Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days? What About at Night?

Are you curious about how solar panels work when there is no sun? How effective are solar energy systems during rest periods, cloudy weather or nights? At Secure Solar, we receive these common questions low cloud levels, especially in Kerala where weather patterns differ widely. Let us simplify things and assist you in knowing why and how these panels function in such scenarios and what you can employ to increase their effectiveness.

Solar Panels on Cloudy Day: Do They Work?
Of course, the sun’s rays are never entirely blocked; instead, they are diffused, and the sky becomes dark and overcast. So, solar panels operate, they simply become less productive. In an overcast situation, about 10-25% of the solar panel output is provided. Here is how it works:

• Light vs. Direct Sunlight: Solar panels use sunlight, except they do not depend on direct sunlight. If it’s cloudy, the sun will still be there but not in its focused form, and the photovoltaic cells will convert appropriate energy levels.

• Impact of Weather in Kerala: When it comes to solar power, the monsoon season in Kerala is likely to be headwind. The great thing is that the modern panels are built for all weather. The solar production during cloudy days will be leveled out by bright days that follow the monsoons.

Solar Performance on Cloudy Days vs. Sunny Days
This infographic can show energy production’s differences in terms of clear sunny days, and cloudy days. It can illustrate typical output percentages for each scenario.

Nighttime and Solar Panels: What Happens?
Sad as it is, there is no way to make solar panels work in the evening. Of course, that does not mean that all the solar energy use stops when the sun sets. Here’s how you can still enjoy uninterrupted power:

• Battery Storage Solutions: Employing a battery storage system makes it possible to use the energy stored during the day at night. With the ideal battery settings, your house is non-withstanding powered into the night.

• Grid-Tied Systems: For those who are connected to the grid, you can use the grid’s electricity at night and during the day you send excess electricity from your solar panels into the grid. By this, you cut down on much of your electricity costs since you are still saving costs with solar energy.

How Solar Batteries Work
This infographic can summarize the operation of solar batteries, with solar panels producing electricity and excess electricity pumped into batteries to be used later at night.

Maximize Solar Efficiency in Kerala's Climate
Kerala has its fair share of sunny days as well as the rainy season so it would be prudent to optimize your solar system to make the best of each:
• Proper Sizing: Design your solar system to cater for your energy requirements, even if the energy won is lower than normal on particularly overcast days.