How Shade Affects Your Solar Panels Penny Powers, June 19, 2024June 19, 2024 Solar panels generate energy to offset a home’s electricity consumption, reducing its carbon footprint. These systems can also generate more energy than a home uses, providing a financial return on investment. After phosphorus gives the silicon wafers their electrical charge, copper metal conductors and wiring connect them together to form solar cells. The cells are enclosed by a protective back sheet and silver or black frames. To learn more, visit https://rooftopsolarcompany.com/. Solar panels need direct sunlight to function, and their energy production decreases when shade obscures them. Trees, buildings, power lines, and even dirt can cast shadows on solar panels and reduce the amount of electricity they produce. A solar panel system consists of silicon solar cells that convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Each cell is sandwiched between glass and a metal frame. Solar panel glass is tempered to withstand mechanical stress, and an insulative layer helps prevent heat from escaping the frame. The size of a solar panel’s array depends on the number of silicon solar cells used. Monocrystalline solar cells are made from one solid silicon crystal, while polycrystalline solar cells contain many individual shards of silicon melted together. Typically, mono cells are more efficient than poly, but they can be more expensive. NREL conducts rigorous industry-quality tests to ensure that solar panels can withstand various weather elements, including hail storms. It also tests how well a solar panel performs under extreme high and low temperatures, humidity, and solar ultraviolet radiation. The solar panel’s metal frame protects the silicon solar cells from inclement weather conditions, and its wiring elements are inserted inside the glass casing sheet. The panel’s bus wires connect each silicon solar cell in parallel to form a single, unified electrical circuit. When the solar panel catches sunlight, photons collide with the silicon atoms and release electrons, creating electricity. The electrons flow through the bus wires, which funnel them to conductive metal that leads out of the panel. Temperature The temperature of solar panels has a major impact on their efficiency. Solar energy is generated when sunlight hits semiconductor material and creates electrons that jump between a low-energy state and an excited state, reports news site Euronews. The difference in energy between these two states is what creates electricity. The hotter your solar panels are, the more these electrons bounce around. This reduces the voltage, which leads to reduced power output and efficiency. While the optimal solar panel performance temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit, solar panels are designed to operate in a wide range of temperatures. You can determine how well a specific solar panel will perform in different temperatures by looking at its temperature coefficient. This figure is usually listed along with other solar panel specifications and provides a percent reduction in energy production per degree increase in temperature. Solar panels are also affected by seasonal changes, which can alter the solar irradiance of your rooftop. This is because clouds limit the amount of sunlight that reaches the solar panel, which then reduces its temperature and energy production. Freyr Energy offers a mobile application and smarter maintenance technologies that monitor your system in real-time to prevent these issues from occurring, helping you get the most out of your solar energy system throughout its lifetime. This includes addressing temperature-induced performance drops before they become more serious. Learn more about the benefits of choosing a local solar company. Shade Shade is a major factor that impacts solar panel performance. It can occur from a variety of sources including clouds, fog, trees, and chimneys. While it’s best to install your solar system on a roof that gets optimal sunlight without any obstructions, shade is not always avoidable. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the impact of shading on your solar energy production. Partial shading of even one cell on a solar panel will flatten its power output. This is because solar panels work as a string, with each cell connected to the others in the row. So, if one panel is shaded, the entire string of panels will have their output reduced to virtually zero. Fortunately, most modern solar panels come equipped with devices called bypass diodes that enable electricity to flow around shaded cells. This means that the overall output of a solar panel is reduced, but not to a dramatic degree. For the best results, it’s important to analyze your site for potential shading issues before installing a solar system. This can be done with a simple tool like the 1 – 3 rule, where you measure the height of the object that casts a shadow over the solar array and then multiply it by three. In general, it’s best to install your solar system away from power lines and poles that are close enough to create shade over the entire array. Orientation While the type and wattage of solar panels are crucial in determining how much energy you can produce, the placement and orientation of your panels can have just as big of an impact. Because the sun moves across the sky throughout the day, it is important that your solar panels are positioned to receive sunlight at the times when you use most of your electricity. Solar panel orientation can be determined by how flat or tilted the panels are and the cardinal directions they face, such as north, south, east, or west. Solar panels should be oriented to face true south (aligned with the Earth’s axis rather than the magnetic poles, which you can find using a compass) for homes in the northern hemisphere and true north for homes in the southern hemisphere. When the solar panel’s orientation is too vertical, energy production may be limited because the sunlight must travel through more of the atmosphere and clouds to reach the panel. A horizontal orientation, on the other hand, allows for more direct radiation that can be easily converted to electricity. Orientation can also depend on the time of year. The Sun will be lower to the horizon in the winter and higher in the summer, so it may be beneficial to adjust the panel’s angle seasonally to ensure maximum energy output. A slight rotation can help your solar panels generate more power during the evening, when you typically run the most appliances and devices. Warranty When selecting a solar panel installer, it’s important to ensure the company you choose offers a comprehensive warranty. The most reputable manufacturers typically offer both a product warranty and a power or performance warranty for the equipment. Product warranties cover manufacturing faults, and power warranties guarantee a certain level of power output over the panels’ lifespan. A quality solar system can last decades, so it’s worth investing in a robust warranty that will keep you protected long after installation. It’s also worth considering the length of the warranty and whether there are any limitations or conditions that could void it. Many tier-1 solar module manufacturers offer up to 25-year product workmanship warranties. These cover any issues that might affect your solar panels’ performance, including corrosion, faulty wiring, or other damage that occurs during the installation process. In addition to product workmanship, most companies also offer 10- to 12-year parts warranties for their inverters and batteries. While the vast majority of solar panels are extremely durable, it’s important to know what issues might void your warranty. The most common issue is not sizing your system correctly and thus pushing the equipment above its rating thresholds, while using unlicensed workers to carry out repairs or maintenance can also nullify both product and performance warranties. Lastly, not properly maintaining your solar panels’ exposure to sunlight can lead to them degrading faster than normal. Maintenance Solar panels are susceptible to dirt, dust, bird droppings and other environmental residue that can hinder the absorption of sunlight, reducing energy production. This is why it’s important to clean your solar panels regularly. Typically, you can do this yourself using a mild detergent or soapy water solution, a soft brush or sponge and a hose that’s free of any abrasive materials that might damage the surface of the panels. Besides cleaning the panels, it’s also a good idea to trim trees nearby to prevent branches from shading the solar panels during winter months. It’s also recommended that you regularly inspect the panels to identify any repairs and other issues. This will allow you to address them quickly before they worsen and cause a decrease in performance. While solar panels are relatively durable, they can become damaged over time by weather, wear and tear, electrical problems, or even faulty connections. Regular maintenance is the best way to extend their lifespan and keep them working at their optimal level for as long as possible. Additionally, it’s important to note that failing to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance guidelines may void the warranty and leave you with costly repair or replacement costs. It’s therefore crucial to work with a trusted and experienced professional solar panel maintenance provider. They can help you maintain your solar system in compliance with the warranty, ensuring its optimal functionality for years to come. Solar Company batteriesEV chargerssolar companysolar installationsolar installersolar panels