Cloudy weather. Severe winters. Rain. If this sounds like the area in which you live and you want to install solar panels, you can ask yourself: "I should even be worried." A common perception is that the weather is directly related to the exit of your system. Or, in other words, cities like Columbus, Pittsburgh or New York will not use solar energy, for example, in Miami, Las Vegas or Los Angeles. The general perception is wrong.
There are many advances in solar technology and other factors that allow solar energy to work as well for areas that have bad weather, like areas that bask in the sun. Let's look at some of these facts.
Cloud areas are a good match for the solar system.
The world's solar superpower, Germany, is one of the worst European countries in May last year; it covered over 95% of its energy needs through solar energy. It is interesting to note that Germany receives as much sunlight as the state of Alaska, but it still manages to produce about 25 gigawatts of energy through solar energy. Amazing, right? This is because cloudy days don't matter, like the total amount of sunlight you receive per year. Cities like Cleveland, Portland and Boston are cloudy, but great for sunshine!
Winter and the performance of your solar panels
It is important to remember that solar energy is dependent on light, not heat. It doesn’t matter how cold the weather is, as long as you get sunlight, your solar panels will work and work in good shape. The key is to make sure your panels get as much sunlight as possible and limit / remove shading.
Effect on energy output
How much energy does your solar cell produce in cloudy weather? Your solar panels will provide only 25% -45% of the energy they produce on a sunny day. Nevertheless, manufacturers of solar panels, such as SunPower and LG, produce panels that provide efficiency and high performance even in low light conditions.
So what is the final verdict? Solar work in cloudy weather? Yes, it is even in cities like Ohio (a small 4 kW solar energy system can cover most electricity bills). Clouds and severe weather are not a reason to not leave the solar system. But it is important to remember that your solar roof is ready and does not receive shading!
Visit NREL's online PVWatts calculator to find out how much solar energy your roof can produce, despite all the cloudy skies.
