Do Solar Panels Work In The Winter?

As local, leading domestic and commercial electricians and solar panel installers in Devon, questions such as: “Do solar panels work in the winter?” and “Are solar panels a worthwhile investment?” are questions that we often get asked by our customers.

Being concerned about the overall investment and functionality of installed solar panels on both commercial and residential properties is a valid concern for anyone looking to optimise their energy usage. This is why we wanted to answer all of the frequently asked questions about solar panels in one easy-to-visit space.

In this article, we will be answering all of those questions that people will be asking before purchasing and installing solar panels, such as:

• Do solar panels work in the winter?
• What are solar panel batteries?
• What are the benefits of solar panels?
• Are solar panels a worthwhile investment?
• Does snow, rain or hail damage solar panels?

Do Solar Panels Work In The Winter?

In short, yes, solar panels will work in the winter. However, they do generally produce less energy compared to other seasons where there are more daylight hours and an increased amount of sunshine. Combining shorter days with a sun that is lower in the sky, your solar panels will struggle to produce the same amount of energy as they do during the height of summer.

However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t still valuable in the winter months. At Datel Electrical, as well as offering the supply and installation of solar panels, we also offer solar panel batteries.

What are solar panel batteries?

Solar panel batteries work closely with your solar panels. Any excess energy that your solar panels generate that hasn’t been used that day, can be stored in your solar panel batteries. This means that during the winter months, even if your solar panels aren’t generating as much energy as previously, you should have an excess of energy stored in your solar batteries to provide the additional energy you need.

What Are The Benefits Of Solar Panels?

Installing solar panels on your residential, industrial or commercial property, regardless of the location or sector, comes with a wide range of benefits, including:

• Reduced electricity bills – installing solar panels and generating your electricity and energy means less reliance on the national grid electricity. Resulting in reduced electricity bills
• Better for the environment – using clean renewable and sustainable energy sources is better for the environment and by using solar panels your carbon footprint will be reduced
• Increased property value – adding solar panels to your home can help to increase your property value
• Marketing benefits – adding solar panels to your business can help to improve your brand image and overall marketing presence

As well as many more benefits, which are covered in more detail in our blog posts, ‘Local Exeter solar panel installations’ and ‘Your guide to installing Exeter solar panels’.

Are Solar Panels A Worthwhile Investment?

The general outlook on solar panels remains highly positive, as they enable both households and businesses to achieve significant savings by transitioning to sustainable energy sources.

Not only is the technology behind solar panels advancing each year, resulting in more durable and efficient systems, but with rising energy costs, having access to your own source of ‘free’ energy represents a sound investment for most commercial and residential properties.

How to see if solar panels are a worthwhile investment for you

However, to decide if solar panels are a worthwhile investment, you should consider various factors, including:

• How much energy do you currently consume and will that amount look to increase in the coming years? I.e, are you planning on starting a family or hosting parties or working from home?
• How long are you planning on staying in your current property? If you’re a business, will you be looking to expand or move your business in the coming years? If you’re a homeowner, will you be looking to move to a larger or smaller house?
• Get quotes for how expensive the installation may be – knowing how much the initial installation of your solar panels will cost, compared to the potential savings you could make on energy will highlight if you were to opt for solar panels.
• The layout of your roof – before installing solar panels it’s important to see if your roof can facilitate them. Does it need any repairs, does it have enough space for the optimal amount of solar panels?

If you’re unsure about investing in solar panels, our helpful team of experts are on hand to help, offering expert help and advice.

Does Snow, Rain Or Hail Damage Solar Panels?

Solar panels have been designed and created to withstand a wide range of weather conditions, including rain, snow and hail.

Will rain damage solar panels?

Solar panels are made to be highly waterproof, and moisture or heavy rain will not damage them. In fact, and in some cases, heavy rainfall will benefit your solar panels more than harm them, helping to wash off some of the collected dirt and debris that can accumulate over time.

Will hail damage solar panels?

Solar panels are often made with either monocrystalline or polycrystalline, covered with tempered glass, a toughened safety glass, designed to protect a range of materials. So while hail stones could damage the solar panels, in most cases, the hailstones will bounce off of the tempered glass, leaving the solar panel beneath unharmed.

Please note that hail stones could potentially damage your solar panels and it’s important to check your solar panels for any sign of damage after a hail storm.

Will snow damage solar panels?

Similar to rain, snow won’t damage your solar panels, however, if your solar panels have been covered with snow, it’s important to remove the snow as quickly as possible. Not only will the snow block any sunlight from reaching the panels, but increased weight could potentially damage your solar panels more.

Get Your Free Solar Panel Quote Today

Interested in installing solar panels on your commercial or residential property? For more information, to book a free no-obligation site visit, or to get a quote, contact the team today at info@datelelectrical.co.uk.