Wondering if solar panels still generate electricity on cold, cloudy or rainy winter days?
With around one in three Australian households now using rooftop solar to power their homes, many Australians may be wondering if their solar panels still work during winter and on cloudy days. Contrary to a common misconception, solar panels are indeed capable of producing energy during colder weather as they rely on light, and not heat, to operate all year round.
RACV Solar spokesperson Landon Moss says the efficacy of solar panels during winter depends on several factors, including the angle of the panels, daylight duration, and weather conditions.
“Panels are still efficient in winter and can still generate energy during the winter months, although their efficiency may be reduced due to shorter days, and lower sunlight angles,” Moss says.
The sun sits lower in the sky during winter, affecting the way it hits the solar panels. While the overall efficiency may decrease, modern solar technologies are designed to capture and convert sunlight into energy, even under less-than-ideal conditions.
“Overall, while the effectiveness of solar panels may decrease in winter, they can still contribute to energy generation for your household,” Moss says.
Solar panels are designed to withstand a range of temperatures, so shouldn’t abruptly stop working.
“Cold weather generally doesn’t impact solar panels,” says Moss.
“Extreme cold temperatures can affect the panel efficiency, but they typically do not stop working altogether.”
In fact, extreme heat can sometimes reduce their effectiveness more than cold temperatures.
Most solar panels operate effectively in a temperature range between minus 30°C and 80°C, Moss says, meaning the mild winter temperatures experienced in Australia are unlikely to impact.
In winter, a solar system will generally produce less energy compared to summer due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun angles.
“The amount of power generated by solar panels in winter can vary depending on several factors, including the specific location, weather conditions, orientation of panels, and any shading or obstructions,” Moss says.
While it’s true that there might be a decrease in sunlight hours during winter, advancements in solar technology have mitigated this impact.
“In general, solar panels can still generate a significant amount of power during winter months, although their output may be lower compared to summer months,” he says.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) advises that if you live in an area with less hours of daylight, for example Melbourne rather than Brisbane, then you may need to consider a bigger rooftop solar system to meet your needs.
A solar battery may be effective in helping to reduce your energy costs in winter if your solar panels are generating excess energy.
When your solar panels generate more energy than you can use, the unused energy is exported to the grid. Depending on your arrangement with your energy provider, you can receive a feed-in tariff or credit on your bills, which is paid in cents per kilowatt-hour.
However, this feed-in tariff is much lower than what you would pay an energy retailer for electricity imported from the grid, says Moss.
“Excess energy generated from solar panels flows back to the grid for a set feed-in tariff, which is generally a lot lower than what you are charged by the retailer,” he says.
“Having a solar battery means excess unused energy is stored, and can be used for household consumption when the sun is not shining, such as night-time. This benefits the household by not having the need to buy power from the grid at a higher rate.”
Moss recommends batteries from a certified solar provider so you can generate, store and manage your own energy.
“Batteries also provide back-up power during grid outages, supplying energy to essential appliances or the entire home, depending on capacity and configuration.”
Batteries with a back-up function also allow the power to run during a blackout.
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