Will My Solar Panels Generate Energy In The Winter?

If you reside in the UK or Ireland, you’ll be familiar with our grey, wet and cold weather. You may be wondering if solar panels can work in our climate, the short answer is YES! Solar Panels do work in winter, they just generate that little bit less than what they can generate in the summer.

Luckily, solar panels depend on sunlight rather than heat to produce energy, so they can continue generating electricity even on chilly winter days, provided there is daylight. However, there are a few factors that can affect the efficiency of solar panels in the winter.

Shorter Days: The shorter daylight hours, with the sun rising later and setting earlier, means there are fewer opportunities for sunlight to strike the panels, diminishing the overall energy production.

Lower Sun Angle: In winter, the sun doesn't climb as high in the sky, resulting in sunlight passing through more of the atmosphere before reaching the panels. This can decrease the energy generated as the light's intensity is reduced.

Cloud Cover: The UK often experiences overcast skies during the winter months. This heavy cloud cover can obstruct much of the already weaker winter sunlight from reaching the solar panels. However, even on the cloudiest days, solar panels can still produce some energy.

Snow Coverage: Thick layers of snow can block sunlight from hitting your solar panels until it's cleared. Fortunately, light snow tends to either melt quickly or slide off angled panels. Snow isn't a frequent concern in the UK, so it's unlikely that your panels will be covered for extended periods.

Don’t let those factors put you off Solar Panels, winter also brings benefits for solar panel performance:

Cold Temperatures: Interestingly, solar panels perform better in cold conditions. Lower temperatures enhance the movement of electrons within a solar panel, which can increase its power generation capabilities. In fact, a panel's efficiency can improve by up to 0.5% for every degree the temperature drops below 25°C.

Winter is the most expensive time of year for heating your home, you’ll want to leverage your solar panels effectively during these months helping to reduce your energy bills.

Here are some strategies to enhance the efficiency of your solar panels in winter:

Keep Them Clean: Accumulated snow and debris can obstruct sunlight. Regularly cleaning your panels ensures they capture as much light as possible. You can rinse them with a garden hose or opt for professional cleaning for a more thorough job.

Monitor and Maintain: Regular inspections help identify and address issues early. Many systems offer the capability to monitor performance directly from your smartphone.

Remove Obstructions: If trees near your panels have grown and are now casting shade, trimming them back can greatly increase sunlight exposure.

Install a Battery: Storing excess energy during peak sunlight hours allows you to use it later. While this doesn’t boost panel output directly, it maximises the utility of the energy produced.

So there you have it, Solar Panels are affective in Winter, even in the UK and Ireland! Although they might not produce as much energy as they do in sunnier seasons, with proper maintenance and optimisation, they can still cover a significant portion of your home’s energy needs.