10 Misconceptions About the Effects of Weather on Commercial Solar Panels
Near about all regions in India are prone to extreme weather conditions. From the shivering cold climates of Northern India to the scorching hot temperatures of the South, an increased number of household and business owners are interested in having commercial solar panels installed, but wonder about the effects that extreme weather conditions can have on their solar set-up.
To clear out the misinformation widespread, it’s important to discuss the myths in regards to solar panels and extreme weather.
Here are the 10 most common misconceptions that people have about the effect of weather on commercial solar panels, alongside the actual truths.
Misconception No. 1: Rainfall Damages The Solar Panels
By far, this is the biggest concern the potential clients looking to get solar panels installed in their housing have.
Most modern solar panels are extremely durable and no physical damage is inflicted on them by the falling stream of raindrops since they can tolerate a substantial amount of mechanical stress.
Also, truth be told, the rain actually helps your panels in generating more solar energy as it cleans away any dust or dirt particles that could block the sunlight from reaching the panel surface.
Misconception No. 2: Solar Panels Don’t Work Well In Cold Climates
There is no direct relationship between the solar energy generated by commercial panels and extreme weather conditions as seen in subfreezing cold climates.
This is because the solar panels extract energy from light, and not from the heat of sun rays.
Similar to the case of rainfall, cold actually helps the solar panel installations in performing better, as it prevents them from overheating and undergoing circuitry damage.
The bottom line is: As long as your panels receive sunlight, even the freezing temperatures can’t interrupt them from generating solar energy.
Misconception No. 3: Solar Panels Are Unproductive In Cloudy Days
Today’s commercial solar panels are more productive than ever before, and cloudy days don’t prevent them from powering your appliances through solar energy.
The solar panels work as long as they receive sunlight.
Thus, even though the clouds partially block the rays of the sun, the installed panels can successfully generate solar energy through the limited sunlight they receive.
Misconception No. 4: Solar Panel Installations Are Ineffective In The Snow
This is downright incorrect. Snow doesn’t cause physical damage to the solar panels — it can only block the sunlight from reaching their surface.
If installed correctly as per the climatic zone, that is, if your solar panels are placed in a diagonal or slanted manner, the snow is bound to slip off their surface and their functioning isn’t disrupted.
Besides, today’s solar panels are designed to effectively work under extreme weather conditions and variations in temperature pertaining to both scorching hot and snowy cold climates don’t render them inoperative.
Misconception No. 5: Solar Panels Perform Poorly In Windy Weather
Untrue. A durably installed solar panel set-up isn’t any more affected by heavy winds or stormy weather than any other part of your housing or facility.
They are highly resistant to damage from blustery conditions and can endure significant external pressure.
Misconception No. 6: Solar Panels Crack And Break Under Hail
Each solar panel produced by a reputed brand is obliged to undergo strict testing for extreme weather conditions.
Only after the solar panels satisfy durability, quality, and safety assessments, they’re allowed to be installed in a building or housing.
The tested solar panels are extraordinarily resilient to the sizes and types of hailstones that can fall on them, and can stand against their impact sturdily.
Misconception No. 7: Solar Panel Perform Badly In Autumn
The reliable, stable, and durable solar panels manufactured with well-researched designs do not get affected by either the conditions or the leaves that fall around in the autumn season.
Misconception No. 8: Solar Panels Can’t Tolerate Weather Fluctuations
One of the tests that the commercial solar panels undergo is the thermal cycling test in which they’re subjected to thermal stress by abruptly fluctuating the temperature from -40°C to 90°C, about 150 to 250 times.
To pass this test, solar panels need to endure these fluctuations and not show any interconnection or cell breakage.
Thus, most of the commercial solar panels available today can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations easily and productively generate solar energy.
Misconception No. 9: Pollution Deteriorates The Functioning Of Solar Panels.
Environmental pollution that may or may not be caused by extreme weather conditions has no effect whatsoever on solar panels.
The pollutants that might settle on top of the panel surface get cleaned out on their own through natural phenomena such as wind or rain.
Misconception No. 10: The Higher The Temp, The Better It Is For Solar Panels.
As already mentioned, the solar panels generate solar energy through light, and not the heat emitted by the sunrays.
A higher temperature doesn’t equate to a higher energy output as the panels might get overheated. This could have a negative impact on the internal functioning, junction box, or solder bonds of the solar panel set-up.
However, the majority of commercial solar panels are extremely tolerant of sweltering temperatures and do not usually overheat.