Solar Panels draw energy from the sun’s natural energy every month of the year, including cloudy and short winter days.
Are you considering investing in solar panels, but worried about whether they will work in the winter months?
It is true that solar panels draw energy from the sun’s light. But did you know that they also work every month of the year including on cloudy and short winter days?
How do solar panels make energy?
The most important thing to note is that solar panels make energy from daylight using PV cells (photovoltaic cells) not from sunlight or heat. The energy is made using semi-conducting substances, usually silicon.
But how does that work? Well, when light shines on a solar panel it makes particles called electrons move or vibrate, which creates electricity. That is why solar panels will generate electricity in the day time but never at night. However if you also have a battery installed with your solar panels then the energy generated during the day can be stored for use after dark or whenever you need it.
Because the PV cells in solar panels respond to light, that does mean that your panels will generate more electricity on the brightest and sunniest of days. But the grey low light of a gloomy winters day is still enough to generate electricity.
Do solar panels work in winter?
Solar Panels work every month of the year, whether the weather is sunny, rainy, cloudy, hail or light snow. Solar Panels will however produce less energy in the winter months as the light levels are generally lower and days are shorter.
Although when covered in snow your solar panels will be unable to work as no light will get through. Luckily in the UK snow doesn’t tend to last long and the residual heat in the solar panel should mean that any snow will quickly melt and slide off correctly mounted solar panels.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
Solar Panels have dramatically improved in recent years and modern solar panels will work reasonably well, even on the cloudiest of days. Plus rain can even improve the efficiency of your solar panels as it will help remove dust or dirt that might be blocking light.
Do solar panels only work in warm weather?
You may assume that solar panels need warmer weather to work at their best however solar panels can actually produce more energy on colder days than on the hottest days, so a cold, crisp, sunny winter’s morning may produce more energy than a balmy summer’s morning.
How much power can a solar PV system produce?
There are a few factors that will determine how much energy a solar PV system can produce. The system size, angle, direction of the roof as well as local weather patterns all affect the efficiency of each Solar PV system.
You can read our post on What is the payback for Solar Panels in the UK? Which includes examples as well as other important information to consider.
Do I need a Solar Battery?
Most homes use the most energy in evenings (after dark) and in the darker and colder winter months. With a Solar Battery this could mean that a lot of the energy your panels are producing could be going unused.
Using a battery allows you to store electricity to use later, allowing you to power your home after dark, or even charge your electric vehicle overnight.
Contact us
Contact us today and one of our Renewable Energy specialists will come out to do a free assessment of your home to make a recommendation on the suitability and best type of solar PV system for your home.
Call us today on 01422 414850 or find out more about our Solar Panels here.