Purchasing solar panels has the same goal for everyone: maximum output to reduce energy costs and ultimately save on utility bills. However, the output of your solar panels is not the same every month. This depends, among other things, on weather conditions, which can vary greatly from season to season.
We get more and more questions about solar panel output in the fall and winter. In this article you will find the answer.
Light is essential
Actually, solar panels work very simply: they convert sunlight into electricity. So light is essential to get the most out of your solar panels. The more light they capture, the better.
Currently, we are in the fall season. Still with pleasant temperatures and a fair amount of sunshine hours. Ideal weather for your solar panels. But the more we move toward winter, the shorter and colder the days get. If we can hold on to the sunny weather for a while longer, it will be good for the yield. Especially the combination of colder and sunny weather is perfect. This is because the solar cells that make up the panels conduct electricity better at lower temperatures. As a result, they work better.
Generating energy all year round
That the yield in the fall and winter months is less than the rest of the year makes sense. But because of sunlight, your panels just keep generating energy. And that’s what matters. Exactly how much your solar panels generate depends on other factors besides seasonality. Such as roof position and shade. Most of them face south, but solar panels facing west can also be interesting. Read why here.
We find that many people do not want to buy their solar panels until spring. Of course, everyone is free to do so, but solar panels generate energy all year round. In fact, it is never too early or too late for solar panels. In spring, of course, solar panels generate the most energy. The sun is high then, there are many hours of sunshine and it is still nice and cool. If you choose to have solar panels installed in the winter, you will be ready in time to benefit from them. We say: just do it!
The influence of temperatures
Many people think that high(er) temperatures are better for yield. On the contrary, for solar panel yield, the temperature of the panel is important, not the outside temperature. On a hot summer day, a panel can get up to 65 degrees. And you guessed it: that actually reduces the yield!
But then, what is the ideal outdoor temperature for your solar panels? The answer is 25 degrees. If it’s warmer, each degree equals 0.5% less power. However, hot summer days are offset by the amount of sunlight hours. This makes the loss over a longer time marginal.
Revenue per month
In summary, the output of your solar panels varies throughout the year. In May, June and July, the installation produces the most output due to the combination of sunny and cool weather. Below is an image as an example of how much power the solar panels generate per month. And to the question “Is it smart to wait until spring to buy solar panels? Well, not really. The time between winter and spring is an ideal time. That way, you can catch the months with the highest yield right away.
