Solar Panels During the Winter

When we try to imagine the optimal weather for solar panels to function, we see a bright sunny day. A common question that you might have would be that are solar panels effective only in sunny tropical states like Texas and California?

This is a common misconception that solar panels are not as effective in the winter months or in particularly colder states. In fact, it might sound hard to believe but solar panels generate electricity better in the cooler temperatures of winter.

Key Takeaways

• Solar panels are effective even during the winter months and in colder states, as they generate electricity more efficiently in cooler temperatures.
• Solar panels can still generate energy with snow on them, but a thick layer of snow can hamper their energy output.
• To optimize solar panel performance in snowy conditions, strategies like using dark panels, installing them at an angle, and taking advantage of the albedo effect can help increase energy production.

How solar cells work

To understand the functioning of solar cells in winter, let’s first understand how it works. A solar panel is made of special units called PV cells or photovoltaic cells that are made with silicon. The electrons contained in the PV cells, when hit with the sun’s light get energized. This energy within the PV cells is then converted into energy.

Solar cells produce electricity even on days with cloud cover and low sunshine levels. This is possible because solar cells are able to use both diffuse and direct light. To simplify, direct light is when solar radiation travels in a straight line and diffuse light is when the radiation is scattered by the presence of any form of particles in the sky.

The efficiency of Solar Panels to produce energy tends to decrease if it crosses over the peak temperature. They are more likely to work in the winter since solar panels will probably not cross beyond their peak temperature. In fact, it can be said that in colder weather, solar power production will be at its peak efficiency.

In colder temperatures, the solar panels might get approximately 8 daylight hours for energy production. Generally speaking, solar panels work in the winter, better than in the warmer climate.

Can solar panels generate energy with snow on them?

Solar Panels can generate solar power even with snow on them since they do not rely on the sun’s heat but on the sunlight. However, if they are covered with a thick layer of snow then energy output will be hampered.

Here is how the negative impact of the winter weather can be minimized or avoided:

Dark Solar Panels

As is common knowledge, dark colors attract and trap heat. Dark solar panels can have the same effect as they would trap the sun’s rays causing the solar panels to warm up and consequently make the snow naturally melt. Generally, solar panels are warmer than the atmospheric temperature. Therefore, even a few rays of the sun’s light can result in the solar panels warming up.

Solar Panel Installation at an Angle

Solar installations are generally done at an angle that also happens to help snow slide off of the solar panels.

To improve solar panel performance in the months of heavy snow, they should be kept at a steeper angle in winters. This will help with optimizing the angle of direct sunlight and help the snow slide off.

Anti-Soiling Properties of Snow

When the snow melts, it takes the dirt accumulated on the solar arrays with it. Thus, the panels would not require light dusting as they would in the summer months.

Snow Increases Solar Energy Output

Surprisingly, solar panels work efficiently in snowy winters. Albedo effect is a phenomenon by which a part of the sunlight reflects back into the atmosphere when it hits Earth’s surface.

Snow reflects a lot more light of the sun since it is white. This Albedo effect is helpful when solar panels are surrounded by snow. In this scenario, the panels could absorb a lot of this sunlight and consequently generate more power and improve PV performance. This is most suitable in the northern climates to improve solar production.

Snow Guards

Snow guards are most suited for places that receive heavy snowfall during winter. This helps prevent the solar panels from damage caused by heavy snowfall. The surface of a solar array does not offer friction to snow which is why it might slide off the roof in big chunks and hurt anybody. The guards prevent this as they help the snow, fall off gradually.

Snow Removing Tools

The least recommended method is removing snow with the help of a solar panel rake. You should be super careful while using this as it could possibly damage the panels.

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Wrapping Up

Installing solar panels makes the most sense in places where electricity rates are high. Alaska has cold weather similar to Germany that has been a leading name in solar energy production for over a decade.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the state of New York ranks in the top 10 for installing winter solar panels. A major driving factor for this is the high electricity rates.

The electric bills in a lot of states are so high that it makes sense for solar savings. This means going solar to reduce the electric bill. This source of renewable energy is worth installing as it can function in extreme weather conditions like low temperatures. To earn credits on your electricity bill, you should have net metering in place to track the excess energy you produce.

In short, in real-world conditions like cold climates, solar arrays serve a great purpose by reducing utility bills and working efficiently. Solar power is a reliable source of renewable energy in states with harsh winter months and heavy snow.