Rooftop solar companies in New England and areas that get a lot of snow or experience cold weather all get the same questions. Is it worth installing solar panels in this area? Will they work in the winter? Will we be unable to use them in snowy weather? These are all fair questions, and our team at Sunday Energy is here to answer them. If New England weather has been holding you back from installing solar panels, we can help resolve those issues.
Rooftop solar companies operate in areas with cold weather because solar works in all weather conditions. Here’s how winter weather affects rooftop solar.
Snow Coverage
Snow will accumulate on your roof, covering your solar panels. There’s nothing you can do to stop it, and snow on top of your solar panels will block sunlight and limit their ability to generate electricity. However, once it stops snowing, you can get your solar panels back in business. Because of the angle of your roof and the smooth surface of the panels, snow will slide off, exposing at least part of the area. If it’s safe to do so, you can also manually clear the snow from your panels rather than waiting for it to melt and slide off.
When the panels are clear, snowy weather is actually better for generating electricity. On a sunny winter day, sunlight reflects off the snow, so there is more for the solar panels to absorb.
Less Daylight
Although the days are getting longer now, it still gets dark pretty early. Shorter days mean less time for solar panels to absorb sunlight. But that doesn’t mean solar panels don’t work in the winter. The sun still shines, even on overcast days, and solar panels can absorb the sunlight. As long as there’s sunlight to absorb, the solar panels can convert it into electricity.
Colder Temperatures
A surprising fact about solar panels is that they actually work better at cold temperatures. Electrical conductivity improves when it’s cold, so your solar panels will perform more efficiently in the colder months. However, there is a tipping point. The other non-conductive materials will not perform as well in extreme cold, so temperature drops aren’t all good news for rooftop solar.
Rooftop Solar Companies | Sunday Energy
Installing solar panels on your roof is easier than you think, especially when you work with Sunday Energy! Our team is dedicated to making solar power accessible to everyone, so we’ll ensure your solar energy setup meets your needs.