The efficiency of solar panels is one of the major factors, as it decides how well your panels will perform and how long they will last. However, it is also true that no matter how high-quality solar panels you get, their efficiency will be affected by different weather conditions. As Pakistan is a country known for different weather conditions, it is important to understand how various weather conditions affect the efficiency of your solar panels.
So, let’s find out how winters, summers, rainy days, or cloudy days affect the efficiency of your solar panels. This detailed insight will help you better maintain your solar panels and overall systems in any weather condition.
Understanding the temperature coefficients of solar panels
When you buy solar panels, the temperature coefficient is another crucial factor that you need to look at. Solar panels have a temperature coefficient, which basically determines how much efficiency drop the panel will have for each degree below or above the optimal temperature. For instance, Doart solar panels have a wide temperature coefficient of -40~+85℃.
It means the panel will work perfectly in this temperature range, but if temperature increases above 85° or decreases below -40°, then there can be a drop in panel efficiency. Like this, every solar panel comes with temperature coefficients; therefore, it is important to understand how different weather conditions affect the performance of your solar panels.
1- Extreme Heat/High Temperature
There is a wide misconception that higher the temperature, higher will be the efficiency of solar panels because solar panels operate because of solar energy. However, it is not true. Solar panels are dependent on sunlight for energy production, but when the temperature becomes extremely high, it can negatively affect the panels. High temperatures can cause the semiconductor materials within the panels to become less efficient at conducting electricity.
As we mentioned earlier, as the temperature increases beyond the panel’s tolerance level, it directly affects its efficiency. Therefore, if you reside in a hot region of Pakistan where temperature increases significantly during summers, it is recommended to get solar panels with high temperature coefficients so they continue to perform well even in harsh summer conditions.
2- Cold Temperature/Winters
Like extreme heat affects the performance of solar panels, cold temperatures also have a similar effect. Considering Pakistan also experiences harsh winters, especially in northern areas, which even experience heavy hail storms and snowfall, it is important to understand the effect of cold temperatures too. During extreme cold conditions, you and your family are protected inside, but your solar panels are fully exposed, and they have to endure all those varying conditions. The panel’s efficiency can drop as the temperature drops below a set level, but at the same time, conditions like hail storms and snow can be a threat to the structural integrity of your panels.
Therefore, it is also important to get solar panels that come with robust structures and can endure such harsh conditions. However, it is important to note that you must not assume that your solar panels will stop generating energy in winters because they still perform very well even in winters. Even solar panels are reported to perform better in winters as low temperatures in winters can boost their performance by preventing overheating.
3- Cloudy Weather
The temperatures we discussed above are quite generalized, just summers and winters. To make things easier to understand for you, here is an overview of how cloudy weather affects your panels’ performance. There can be different weather conditions, such as partial cloudy or fully cloudy, so let’s understand how it will affect your solar panels’ performance. Cloudy weather used to decrease the output of solar panels because of less sunlight reaching the panels. However, with the latest innovations in solar technology, such as TOPCon technology, solar panels can even provide maximum production during cloudy weather.
There’s another interesting relation between cloudy weather and solar energy. If fluffy clouds pass over the sun, their wispy edge can actually magnify the sunbeam, which ultimately increases the performance of the solar panel, and it is known as the “edge of cloud” effect. So, cloudy weather can not only reduce but can also increase the output of your system.
4- Heavy Rain
Most people are scared of rainfall on their solar panels. It can lower your panels’ energy production for a short time because of blockage of sunlight, but it doesn’t reduce the efficiency of your system. Besides, rain is actually considered good for solar panels as it clears any dust and debris on the panel that could have been negatively affecting its performance. It will save you from cleaning your solar panels, but it is better to not only rely on rain for panels’ cleaning.
If you want your solar system to perform well even in heavy rainfall seasons, then opt for the latest technology solar panels like Doart panels that do not derail their output or efficiency and even perform well in rainy seasons.
Bottom Line
So, this is how different weather conditions affect the performance of your solar panels. Every solar panel comes with a different temperature coefficient, so the range in which a solar panel can perform well without derailing its efficiency will vary. However, at your end, what you can do is invest in solar panels that come with high temperature coefficients, robust structures, and the latest technology so they can perform well in any weather condition.