Despite the growth in solar power, many homeowners are still unsure about how solar panels are affected by the unreliable British weather.
David Draper, CEO of Wickes Solar, says: “There are plenty of myths around solar and as the clocks go back to signal the end of British Summer Time, some people may wonder how solar panels actually work through the winter.
“The key thing to remember is that solar is designed to work with available daylight all year round. Although output predictably decreases in the winter compared to summer, panels remain active and continue to generate electricity.”
To help people understand how solar works through the darker months, Wickes is clearing up some of the most common misconceptions about the technology.
Myth: The clocks going back means solar panels stop being worthwhile
With nearly one in five (18%*) believing that low sunlight is the factor that has the greatest negative impact on solar panels, the end of British Summer Time is a timely reminder that shorter days don’t mean solar panels stop working.
The practice of clocks changing is designed to better align waking hours with sunlight hours. It doesn’t fundamentally change the amount of sunlight available for solar panels to work.
David explains: “It’s easy to assume that fewer daylight hours in autumn and winter means solar panels will stop being effective. While fewer daylight hours means less energy is generated over the course of a winter day, solar doesn’t stop working during these shorter days.”
For homeowners with battery storage, excess energy generated during daylight hours can be stored and used later when the sun isn’t shining. A solar monitoring system can also help homeowners understand how to make better use of the electricity they produce.
Myth: Solar power only works when it’s hot and sunny
One of the biggest misconceptions about solar panels is that they need clear blue skies to generate electricity. Solar panels generate electricity from available daylight, even when skies are cloudy – although output will generally be lower than on a bright, sunny day.
David says: “Solar panels don’t need uninterrupted sunshine to generate electricity, they generate power whenever there is daylight, which is why a system still produces energy on a cloudy day. While bright sunshine produces a significantly higher output, daylight ensures your panels keep generating power throughout the day.”
Myth: Summer heat is what makes panels produce more electricity.
Solar panels generate electricity from light, not heat.
David says: “You don’t need a heatwave to benefit from solar panels. Although longer summer days typically mean more electricity is generated overall, panels can still produce power in cooler weather. The key is the amount of daylight available, not how high the temperature climbs.”
Myth: Solar panels must face south
The belief that a roof should face directly south to benefit from solar is another common misconception, with nearly one in six (16%*) homeowners believing that a house not facing south could be problematic.
Fortunately, south-facing isn’t the only way.
David says: “South-facing solar panels do get the strongest rays of sunlight, but that doesn’t mean they only work on south-facing roofs. Panels will always produce electricity as long as there’s daylight. If solar panels face southeast or southwest, they’ll still be functioning at almost full efficiency.”***
A professional assessment should look at the whole picture, including the individual property, roof pitch and level of shade.
Wickes’ goal is to help property owners become more energy independent by reducing their reliance on the UK grid. Wickes Solar provides quality solar panel installations at competitive prices.
For more information and a free solar panel quote, head to Wickes Solar, or for more quick and easy energy-saving solutions, explore the interactive Wickes Energy Efficient Home.
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