Millions of homes across the country have solar panels installed on their roofs. In some states, new constructions are required to have solar features to boost green energy.
As solar picks up momentum, the likelihood of you considering solar panels for your property is going to pick up too. What if you’re planning on taking the leap towards solar during winter though? Does it make sense to install solar during cold months and will your panels even work?
Solar power efficacy during the winter is one of the biggest conversation starters among those that are about to go green. Below, our team breaks down key considerations related to solar in the cold to give you insight into whether it’s a good idea.
Solar Performance in Cold Weather
A feature that is common during winter months, no matter where you live, is below-average temperatures. In some areas, below average could mean below freezing.
Will your solar panels hold up in that sort of crippling cold? The answer is more than likely yes. As a matter of fact, cold weather can be kinder to solar panels than hot weather.
Hot weather negatively impacts the flow of electricity while cold weather, so long as your panels remain unobstructed, creates no risk of infrastructures overheating and creating performance issues.
Sun Exposure
It’s no secret that solar panels need sunlight to generate meaningful electricity. Even when it’s overcast out, clouds indirectly reflect sunlight to your panels which can boost your energy stores.
Still, direct sunlight is where solar finds its groove so if you’re not going to get any of that during the winter, you’ll want to have a backup power solution to rely on.
Reliability
The structural reliability of your panels during cold months will likely impress. The single caveat that some run into during winter months is heavy snow obstructing panels or wet conditions followed by extreme cold freezing them.
As long as your panels remain clean and can run through winter without spending too much time iced over, they should be able to transfer energy to whatever extent the sun is willing to provide through the season.
Installation Considerations
We love engaging a local solar company during the winter because prices tend to be lower on services. Solar demand is highest during the summer as high sunlight exposure gets people thinking about solar energy. By installing panels in the winter, you’ll take advantage of professionals needing to keep busy and the consequential deals they’ll likely cut you to fill their calendars.
Solar Panels Make Sense Year Round
Getting solar panels installed in the winter may not be as optimal as installing them during the summer. At least when it comes to seeing an immediate return on investment. Over the long run though, investing in solar when the sun isn’t out will net you lower up-front costs. It should also provide some meaningful winter energy and will certainly pick up the pace come spring.
We hope our rundown has inspired you to jump into solar, no matter the weather. If you need more insight, feel free to browse additional content on our blog.