38a day on flat ground
1 kWp makes1,620kWh a year at the best angle
Off-grid angle26°average, for the darkest month
FaaaPunaauia (most sun)
  • 5.39 peak sun hours a day

Peak sun hours a day on flat ground. Each dot is one place.

The sunniest place in French Polynesia is Punaauia (Îles du Vent) with 5.39 peak sun hours a day on flat ground; the least sunny are Papeete and one other place with 5.38. A 1 kWp array at its best angle makes from 1,617 kWh a year in Papeete to 1,623 kWh in Punaauia — 1,620 kWh on average.

The best year-round tilt runs from 17° in Faaa to 18° in Punaauia. Off-grid systems are sized for the darkest month and do better steeper, at 26° on average: at 70° that month brings 1.60 kWh per kWp a day in Papeete and 1.61 kWh in Punaauia.

Size an off-grid system or open any place below for its sun path, monthly table and tilt curve.

Largest places in French Polynesia at a glance

PlaceLatitudeBest tiltOff-grid tiltSun hours/day (flat)
Faaa17.6° S17°26°5.39
Papeete17.5° S17°26°5.38
Punaauia17.6° S18°26°5.39

Daylight and clock time in French Polynesia

In Papeete (17.5° S), the northernmost place, the longest day of the year lasts 13 h 11 min and the shortest 11 h 05 min; in Punaauia (17.6° S), the southernmost, 13 h 11 min and 11 h 04 min. French Polynesia does not use daylight saving time: the clocks stay the same all year.

Time zonePlacesUTC offsetClocks change in 2026
Pacific/Tahiti3UTC−10no daylight saving time

Questions about solar in French Polynesia

What is the best angle for solar panels in French Polynesia?
Facing north, between 17° and 18° depending on the place — 17° on average over 3 places. Off-grid systems that must get through the darkest month do better steeper, at about 26° on average.
How many peak sun hours does French Polynesia get?
From 5.4 hours a day in Papeete to 5.4 in Punaauia on flat ground, averaged over the year; 5.4 on average.
How much electricity does 1 kWp of solar panels produce in French Polynesia?
About 1,620 kWh a year at the best fixed angle on average, from 1,617 kWh in Papeete to 1,623 kWh in Punaauia. These are long-term climate averages; a single year can be several per cent higher or lower.
Where is the sunniest place in French Polynesia?
Punaauia (Îles du Vent) gets the most sun of the 3 places: 5.39 peak sun hours a day on flat ground, so 1 kWp there makes about 1,623 kWh a year.
Does French Polynesia use daylight saving time?
French Polynesia does not use daylight saving time: the clocks stay the same all year.
How long is the longest day in French Polynesia?
13 h 11 min in Punaauia; the shortest day lasts 11 h 04 min in Punaauia.

All places in French Polynesia

Îles du Vent