Solar panels are one of the finest sources for getting a consistent power supply for free. As they generate electricity from sunlight, people usually think that they can only produce power when installed in sunny areas.
This is what makes Americans think about whether investing in solar panels will be worth it in their regions, because their winters are usually snowy. It is a fact that snow affects the performance of solar panels, but the impact is less than we think.
No matter the impact of snow on panels, many people often ask about how to clean them if they are covered with snow. This guide lists proven solar panel snow removal methods to keep them performing well throughout the year.
How Does Snow Affect Solar Panel Performance?
Solar power reduces your reliance on the electrical grid and lowers your utility bills, even in a snowy season. Interestingly, a light dusting of snow on your solar panels will not really affect the overall power production. However, this is not the case with the abundance of snow.
A blizzard or heavy snowfall can completely cover your solar panels and stop sunlight from reaching their surfaces. When snow covers the complete surface of your panels, it significantly reduces the overall efficiency of your solar panel system, resulting in less power generation.Moreover, heavy snow adds more weight to the mounting structures and panels, reducing their power efficiency. Heavy weight can even weaken your panels or cause physical damage to them.
Modern solar panels, like the Renogy ShadowFlux Anti-Shading Solar Panel, are designed to defy these winter challenges. Its robust construction withstands heavy snow loads, and its revolutionary Anti-Shading Technology ensures high efficiency outputs even on snowy days.
The panel is intelligently segmented so that even when a section is buried under snow, the rest of the array continues to harvest sunlight at peak performance. While standard panels succumb to a total shutdown from a single snowdrift, ShadowFlux isolates the problem, allowing the clear, exposed cells to keep generating power for your home, RV, or cabin.
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For bifacial panels, snow accumulation on the ground or roof results in uneven shading. As a result, the panel’s efficiency is reduced and may trigger the shading effect, where one cell covered with snow can reduce the output of the whole string.
Apart from the negative impact, snow also gives a decent boost to the solar panel performance with its highly reflective effect.
When fresh snow covers your roof or ground, it reflects sunlight and helps it reach the panels from below (the Albedo Effect), increasing the overall light exposure of the panels. Remember, the performance only increases if the top surfaces of the panels are free from snow.
The 9 Best Solar Panel Snow Removal Methods
Now that you know the impact of snow on the solar panel performance, it is time to learn how to remove it from the panels and allow them to work better in winter.
1. Manual Removal
It is one of the simplest methods for snow removal on solar panels. All you need to do is use a non-abrasive cloth to keep snow off your panels. A soft-bristled brush is another effective, manual solar panel snow removal tool.
2. Apply Anti-Snow Coating
This is a good way to allow panels to clear snow automatically. Applying anti-stick or hydrophobic sprays on your panels create a slippery surface. It does not allow snow to accumulate, especially in regions with light snowfall. Make sure the coatings are particularly designed for solar panels before you make a purchase.
3. Adjust the Tilt Angle
The panels are usually installed at an angle between 45 and 60 degrees that enables them to remove snow naturally. This angle minimizes the accumulation of snow on your solar panels, improving their efficiency during snowy winters. Don’t forget to avoid shading when adjusting the angle.
4. Solar Panel Covers
Another way of removing snow from solar panels is to install covers around them. The covers must be weather-resistant. Different materials, like high-quality glass or plastic, can be used to make these covers.
5. Heating Mats and Heated Wires
Install heat mats around your solar panels to keep them warm during the snowy season. These mats generate a decent amount of heat to melt snow and clean your panels.
Installing electrical wires on the roof may also do the trick. When electricity passes through these wires, they heat up, and melt any ice or snow on your panels, making them clean and clear.
6. Wind-Powered Fans
If you are looking for an instant solution to remove powdery or light snow from your solar panels, install wind-powered fans on your roof. These fans move air around the panels, creating a blowing effect to clear snow from them. Remember, this method will not work for panels covered with wet, heavy snow.
7. Automated Roof Plows
They are an automated solar panel snow removal system built to clear accumulated snow from the panels. Automated roof plows use different mechanisms to remove snow on the panels, such as integrated mechanical parts or specialized semi-autonomous or autonomous robots.
These robots use bushes for snow removal on solar panels. The best part? They can be programmed to start cleaning the panels as soon as they detect a certain level of snowfall.
8. Install Panels with Automatic Cleaning/Heating System
If you want to get rid of snow on your solar panels during winter, nothing is better than installing modern panels that come with automatic cleaning and heating systems. They are commonly called all-weather solar panels.
These panels remain free from snow throughout the season, minimize the disruption to your solar panel system, and reduce the need for manual labor. When there is a snowfall, all-weather solar panels activate their heating system that starts melting snow immediately, allowing panels to absorb more sunlight.
9. Hire a Professional
If none of the above-listed methods work for you and the snow is too heavy, it is always recommended to call professionals and hire their services to clean your panels safely. Professional technicians have modern equipment, such as snow blowers or hot-air blowers, to clear snow without doing any damage to the panels.
The above methods enable you to melt snow and clean your panels. Once the snow melts and slides off the panels, it can be dangerous. Therefore, ensuring safety measures is necessary.
Snow guards are small safety devices installed around the solar panels. They are used to stop large amounts of snow from sliding off at once, protecting property and people. They hold snow on the solar panels, cut it into smaller chunks, and allow it to fall on the roof or ground. If you live in a snowy area, make sure you install snow guards to ensure safety and prevent damage.
What Not to Do When Removing Snow from Solar Panels?
Always prioritize safety when clearing snow from your solar panels. A wrong tool or a poor cleaning technique can do more than good. Here’s what you should avoid.
- 1. Don't Climb on the Roof: Icy roofs are very dangerous and slippery. So, getting a bit of extra power while risking your personal safety is something you should avoid. You can clean solar panels with long-handled tools from the ground.
- 2. Don't Use Sharp Tools: Metal tools with sharp edges can put scratches on the panel’s glass surface and damage cells. Instead of using sharp objects, prefer non-abrasive tools specifically designed for solar panels.
- 3. Don't Use Harsh Cleaning Chemicals: The use of chemical sprays, antifreeze agents, and salt reduces the clarity of the glass, lowering the panel efficiency. It also corrodes the panel’s frame.
- 4. Don't Pour Hot Water: A sudden temperature change increases the chances of thermal shock and may crack the glass in no time. Therefore, let sunlight warm your panels naturally.
Final Words
Winters in the United States are often snowy, so homeowners are usually concerned about whether they can rely on solar panels during the snowy season. It is true that heavy snow accumulation on the panels’ surface greatly reduces the overall electricity generation, as it does not allow panels to capture enough sunlight.
The good news is you can easily remove snow from your solar panels within minutes. One thing you must ensure is to use safe and soft materials while cleaning your panels to keep them away from any sort of physical or technical damage. Read the discussion above to know more about how to remove snow from solar panels using true-and-tested methods.
FAQs
What is the safest way to clear snow from your panels?
The safest snow removal technique is to clean your panels with an extendable roof broom or a soft foam snow rake.
What are budget-friendly solar panel snow removal options?
A leaf blower is an affordable solution to remove light snow. Alternatively, you can use cost-effective manual tools like a roof rake or a soft-bristled broom to make your panels free from snow. Similarly, applying anti-stick coating on your panels’ surface also reduces the accumulation of snow.
Does snow damage solar panels?
A light dust of snow does not damage the panel. However, if heavy snow stays on your panels for days or weeks, it may cause physical damage. Moreover, how you remove snow from the panels matters a lot. The use of harsh chemicals or equipment with sharp edges may damage the panel.
