Do Solar Panels Produce Less In Winter

Solar panels need light not heat.

Do solar panels produce less in winter.

Fewer hours of daylight means less time for your panels to produce energy which then means you ll need to rely more on public utility energy. Solar thermal heats water using the heat of the sun so you would expect it to produce far less usable heat in the winter. Solar panels generally produce about 40 60 less energy during the months of december and january than they do during the months of july and august. This is because that solar panels produce less electricity when it s hot.

We looked at a typical viesmann solar thermal system and they suggest that solar thermal should provide about 60 of your hot water needs as an annual average with about 90 during the height. Solar panels actually produce electricity more efficiently in cold weather. It s your home use your own energy. And again this is the case.

Solar panels only require light not heat to continue functioning correctly. This means that solar power generation is significantly less during the winter than it is during the summer. Now is a great time to go solar. And while solar panels produce less energy due to the days being shorter and the sun being lower in the sky solar panels can still be a great way to take care of some if not all of your energy needs in the winter.

It s pretty easy to notice how much quicker the nights seem to get dark during winter months and yes that will have an effect on your solar panel system s production. In winter months solar panels will brighten your day and your home. A solar installation generates clean renewable energy year round.