Everything You Need to Know About Solar Panels and Snow

When you install solar panels on your home, there are always many things to consider. People may wonder if their solar panels will still collect energy in the snow or how positioning and performance may impact things. If you’re new to sustainable energy, there are many things you need to know about solar panels and snow that will keep things running smoothly for you.

Does Snow Prevent Energy Gathering?

One of the very first and most essential questions people ask about solar energy is how much the winter can impact their solar energy system. These are reasonable concerns, and BigBattery is here to help shed some light on this issue.

For starters, some may wonder if the colder temperatures throughout winter reduce the amount of solar energy your panels absorb. Truthfully, it’s the opposite. Since your solar panels absorb light from the sun to make energy rather than heat, they can receive just as much power in the winter as in other seasons. In fact, winter is typically more beneficial for solar energy panels since notably high temperatures in the summer may reduce their effectiveness.

As for whether or not snowfalls can impact your solar panel’s energy-gathering capabilities, the answer is yes. Large, heavy amounts of snow building up on your panels and blocking the sunlight can certainly reduce the amount of solar energy your panels get from the light of the sun. However, this reduction only occurs in extreme situations and should not negatively impact your daily energy use. Due to the physical construction of snow, most snowstorms halt your energy collection less than a heavy rainstorm.

So long as your home has a reliable battery pack and a heavy buildup of snow does not remain on top of all of your panels for several days, you shouldn’t notice any significant issues with your power supply and storage. At most, you may experience a minor drop in the amount of energy that goes into your battery during particularly rough snowy days.

How Winter Affects Your Battery

Because solar panels don’t absorb light to convert it into energy constantly, your system needs a battery to store the energy you collect for later use. Most modern systems use lithium-ion batteries, and it’s a good idea to create your system so that your battery is protected but easily accessible. Fortunately, lithium batteries have a wide temperature range that protects them from suffering damage in the winter. Still, it may be a good idea to insulate your battery casing, depending on how cold it gets where you live.

While many lithium batteries can withstand temperatures down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit without much of an issue, taking precautions may still be a good idea. We recommend storing your batteries in a place that’s at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit or above and charging them at above 32 degrees.

Depending on where you store your batteries, it may be a good idea to provide proper insulation and occasionally remove snow from around their housing. That will ensure things stay warmer and function properly throughout the colder season.

Solar Panel Positioning

An important thing you need to know about solar panels and snow is how vital proper positioning is to keeping your panels clear of snow buildup during the winter. Many solar panel systems have them up on the roof, which provides ample space and generally provides an unobstructed view of the sun.

One of the most noteworthy advantages of having your solar panels on the roof like this is that many roofs are at an angle. Earlier, we discussed how the main way your panels may lose some functionality is after a larger pile of snow builds up on top of it, blocking the sun’s rays.

Part of proper solar panel positioning is to either use the natural slope of your roof or position your panels in a way that snow will slide off of them rather than accumulate. You may not be able to create a system where your panels get optimum sunlight and completely prevent snow from stacking on top of them, but in most situations, any snow should slide off automatically in a day or two if the angle is right. Many solar panel manufacturers work to create panels with some natural resistance against the snow.

If your roof doesn’t have a natural angle, it may be in your best interest to create a slope with the panels themselves. We suggest ensuring that any snow that slides off them falls off the roof so that it doesn’t develop larger piles that may block your panels anyway.