From Sun to Rain: Weather and Solar Energy

As their name suggests, solar panels get their energy from the sun. But with El Niño supposedly on the way, many may wonder what happens when the sun is nowhere to be seen?

Here’s some of the information we have gathered:

Rain

How does rain effect your solar panels? It’s not so much the rain that has an effect, but the clouds covering the sun. On a rainy day, solar panels can decrease their production by 10%-25% depending on how thick the cloud coverage is. The panels will still produce energy, just not quite as much as a sunny day.

Wind

Solar panels are installed in a way that high winds should not destroy them or blow them away. In fact, during the 2012 Hurricane Sandy, most of the solar panels that had been installed were still intact after the hurricane had passed. Make sure you hire a company like Aztec Solar that will properly install your panels to withstand high winds, though, as shoddy install jobs can damage your roof.

Partly Cloudy

If you live somewhere that you see some cloud coverage through most of the year, you are still a great fit for solar power. In fact, partly cloudy days can often boost solar energy output. When the cloud passes by the sun, the cloud magnifies the sun leading to a boost in solar energy output.

Do solar panels really work through all weather?

Yes! They do! The important thing to consider with solar is how much sun you get year-round. Even Portland Oregon, which is known for its rainy weather, is a great place for solar power. Rainy days usually bring chilly temperatures, which actually allows solar panels to increase their efficiency. The rain doesn’t hurt production as much as you’d think!

Germany has more installed solar per capita even then though the weather is much worse than the U.S.

If you have any questions about solar power, or you are ready to make the switch to solar, contact us today!

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