One commonly asked question when making the decision to go solar is “Will my solar panels still generate power in the winter?”. The answer is yes! Although the days are shorter, the sun still shines in the winter, which means your solar array will still be generating power and saving you money on your power bill! There are a few factors that can increase or decrease your power production in the winter months...
What About the Cold?
Solar panels are able to generate electricity more efficiently in colder temperatures! This means that relative to the amount of light captured, your solar panels will produce more energy in the winter than in the summer. This can help combat the loss of extra daylight hours in the winter season.
Solar panels are able to generate electricity more efficiently in colder temperatures for a number of reasons. First, the silicon in solar panels is more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity at lower temperatures. Additionally, the cooler temperatures allow for the solar panels to operate at a higher voltage, which results in more electricity being produced. Finally, the winter months typically have more sunlight hours than the summer months, so your solar panels will have more time to generate electricity.
What if it Snows?
If your solar array is covered in snow it may reduce or halt power production. However, solar panels are designed to absorb the sun’s energy, this means that any snow on top of your solar panel will melt much faster than surrounding snow due to the high level of light and heat absorption. In fact, as long as your solar panels aren’t covered, snow on the ground will increase the amount of power generated due to the snow reflecting the sun’s rays!
Ready to get Started?
Call our solar experts at 614-407-7663 to schedule a friendly, informative and no pressure appointment. We’ll get you an appointment ASAP - have a copy of your energy bill ready!