Effectiveness of Solar Panels During Winter

Solar panels are some of the best tools on the market for creating sustainable energy. Today, homeowners and builders can add solar panels to their properties, adding value to the home and saving money on electricity. 

Some in cold climates like New England may worry about the effectiveness of solar panels in the winter. Between the snow, ice, and cold, homeowners wonder if their solar panel system will simply fail to work for months at a time. 

In this article, we’ll dispel some myths about solar panel effectiveness during the winter months. Those who are considering installing solar panels can rest assured that these systems are worth installing. 

Can solar panels absorb power through the snow? 

Snow is a common worry among New Englanders considering a solar panel system for their property. Fortunately, solar panels continue to function even when covered with snow. 

Solar panels are made of dark materials that help keep the surface warm, even on cold days with little sun. Light flurries will easily blow away and fully expose the panels, making it easy for them to collect solar energy. With a bit more snow on the surface, the dark surface of the panels will help melt the snow and expose the absorbent materials. The only time solar panels will struggle to absorb power is when they are totally covered in significant amounts of snow. 

Will snow stay on a solar panel? 

When a major snowstorm hits, a few inches of snow can build up on a solar panel system. Fortunately, solar panels act much like an asphalt road, warming up quickly due to the brightness of the sun, even on cloudy days. This will help the snow to break down and remove itself from the solar panels. 

In addition to the dark surface melting the snow, solar panels are always installed at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees. This helps the snow (and any other debris) slide off with ease. A little bit of wind will help clear away any snow that might build up on a solar panel. 

Finally, snow and ice can also help clean a solar panel. The warmer, drier seasons can lead to a thin layer of dust and dirt on the panels. When the rain, snow, and ice come down, the water helps to wash the surface of the panels. 

Does the cold affect solar energy collection? 

Cold weather has an effect on solar energy collection—a positive one!  

Much like other electronic devices and appliances, solar panels work better in cooler environments. The cool and cold winter weather helps control the heat intake of the solar panels, allowing them to collect more energy more consistently.  

Solar panels are well-equipped for the cold New England winters due to the low temperatures. 

Will the short winter days affect solar panel absorption?  

The only disadvantage of solar panels in the winter is the potential lack of sunny days. With less sun, there’s less solar absorption. However, this should not steer anyone away from installing solar panels at their home.  

The sunny days of the spring, summer, and fall can greatly make up for any cloudy days in the winter. The annual total of sunny days is more important to solar panel efficiency than seasonal effectiveness.  

Install solar panels on your home with BD Electrical 

Adding solar panels to a home can be a great way to reduce fossil fuel consumption, lower energy bills, and add value to a property. The team at BD Electrical can install, maintain, and repair solar panel systems. Homeowners can discuss their needs with our team and we can guide them through the process from layout design to permit application to installation and operation. 

For solar panel services at your home or other property, turn to BD Electrical & Solar. Contact our office now to get started.