If you live in Scotland and are considering installing solar panels, you are probably wondering just how effective they will be on a cloudy day.
Many people, falsely, believe that solar panel are not worth the investment in this country, due to the unpredictable weather conditions but the fact it that your panels will still produce energy even on the dingiest of grey days.
Solar panels work by absorbing energy for not only the light spectrum that we can see, but also from ones invisible to the human eye that can pass through even the thickest of clouds.
Of course, solar panels by their nature, work by harnessing the sun’s energy and do need sunlight to produce energy but you might be surprised at how light can penetrate through clouds and reach the panels on your roof.
Before installing solar panels, it is important to consider how much cloudy conditions will effective the energy that they will generate.
How much do clouds affect solar energy production?
Solar panels will still work in cloudy weather, although the precise amount of energy that will be produced in comparison to a sunny clear day will depend on the efficiency and age of the panels you have installed.
Depending on these factors, you can expect the average solar panel to drop to somewhere in the region of 10-25% of their sunny day efficiency due to cloud cover.
Admittedly, this is a significant amount, although it is far lower than most people imagine, and makes solar panels a worthwhile investment for the majority of people in cooler climates.
In fact, constant warm weather can actually damage the efficiency of solar panels just as much as clouds, with energy production falling for every degree that panels exceed 25°C.
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels harness the power of the sun by converting sunlight into direct current (DC ) and then inverting it into alternating current, the same power type that is used to power domestic homes.
On sunny days, your panels will likely produce far too much energy for you to use at the time, and any excess can either by sold back into the national grid, or stored in a home battery unit, if you have one, for use at night or on cloudy days if demand exceeds supply.
Either way, no energy will ever go to waste.
The amount that you will receive for any excess energy sold will depend on the Smart Export Guarantee tariff offered by your energy company but in most situations installing a home battery is the most cost-effective long-term option.
Solar panels when it is dark
For obvious reasons, pv panels scotland do not produce energy using sunlight when it is dark outside.
However, the electricity that has been produced during the day, can still be used at this time by installing storage technology in your home.
Most people use more electricity in the evenings than during the day when production is greatest, so this allows you to get the best of both worlds benefitting from maximum production when demand is highest.
Why get solar panels
No matter where you live there are many benefits to solar panel installation.
These include:
- Smart installation – A professional solar panel installer will analyse which areas of your rood will receive the most sunlight most often and use this information to place them in the most efficient locations on your roof.
- Clean Energy – By harnessing the power of the sun you will be able to enjoy completely free, clean energy that will not only save you a significant amount on your energy bills but will also help you to reduce your carbon footprint and do your bit for the environment.
- Off-grid living – If you are planning to live a completely self-sufficient lifestyle and rely solely on renewable energy to power your home, solar panels really are a must.
- Lower energy bills – With the cost of living in the UK constantly rising, reducing your reliance on soaring energy prices is a welcome relief. By investing in solar panels today, the impact of any energy price hikes on you in the future will be reduced.
- Increased property prices – If you ever come to sell your property, many appraisers will take the presence of solar panels into consideration and may value your home slightly higher as a result. Potential buyers will also see panels as an indication that you home is future-proof and less additional work will be required in the future.
Contact Greener Energy Group
Solar panels from Greener Energy Group are available at extremely competitive prices across Scotland, and we pride ourselves on finding the right energy solution for each customer.
Call Greener Energy Group today at 03335 77 66 99 or fill out our online form today to learn more about any of our services.