What Are The Best Weather Conditions For A Solar Panel?

What are the best weather conditions for a solar panel?

The optimal weather conditions for a solar panel to function at peak efficiency are quite specific and there are several influences on efficiency and energy harvesting.

Skies

Clear, sunny skies are an absolute necessity because solar panels rely on exposure to sunlight to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Any cloud cover or atmospheric haze will reduce the intensity of the sunlight reaching the panel's surface and reduce its power output.

Air temperature

Low ambient temperatures in the range of 0-25°C are ideal because, contrary to what you might think, solar panels are actually more efficient at low temperatures. At elevated temperatures the electrons in the semiconductors used in the photovoltaic cells move more quickly, have increased resistance and lower conductivity, whereas in the colder temperatures the electrons move more slowly and become more ordered, so have less resistance and better conductivity.

Panel temperature

The sun beating down on the panel's surface can cause the internal temperature to rise, so the panel efficiency can drop. This can be counteracted by having airflow over the panel to shed some of this heat, so on hot days a breeze is ideal to help cool the panel and increase efficiency. This is also where rigid framed panels have a slight advantage over semi-flexible types because they sit away from the mounting surface and air can flow beneath them, whereas semi-flexible types are bonded directly to the mounting surface so will absorb heat from it.

Angle of the sun to the panel

Lastly, whilst not strictly related to the weather, the sun's position in the sky relative to the panel has a big impact on the amount of energy harvested. Ideally the sun's rays should be perpendicular to the panel's surface for maximum output (this angle is called the 'angle of incidence'). Obviously your location, time of day, and the season will impact the sun's position in the sky, so for fixed panels there's not much you can do about the angle of incidence, however with portable panels you can adjust their position during the day to try to keep them facing directly towards the sun.

In summary then, the perfect weather for solar panel performance is cold, sunny conditions with the panel facing directly towards the sun. This will offer maximum panel efficiency and greatest solar harvest.

We hope that this article was helpful. If you need any more information, please click here to view our full, comprehensive Solar Power Guide.