Solar energy is quickly becoming the future of power. They’re becoming more affordable and easy to install every year!
But making the switch isn’t always easy. For many, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered before they lock-in.
One of the most common questions is, do solar panels work on cloudy days? And what about at night? If these questions are keeping you away from solar power, keep on reading.
Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?
The short answer to your questions is yes, solar panels work on cloudy days. But they don’t work as well as on sunny days.
The average solar panel works about 25% as well on cloudy days as it does on sunny days. The sun still manages to get through the clouds, but not with as much strength.
Some higher-end solar panels will still work with up to 80% power on cloudy days. Of course, this depends on how much cloud coverage there is. The more clouds, the less sun that gets through to your panels.
A few clouds might actually benefit your solar panels. Most solar panels see their voltage decrease in 25-degrees Celcius heat and over. This is why solar panels work so well in San Francisco, where there are clouds a lot of the time.
Do Solar Panels Work at Night?
Solar panels cannot take in energy at night. The sun is the only source of solar energy, so without it, your panels won’t work.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll be powerless at night.
Solar energy uses what’s called net metering to supply you with power at all times. With solar panels, you usually end up producing excess power. This power is sold back to the grid.
Your home remains hooked to the grid, even with solar panels. At night, you’re able to use this excess energy to power your home. So while you’re not creating energy at night, you’re still able to use it for free.
You can even make money this way!
Some solar panel systems also straight-up store energy during the day. They take a percentage of the power produced and save it for cloudy days, or for use at night. That means you’ve got power at all times of the day.
Either way, you don’t have to worry about running out of power at night. You just won’t be producing power at night.
Use Solar Energy at All Times
With solar panels, you’ll have access to green, efficient energy at all times. Knowing this, it just gives you one more reason to make that switch over to solar. So what are you waiting for?
If you’re looking to make the switch to solar, see what we can do for you. Contact us with any comments or questions.
