Solar panels are one of the most critical developments in modern energy production. When industries and businesses switch to solar, the installation often involves huge investments. And with the enormous investment, comes several doubts and questions related to the solar installation from industrialists and business owners.
Do you, as a business owner, often wonder what happens to the solar output on a cloudy day? If yes, then you are certainly not the only one. To answer your question – Yes, the solar panels do work on cloudy days. They just do not work as effectively as they do on a sunny day but they do function.
Moreover, contrary to what solar critics say, cities with cloudy and rainy climates are still the most popular places for solar panel installations. The indicative factor for the massive adoption is the cost of electricity, not the amount of electricity. Most cities are not sunny throughout the year, yet they opt for it, as it saves them money on electricity bills. Famous cloudy cities with hills have a solar panel system because of the long summer days and mild temperature – an ideal condition for maximum solar production.
Do cloudy days affect solar output?
The exact amount of energy generation depends on the factors like – density of clouds and quality of solar panels. Some panels work efficiently in diffused and reflected light, meaning they can capture a broad range of the solar spectrum – the red and the blue wavelengths. It helps them generate more energy output even on overcast days. As per the trusted resource, solar panels can still operate at 80% of their maximum output. It takes a number of a few dense clouds to completely cover the sun and block the rays. And if you have noticed, you can still get sunburned in cloudy days or partly sunny days, which indicates that the clouds can still get penetrated by the immense amount of solar radiations.
Edge of cloud effect – A unique phenomenon
There is an unusual phenomenon called the edge of the effect which suggests that the solar panels produce more electricity than they do on the usual sunny days. It happens when the solar radiations pass over the edge of clouds, magnifying its capacity and power. As sunlight gets magnified through the process of refraction when the sun is emerging from clouds cover or hidden behind them. The intense light causes the panels to generate more energy and dramatically boost the solar output. This phenomenon balances out the losses during full cloud days. So, a few cloudy days are not as critical as the sum total of sunshine over the year.
What does a panel use to generate electricity?
The key requirement of solar production is daylight, not specifically the sunlight. Photovoltaic panels use direct or indirect sunlight to generate power. Panels are made of small units called solar cells – the cells work by gathering or absorbing photons, which then gets converted into electricity. The power they produce is called photovoltaic energy, it translates into light electricity. This energy then gets transmitted to the solar inverter and after that gets converted to AC – which is used to run the majority of the appliances. The energy they absorb comes from not just the visible light spectrum, but also from the range of wavelengths – many of them are capable of penetrating through the cloud cover.
Other ways to cope up with the occasional drop
Cloudy days cause only 10-25% drop in efficiency as compared to the bright sunny days. The panels will not ensure peak efficiency as they do on sunny days, but clouds will not hamper the solar harvest as much as you think. You can make up for the losses and cover the difference, with solar storage like net metering and battery systems. This will ensure complete peace of mind and make your solar panel system all-weather ready.
With net metering, you can maintain a connection to your local electricity grid and draw energy from city power whenever your site needs. Additionally, the battery system can be integrated into your solar panel array. As the panels generate electricity, the unused energy charges the battery, which your site can utilize later when the energy output is low.
Wrapping it up
To summarize, cloud cover should not be a matter of concern while investing in solar as they cause an occasional drop and last for a brief amount of time. Fortunately, there are solar panel manufacturers like Novergy which help you combat the issue with its high-efficiency products. Our solar panels with the cutting-edge efficiency up to 21% can withstand any weather conditions. The panels use high-grade raw materials to capture a broader ray of sunlight and are manufactured under stringent quality standards. They generate more energy on a cloudy day than any counterparts available in the market.
Our twin-cell panels have spectacular shade tolerance and come with a sturdy design to resist partial shadow and outcast situations. Our solar panels come with Antireflective coatings (ARC) on the front glass to help absorb more solar radiation and improve the light transmittance. Behind the solar panel is a waterproof and dustproof IP67 junction box. The junction box has integrated bypass diodes to reduce the effect of shading or dust.
Our solar panel has strong mechanical strength and is certified to withstand high wind loads and snow loads while being extremely responsive in low light conditions capturing more sunlight in cloudy conditions ensuring better power generation. This results in greater output from electrons making it feasible for unpredictable weather circumstances. These solar panels are backed by a 25 years linear warranty resulting in a more stable performance assurance and ensuring complete peace of mind for the customer.
Visit novergysolar.com and switch to solar now!