Solar Quote's blog : Will Solar Panels Help You to Generate More Power in Winter?

Solar panels have become the most widely used alternative source of energy. People around the world have adopted solar energy as their primary fallback after the grid electricity. Some have even made full use of it. They rely on solar energy for all their energy requirements and totally left the grid.

People have several concerns about the working of solar panels. One of them is Do Solar Panels Work In Winter? Most of the users think that solar panels lose efficiency during winters and the snowy season. In this blog, we’ll find out that does winter really affects the working of solar panels.

However, solar panels are a new-age technology and there are a lot of misconceptions about their functioning among people. Let’s get a bit more familiar with solar panels and clear out the misconceptions.

Breaking The Myths About Solar Panels

Despite being in the market for several years now, solar panels have a lot of myths going around about them. We have tried to cover up and clear some of them below.

Some common myths about solar panels in winter are:

1. Solar panels don’t work in winter

People think that solar panels don’t work in winter. It is due to the fact that despite the sun being out the weather is cold. So to clear out this myth we have to understand that solar panels use the light of the sun rays to generate power; it has nothing to do with the heat. So winters do not stop the solar panels from working.

2. Solar panels are useless in colder climates

For all those who have this in mind, I have only one word: Germany. Germany’s climate is among the coldest in the world and it’s one of the leading countries in terms of solar installations. Germany procures 50% of its total energy requirements from solar power on its sunniest days. So it is silly to doubt solar panel efficiency in cold weather.

3. Snow can damage the solar panels

Most people think that snow will ruin the solar panels. The solar panels have a protective covering of reinforced glass that is very sturdy and can even withstand a hailstorm. In fact, the rays which fall on the panels after getting reflected from the snow actually improve the efficiency. This is known as the ‘Albedo Effect’.

4. You can’t solar power

Nothing can be far from the truth. The electrical energy generated through any form can be stored using proper apparatus set up. This applies to solar energy as well. The power generated by the solar panels converting the sunlight can be stored in batteries to be used later. You can power all appliances from that stored power.

5. Solar panels do not justify their cost

These words can only be said by the people who have never experienced the change that solar panels bring to your expense ledger. There is no denying that solar panels could cost a fortune in the beginning but they pay off a lot more than they cost. So you can invest in Installing Solar Panels In Winter without worrying about the returns.

All these myths are developed only because of relying on speculation rather than observing the real results. The speculations about the working of solar panels during the winter season are still left to deal with.

So let’s catch up with it.

What Effects Does Winter Season Impart Upon Solar Panels?

Solar panels are designed to generate power all year round. It works on a fixed principle of converting the light energy coming from the sun's rays into the electrical form of energy. It’s working amounts for the light coming from the sun's rays; it has nothing to do with the heat of sunlight.

In fact, on very hot days, overheating can reduce the efficiency of solar panels. The photons from the sunlight stimulate the silicon electrons to move and produce an electrical charge.

The electricity is eventually produced from the motion of electrons. This mobility gets affected by overheating and brings down the efficiency.

Even if it is winter, the Sun still shines. Electricity will be produced when the light coming from the sun hits the photovoltaic cells present in the panels. The process is simple and heat and weather have no substantial part on the primary level.

Yes, the weather can affect the working efficiency terms other than temperature. For instance, whether does not allow the sunlight to reach the solar panels due to clouds.

It is quite common in cold areas during winters; Sun does not show up for days. That would definitely hurt the solar panels winter performance.

Conclusion

It won’t be wrong to assume that you might have got at least a little bit of idea about how do solar panels work in winter? Winters are actually better in terms of solar panel’s performance.

The cold weather solidifies the molecular integrity of the photovoltaic cells. That actually helps the charge to move better and increases the efficiency of solar panels in winter months.

If you still have any confusion or doubts left, you can reach out to us. We are an entity that works as a guide for the new people coming into the solar world and a trustworthy friend for the people who are already here.

We have veteran experts who can clear out all your confusions and doubts.

If you are looking for solar installations then we can provide you access to the doorsteps or the best solar providers. All you have to do is send your queries to us and just sit back and relax.

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