Does Solar Power Work In The Snow

Shorter days lower sun angle and snow.

Does solar power work in the snow.

What s working against producing solar power in minnesota. Solar panel tips for snowy climates. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Research has shown that solar can still successfully generate electricity in snowy areas and other harsh environments.

According to dan thiede with the umn extension s regional sustainable development partnerships panels can produce a little power with a light coating of snow because some light is able to come through. In fact photovoltaic pv solar panels work more efficiently when it is cold. Special units normally made out of a kind of silicon. The whiteness of snow reflects off sunlight working much like a mirror.

Solar panels are actually more efficient in cold temperatures and lose only a small amount of their yearly power production potential when covered in snow. A solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity according to live science. That s a technical way of saying that the panel s photovoltaic cells convert the energy in sunlight to electricity specifically direct current dc. This is the same principle that explains why skiers burn more on the slopes and it can help your solar panels work more efficiently.

As long as there is sunlight falling on the panels it does not matter how hot or cold it is. Many solar panel models are designed to withstand this extra weight from snow. Solar panels work in the snow in michigan people often ask if their solar panels will work in the snow. The answer is yes.

Due to the albedo effect snow can actually make solar panels produce more electricity. Before going into specifics it is important to understand how solar panels work. Light snow has little impact on solar panels because it easily slides off. You can see in the photo above that the michigan solar solutions office in riverdale michigan has some snow on the panels.

How do solar panels work. Short answer yes they do. However keeping your panels clear of snow can increase your yearly production by up to 5 3.