Do solar panels need electricity to work

In 1976, the first amorphous silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells were produced, offering a meagre energy conversion rate of 1.1%; 20 years later, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland achieved a conversion rate of 11% using a photo-electrochemical process. Another 20 years later, the average conversion rate of commercial solar panels is about 20-23%, although the University of South Wales in Australia reached a world record in 2016, improving the rate to 34.5% by using a prism to maximize energy extraction from the sun.

As photovoltaic solar panels have become better at converting energy from the sun into electricity and their costs are going down, they are becoming a more common investment for businesses and individuals. Not only is it green energy, but it reduces energy bills and you can even make money reselling your surplus to your electricity provider.

However, there are still concerns about how efficient those systems are when climatic conditions are less than optimum. Will they work on cloudy days? How about if your roof gets shaded during the day?

What if my solar panels can’t be installed in direct sunlight?

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. 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 Summer day.

It is true that direct sunlight provides optimum conditions for solar systems but you will still get significant benefits from solar electricity even if your property doesn’t offer the perfect environment.

Does shade affect PV solar panels? Since PV panels use daylight to produce electricity, they will indeed be affected by shade, but they are increasingly efficient and will still produce some energy, depending on how much shade covers them.

Some designs and components making up solar panel installations will have a Christmas Tree light effect - where if one panel drops in performance, others will also follow suit. Other technologies and designs available will provide compensation to a shaded panel by managing other panels to counter the shade effect. Another option is to use Optimisers and Microinverters, which will assist where shading may be an issue.

So, in conclusion, although solar panels can cope with shade, it is best to look for a site with as little of it as possible and seek expert advice on your design.

How about clouds?

Nowadays, solar panels include various concentrators which use lenses and mirrors to maximise any light reaching their PV cells. This means that, on cloudy days, your solar system will still be able to produce electricity. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Energy has shown that production of electricity by large solar panels on cloudy days fluctuated less than in small panels, so the size of the panels used for your installation is something to keep in mind.

Germany isn’t known for its particularly sunny weather and has many cloudy days. Yet, it is the world’s leader in solar energy use; evidence that, even with a reduced productivity, solar panels are worth the investment, both for individuals and businesses.

In conclusion, although solar panels have become more efficient at dealing with various conditions, they are still affected by anything that reduces the reception of daylight. So if your roof or garden has a less-than-ideal environment for solar energy production, or you live in an area that is prone to bad weather, you can still benefit from a solar system.

If you are considering having solar panels installed and need friendly, expert advice, contact Harissons Energy on 0800 00 33 54, or through our online form. We offer a free site visit from a Harrisons Energy expert and a range of energy solutions including solar panels, heat pumps, ventilation systems and insulation – everything you need to keep you comfortable in a healthy and green home.

SOLAR AND POWER OUTAGES

During major power outages or shortly afterwards, Solar Energy World’s phones ring more than usual. Homeowners want to know if they will be immune from power outages if they go solar.  The answer depends upon what type of solar system they decide to purchase or lease and whether or not they have a solar battery storage unit as well as solar panels.

If you have solar panels installed on your roof or property they will continue to generate electricity during power outages, as they do every day because the panels still absorb sunlight and solar energy. However, if your system is grid-tied, and you do not have a solar battery, you will not be able to use that energy to run your home during a power outage because you solar system will automatically shut off for safety reasons.

However, if you also have a battery backup system, you won’t have to worry about that.

Solar Battery Keeps Your Electricity Going

This is how excess electricity is stored, and it is how a home that may not be 100% powered by solar panels maintains power. Being connected to the grid means that the power supplied by the solar panels on your home flows back into the electrical grid.

Power outages are usually due to a disruption somewhere between the electricity supplier and homeowners. The power plant may still be fully capable of producing electricity, but there is a breach in the system (such as a broken power line) that prevents the supply from reaching the consumer in that service area. Solar powered homes that are connected to the grid contribute to the production of electricity, but are not immune to blackouts that affect the entire community.

The only way to reduce your risk of suffering through a blackout is to store the solar power your system generates on-site. Doing so requires the installation of a solar battery backup system. This can add to the cost of going solar, but it does mean that your home will continue to run on electricity even when the rest of the neighborhood cannot. 

Solar Energy World Equipment is Battery-Ready to end Power Outages

If you are interested in learning if your home is solar-eligible, we can help you. Solar Energy World offers a variety of Best-in-class solar energy storage brands including Tesla, Enphase and SolarEdge with solar panel installation so you never have to worry about power outages again.

How much does it cost to add battery storage to a solar system? Our solar battery storage system pricing varies depending upon how much power you would like available to you when the grid goes down, the type of solar panel brand you purchase or lease, the size of your solar system and several other factors.  When you schedule a free solar evaluation with us, it includes a detailed cost benefit analysis so you can decide if adding storage to your installation would make economic sense for you.

Should you wait to go solar if you are not ready to get our solar battery backup?

There really is no good reason to wait. You can start saving money right now, without battery backup. Solar Energy World has thousands of customers without solar battery back-up and they still save 20-100% on their electricity.

Homeowners who own their solar systems are  generating extra income and making profits from the excess energy their system produces. Typical ROI is 125% in 5 years and just keeps going up after that.  Homeowners who choose our RateGuardian(TM) Solar PPA, pay $0 for solar panels and installation to lock in an electricity rate that is lower than their utility. The longer you wait to go solar, the more money you give away to your utility company with no hope of ROI or savings since never-ending utility rate hikes are a fact of life.

To find out if you qualify for solar, please fill out the form below:

Do you still need power if you have solar panels?

Can solar panel work alone?

What does solar power require to work?