Do You Need Direct Sunlight For Solar Panels To Work

Do solar panels need direct sunlight to work.

Do you need direct sunlight for solar panels to work.

A surprising answer isn t it. Heat has no effect on the production of electricity. One peak sun hour 1000 w m 2 of sunlight. Depending on where you live and the amount of sunlight you get throughout the year you may choose to either store your lights for some part of the year or strategically place them so that they receive the maximum amount of sunlight.

So while direct sunlight provides the best conditions for solar lights and panels to produce electricity the cells also work in all daylight conditions although at reduced efficiency. That means that just like on a cloudy day at the beach when you get a worse sunburn daylight is the source of solar energy. Solar panels use daylight energy to generate electricity so panels do not need direct sunlight to work. Heat isn t a factor in how much electricity pv solar panels can generate either so a cool spring day can be as productive if not more than a hot.

All solar panels will perform better in open south facing locations that get direct sunlight. For example solar panels are approximately 40 percent as effective on a cloudy day as they are on a sunny day. The matter of fact is solar panels use daylight energy to produce electricity and they do not need direct sunlight to work. Well the reason is that the photons in natural daylight get converted into electricity by solar panels.

Instead you need to add the total amount of solar irradiance received by the location. You then express that in terms of the equivalent number of hours with 1000 w m 2. Solar panels produce electricity from the photons present in natural daylight rather than from the sunlight itself so panels don t actually need to be installed in direct sunlight to work. It is photons in natural daylight which is converted by solar panel cells to produce electricity.

Amorphous panels will work best in shady or cloudy conditions but will not compete with monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels will when the sun comes out.