If you are utilising solar panels right now, you are probably thankful that you did! With a series of heatwaves happening across the UK, solar panels are working hard to generate energy for homes and businesses. But when the winter months roll in and days become shorter, how exactly do solar panels keep the lights on in your home? In today’s blog, we’re doing a deep dive on the science behind solar and how colder months don’t necessarily mean no generation.
How do solar panels work?
We’ve covered this many times on our YouTube channel and across our blogs, but here is a brief recap on how solar panels work. Simply put, solar panels turn sunlight into electricity for your property. It does this using the photovoltaic effect. They absorb sunlight, create direct electrical current and then convert it into usable energy for your home or business.
The panels themselves are made up of small cells (thus the name “solar cells”) with 2 layers, a positive layer and a negative layer. This creates an electric field. There are small packets of energy in sunlight called photons – when these hit the solar cells, they knock electrons free, with the electric field forcing loose electrons to flow in one direction. This creates a DC, which is different from the alternating current (AC) power a home uses.
An inverter changes the panels’ DC electricity into AC, meaning it’s now usable in the home to keep your lights on and to run appliances.
The cold never bothered them anyway…
Many people believe that solar panels can’t work in the winter for one reason: it’s too cold for them to work. The reality is that temperature doesn’t affect solar panels or their ability to generate electricity. Solar PV relies on sunlight, not heat, to work, meaning that even in the 8 hours of sunlight the UK gets during winter, your panels will still be making energy to use.
Even though winter output is lower than summer by 20-30%, colder temperatures actually improve the performance of solar panels. When the temperature is too hot, the solar cells’ semiconductor material shrinks. Heat can also cause components to expand and contract, with mechanical stress causing cracks and interconnections to warp. Colder temperatures, however, are better for panels as they are closer to the optimal temperature for maximum performance. The cold temperatures reduce internal electrical resistance and actually increase the voltage output, meaning more conversion efficiency overall.
Myth Busting
Whilst you now have the knowledge to make an informed decision on your solar panel purchase, there are still some commonly shared myths about panels in winter that stop homeowners from taking the next step.
“Solar PV is pointless in the UK during winter”
As we’ve already talked about, panels still work during winter, but their output is naturally lower due to the 8 hours of sunlight we get, compared to 16 hours of sunlight in the summer months.
“You need to clear snow off your panels”
Whilst it’s important to make sure your panels are clear to allow sunlight onto them, it’s also important to stay safe. It’s rare for snow to stay on a surface for more than a few days in the UK, with snow falling or melting off panels by itself. If you are concerned about your panels, get in touch with the team at DMH Electrical and Renewables to book a solar panel service soon.
What are the best ways to maximise your panel performance during winter?
In a previous blog, we discussed some of the best ways to run your home efficiently during winter. One of the systems we advised homeowners to invest in was batteries. Battery storage works alongside your solar panels to store energy created. You can then choose the best times to use that stored energy, or sell excess back to the grid.
Systems such as the Tesla Powerwall lets your schedule charges in advance at peak times, whilst also giving you real-time data on how your system is performing.
Is it worth it? Yes!
Ultimately, we believe that solar PV isn’t just a great investment for short-term savings, but a great all-year-round solution to making your home more sustainable, even during winter.
At DMH Electrical and Renewables, we take you and your home or business on that renewables journey to solar PV, working with your budgets and space to create bespoke systems that work for you. Our team of expert installers get in touch through a discovery call to find out what your needs are, from concept to completion. Book a discovery call with us today or fill out our contact form here.
