Snow looks beautiful when it covers your ground or rooftop. But when it accumulates on your solar panels, it may lead to several challenges. Many US and worldwide homeowners wonder whether their solar power system will stop working in snowfall. Well, sometimes, it can happen, but not always.
In this article, you will learn how snow on solar panels affects their efficiency or power output. It also talks about how snow reduces the solar panel efficiency, factors affecting the impact of snow on the panels, and more. You will also learn to manage solar panels and snow intelligently.
The Impact of Snow on Solar Panels
When snow covers your solar panels, sunlight can’t reach the photovoltaic cells. As a result, panels cannot generate power without light. It causes a temporary decline in the energy output of your solar power system.
Even if your panels are partially covered with snow, it may lead to a significant loss in power generation. The primary reason is that when snow covers one PV cell, the whole string may stop working. However, a thin layer of snow on solar panels may not have a noticeable impact.
The impact of snow on your panels mainly depends on various factors, such as the type of panels installed, the thickness of the snow, and how long the snow stays on your panels. The best thing associated with snow is that it usually causes a short-term power loss.
More dense or thicker snow may lead to more power losses than a thin snow layer. Similarly, snow load may badly affect low-quality solar panels. Moreover, the longer the snow stays on your panels, the more severe its impact will be.
How Does Snow Reduce Solar Panel Efficiency?
Physical obstruction is the main factor that allows snow to reduce your panel’s efficiency. When snow blankets your solar panels, sunlight can’t penetrate through it, preventing photovoltaic cells from producing power. Whether the snow on solar panels is dense or light, it can diffuse and scatter sunlight, resulting in reduced overall panel efficiency.
Uneven shading is another factor that helps snow reduce your solar panels’ performance or efficiency. When snow only partially covers a panel, it can cause a drastic drop in energy production—even if sections remain clear. This is because modern solar systems are often connected in series, where the performance of the entire string is limited by its weakest, or in this case, shaded link.
However, these winter challenges can be effectively overcome. Renogy ShadowFlux Anti-Shading N-Type Solar Panel are specifically engineered to guarantee high efficiency even under snowy conditions. The advanced anti-shading technology ensures that if one section of the panel is covered, the rest continue to operate independently at peak performance. It means you can generate significant power throughout the winter, turning a season of obstacles into a reliable energy opportunity.
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Factors That Influence Snow Impact on Solar Panels
Snow may have different effects on different solar electric systems. The following factors will help you determine how snow will affect the performance of your solar setup.
1. Tilt Angle
If your solar panels are installed at a steeper angle, the Earth’s gravity will help snow runoff naturally. Panels installed at a tilt angle of 35 degrees Celsius or higher will clear snow more quickly than flatter installations.
2. Panel Material
Modern solar panels are built with high-quality materials. Generally, they come with hydrophobic or anti-reflective coatings to prevent snow buildup. When the sun shines and warms the panels’ surfaces, these coatings remove snow in no time.
3. Temperature
Colder temperatures are better for solar panels (as long as they are exposed to direct and diffused sunlight) to operate at their maximum efficiency, as they reduce the internal resistance of all electrical components, stepping up the overall voltage output. Accumulated snow may delay this benefit.
4. Location
Solar panels installed in open, sunny areas remove snow faster than the panels installed under the shade of buildings or trees. It clearly indicates the importance of location when installing solar panels, as the exposure varies from one location to another. If you live in a sunny area where panels receive enough direct sunlight, you will experience less downtime, as the snow melts quickly.
5. Wind Patterns
Wind can speed up or slow down the snow removal process. This process becomes even faster when paired with proper tilt. Strong winds can clear solar panels’ snow, but heavy snowfall in blizzards can pile it up again.
Potential Risks of Heavy Snow for Solar Panels
Though occasional snowfall is not a serious concern, heavy snow may lead to the following risks.
1. Structural Stress
Heavy snow accumulated on the solar panels adds extra weight to the mounting systems. It may develop cracks on your panels over time. Older installations are more prone to this problem. So, don’t allow heavy snow to stay on panels for long hours.
2. Ice Dams
They are created along the solar panel edges due to melting and refreezing cycles. It blocks the normal flow of melted water. This trapped water may seep beneath roofing materials, panel frames, or mounting rails, resulting in potential roof leaks, damage, or corrosion.
3. Repeated Freeze-Thaw Cycles
It is common for snow to melt in the daytime and refreeze at night in winter. This can gradually damage wiring and seals, badly affecting the long-term reliability of your solar power system. Hilly areas or the northern US experience frequent freeze-thaw cycles. The corrosion of brackets and metal mounts is more common in these regions.
The Positive Side of Snow on Solar Panels
Now that you are familiar with the risks of heavy snowfall, it is time to learn how snow can help your panels perform well.
1. Reflective Boost from the Roof/Ground
When fresh, white snow covers the ground or roof, it reflects sunlight and makes it reach the bottom surface of the panels. As a result, a solar panel captures more light only if its top surface is clean. This reflective effect gives a slight boost to the overall energy output, especially for dual-faced (bifacial) panels, as they capture sunlight from both sides.
2. Cold Efficiency Boost
Once snow slides off the panels and sunlight falls on them directly, they start performing more efficiently in winter. This is another positive impact of snow on solar panels, helping them produce more electricity in winter than in summer.
3. Natural Self-Cleaning
When solar panels snow melts and runoff, it carries away leaves, debris, pollen, dust, and other similar things, offering automatic panel cleaning. It eliminates the need for manual cleaning during the snowy season. Moreover, the panels operate more efficiently due to this automatic rinsing effect.
How to Manage Snow on Solar Panels Smartly?
Climbing up the roof and removing snow on solar panels can be risky. Therefore, ensure to take smart and safer preventive measures, as given below.
1. Safe Removal
A soft, extendable snow rake is a recommended tool to brush off snow on solar panels. Don’t use sharp-edged metal tools, as they may damage the panel’s glass or develop scratches. Similarly, avoid using hot water to prevent issues like cracking and thermal shocks.
2. Optimal Tilt Angle
Make sure your panels are adjusted to a steeper angle, especially during the snow season. It enables snow to be removed naturally. If you live in Valdez, Alaska, (the snowiest city in the United States), and aim to install a new home solar system, don’t forget to set a proper tilt angle for easy snow removal.
3. Anti-Snow Coatings
To make your solar panels last longer and perform well in snowy winters, apply hydrophobic coatings. These coatings repel snow, water, and dirt, making solar panel cleaning and maintenance easier than ever. At the same time, they increase the solar panel output.
4. Self-Heating Panels
Some modern solar panels come with built-in self-heating functionality that warm panel surfaces gently to remove snow. Some panels use power from the utility grid to warm them up and prevent snow buildup.
5. Heating Cables
Roof-mounted heating cables (de-icing cables or heat trace cables) can easily melt snow around your solar panels, ensuring ice does not build up and water drains more quickly. These cables are ideal snow removal tools in areas that experience long, harsh winters.
Final Words
Snow on solar panels may cause a temporary drop in the power output when you use high-quality panels, durable materials, and follow the best installation practices. Modern panels like the Renogy ShadowFlux perform best in snowy winters.
FAQs
Do I need a professional to remove snow from solar panels?
Not always. You can use a soft-bristled brush or snow rake to remove snow by yourself. If heavy snow builds up, you can consider hiring a professional.
Are solar panels worth it in snowy areas?
Yes, investing in solar panels in snowy regions is a wise choice.
Should I turn off my solar system when it snows?
No, you don’t need to turn off your system during snowfall. Modern inverters assess conditions and turn off the system automatically if required.
