With a solar system, you can benefit from reduced energy costs and a greener lifestyle. What a lot of property owners want to know before installing solar panels is — what happens in the winter? Will solar panels perform as well in the winter as they do in the warm summer months?
Do solar panels work in the winter?
With solar panels in Brisbane and other subtropical locations that experience a lot of sunshine, the winters are short and relatively mild. Still, there will be some cool and cloudy days.
The good news is, your solar panel system will generate electricity even in the cold. In fact, cool days with full sun are ideal for solar energy generation. During cooler weather, solar panels are more efficient. When it’s cold but the sky is clear and blue, your solar panels will actually thrive.
On the other hand, the shorter daylight hours will mean less time for the sun’s rays to strike the panels. This combined with the cloud cover that’s more common in winter will translate to less overall output.
How will solar panels perform on cloudy winter days?
Solar technology relies on an abundance of sunlight to create electricity. When light particles come into contact with the solar cells of your panels, they knock electrons free from atoms. This results in direct current (DC) electricity, which is fed into a solar inverter and converted into AC electricity. This is the energy that will power your lights, HVAC system, and other electrical appliances.
With cloud cover, UV light can still reach your panels. The clouds will reduce the amount of light energy, so you’ll have less light to convert into energy. But you’ll still enjoy some solar-powered electricity on cloudy days.
How to improve solar panel performance during the winter
To get the most out of your solar panels, whether you have a solar system in sunny Brisbane or a city like Melbourne that is known for cloudy weather in the winter, there are a few things you can do.
Firstly, be sure to start with a high-quality solar power system. Secondly, if your panels are adjustable, you can change the angle in the winter so they’re exposed to the sunlight for more time.
Another step is to keep your solar panels clean. Reach out if you need advice or help with routine solar panel cleaning to ensure you make the most of your solar system during the winter.
At Arise Solar, we offer quality solar panel systems and are happy to talk to you about a solar installation project for your home or business. Call 1300 274 737 today to get started.
