How Hot Air Affects Your Solar Panels!

Sacramento CA

Description

Wonder why this not advertised when you buy solar panels? Common sense might indicate that since solar panels rely on sunlight to function, warmer air would help solar panels run more efficiently or with more power, but that’s not the case. Although solar panels use sunlight to produce energy, they do not require heat in any way. In fact, solar panels may run about 10 to 25 percent less efficient on warm, dry days reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The hotter the ambient air becomes, the less efficient your solar panels will be. When temperatures reach triple digits, most panels will start to lose about one percent of peak output for every additional degree the temperature increases. Homeowners who experience high temperatures during the summer can understand how their panels will respond by checking the temperature coefficient of their solar panel system.