Solar Panels Work In Snow

Sunshot is exploring other ways to help pv panels withstand the elements of winter through our support of the duramat consortium led by the national renewable energy laboratory.

Solar panels work in snow.

A common myth is that solar panels do not work during winter. Winter will only hurt solar production if the panels are covered with snow. In a heavy snow solar panels will not receive enough sunlight to operate and the system is not likely to turn on or produce any energy on those days. The white snow can also reflect light and help improve pv performance.

During a light snowfall sunlight can still get to the solar panels and produce energy. Duramat researchers are investigating how a variety of materials used in the packaging and. Written by troy bracke december 2017 email. What s working against producing solar power in minnesota.

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. That s because any dirt on the glass will bond with the snow washing it away when the sun melts it off. The anti soiling properties of snow inherently make solar panels cleaner and able to reach higher efficiencies. Solar panels are designed to attract the sun s rays and trap them.

However snow typically melts off of solar panels quicker than it melts off of an asphalt roof. Shorter days lower sun angle and snow. So the bottom line is that solar panels do work in the snow given the right conditions. The dark solar panels attract heat and help in melting the snow.

So even a glimmer of sunlight can cause the solar panels to start warming up and hence hasten the melting of snow around it. He has been in the industry since 2015.