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Will Solar power work in the winter?

The main idea behind solar power is to use the sun’s rays to generate electric energy. This is accomplished by allowing these ray to fall on Photo Voltaic solar panels. The cells in the panels then transform the sun’s energy into usable electric current.

What happens during the winter season when we experience shorter days? The amount of sunlight falling on the panels will naturally be less. Layers of snow will regularly cover the panels, obscuring the sunlight. Furthermore, the sun’s angle is far from ideal as it is no longer so high in the sky.

Although winter days are relatively less advantageous for solar power generation and storage, you will still have power. Rest assured that your solar panels will still provide you with a good amount of power. Will solar power still be available? The answer is yes, albeit at a less efficient rate compared to seasons of clear skies and continual sunlight. You just need to take some extra steps to guarantee that the system keeps going.

Where does the power come from at night or on very cloudy days?

During normal daylight hours, when the sun is shining, the solar panels on your roof will be generating plenty of power. In fact, your panels will be producing considerably more electricity than you will use that day. The extra current, however, does not go to waste. Your home solar installation automatically feeds that unused current back into the commercial grid supplied by your utility company. This current is then automatically credited to your utility account and at night or on cloudy days when you need current, you simply draw on the ‘banked’ credit with your utility supplier. This is called Net Metering, and your installation company will explain how it is done.

Provided that you make some straight-forward preparations, you will have all the power you need. Solar panels are able to still convert light into energy despite low-light conditions prevalent during winter. Of course, there are still ways through which you can help make things more efficient in such cases.

How to keep solar power generation more efficient

It is important that the panels are properly aligned on your roof. You should contact your solar provider and ensure that they adjust the tilt of your solar panels to allow for the lower angle of the sun. There’s relatively little sun available during winter. So you need to make sure you make the most of the sunlight that you can get. Your installation company will know how to do this for you.

Wintertime maintenance

Proper preparation and maintenance can go a long way to maximizing and boosting power production. This will help tremendously when the weather is cloudy, rainy or snowing. It’s important to keep your system in peak condition during periods of lower sunlight.

Will Solar power meet all my needs?

When the days start getting shorter will solar power output still meet my needs? To make sure that it will, give you solar panel provider a call. Ask them what maintenance your system requires before winter sets in. This will definitely improve and enhance the energy output of your system.

It’s important to take care of your solar equipment during periods of extreme cold. It might be worth checking your panels overnight to make sure snow doesn’t accumulate too much. This can affect many panel setups, especially since there are metal components that are susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to extreme cold, moisture, or ice exposure.

A rapid change in temperature is also a concern, as some materials and construction of solar panels can be damaged by such quick shifts from hot to cold, or vice versa. Check for cracks or loose fixtures, as well as ice buildup.

Solar backup batteries are an additional option

It’s also necessary to check on your solar power battery if you have one. This won’t be much of a problem if the power storage is indoors. For batteries installed outside, however, make sure their containers are insulated well to withstand the cold. Some setups might be equipped with a way to deliver antifreeze, so make sure you have proper supplies for that as well.

Winter is surely a tricky time if you rely heavily on your solar energy system. It’s a good thing you have a number of ways to offset the efficiency you lose during the cold months. Don’t think twice about asking for advice from your provider—after all, solar companies have the experience and know-how where their products are concerned.

Solar power systems won’t stop providing you with energy even when winter has come, but it’s up to you to ensure the smooth operation of the entire system during a potentially critical season. Once you get through the snow as well as the icy temperatures, it won’t be long before you—and your solar panels—are able to enjoy a nice amount of sunlight again.

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