Do Solar Panels Work On Cloudy Days

Did You Know? Solar panels produce energy on cloudy days and in low-light conditions!

You might be wondering if a solar power system can produce energy on cloudy days. This article is designed to address a common misconception that clouds prevent solar panels from working.

Scroll down to read about turning sunlight into energy, ultraviolet light, power at night, and the effect of temperatures on solar panel production.

Request a FREE online analysis of how much money you could save with solar power at your location!

[contact-form-7 id=”10123″ title=”Leads Contact Form 7 – Blog”]

Turning Sunlight Into Energy

Solar panels are formally known as “photovoltaics” or “PV” for short. The name comes from the Greek “phos” meaning light and “volt” which is the unit of electro motive force. PV systems absorb photons from sunlight and convert them into electrical energy that can be used within your home.

Sunlight on cloudy days – Ultraviolet Light

If you’ve ever walked down the street on a rainy or cloudy day, and then gone out for another walk at nighttime, you know that your city doesn’t get dark just because the sky is cloudy. And just like UV light can cause sunburn on overcast days, clouds can reflect sunlight and allow it to reach the roof of your home.

Effect of Temperatures

A solar power system may also benefit from cooler temperatures that are often present on cloudy days according to solar researchers. This is because of the semiconductor electronic materials used in solar panels, which work best when temperatures aren’t too hot.

Power At Night

When you install solar panels on your home, the system gets wired into your breaker box or main electrical panel, and from there the system can provide power to anything connected to the electrical circuit. A connection is also made to your home’s power meter, and from there it can both send and receive energy from the local power grid.

This “bidirectional” connection is very similar to a standard power meter, except that it’s designed to measure electricity flow in two
directions. Since there is no sunshine at night, you’ll buy electricity from the grid, unless your installation includes batteries for nighttime
storage.

But although batteries are becoming popular thanks to the advancement of electric cars, most people do not use
battery-based solar systems. Instead, most installs use the bidirectional grid connection mentioned above.

You can learn more by reading about how solar works or visiting our solar FAQs page.

Conclusion

With everything mentioned above, it’s easy to see that yes, solar panels will definitely work on even the cloudiest of days! Going solar allows you to save money by producing your own electricity (instead of buying it from the local utility), plus it will increase the value of your home, and make a positive effect on the environment!

SAVE MONEY WITH SOLAR PANELS In Texas

Alba Energy specializes in the design, engineering and installation of exceptional quality commercial solar solutions and home solar projects across Texas. Request information about a solar panel installation for your home or business by contacting your local Alba Energy office.