Do solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity?
Solar power is becoming increasingly important in the UK and beyond. While they’re becoming more mainstream, we understand that the concept also comes with many questions. In our latest blog, we’re answering a common question: do solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity?
In this blog post, we’ll cover the following:
- Do solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity?
- The optimum positioning for solar panels
- Cloud coverage and shade
- The optimum climate for energy conversion
Do solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity?
In the simplest terms, solar panels capture the sun’s UV rays and convert them into electricity for use in your home. Based on this simple explanation, you may presume that solar panels only work when they’re directly in the sun. However, that’s not the case. Solar power works on cloudy days, as any visible light stimulates them.
The technology inside solar panels which transform light into electricity are called photons, and any visual light can stimulate photons. Therefore, they’ll work in the same way on an overcast or cloudy day. With that said, solar panels do work best on super sunny days. The reason is that the photons are forced to move more when light, UV, and heat levels increase, creating more electricity.
So, to answer the question – No, solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to generate electricity. In a nutshell, if it’s light enough for you to see a solar panel, it’s light enough for a solar panel to generate electricity.
The optimum positioning for solar panels
When it comes to maximizing the amount of electricity that your solar panels will produce, positioning is an essential factor to consider. Generally speaking, as the UK is in the northern hemisphere, the best solar panel positioning is facing the south. Panels that face the south will face the sun for the maximum possible time, giving them the best opportunity to soak up the sun’s rays and convert them into energy.
If your property doesn’t have a south-facing roof, not all is lost. Solar panels can still be a viable option for you. If south-facing solar panels aren’t an option for you, the second-best option is west-facing, followed by east-facing. In the UK, north-facing panels are the least effective option as they’ll see the least amount of sunlight throughout the day.
Cloud coverage and shade
Have you ever sat outside on a cloudy day and still caught the sun? If you’ve ever caught a tan or been burnt on a cloudy day, you might have a good idea of where we’re going with this.
Even though clouds can block the sun’s brightest rays, a sizeable amount of solar radiation can penetrate the cloud. As mentioned previously, solar panels work by turning daylight into energy, not sunlight. So, while on the cloudiest days, your solar panels may not generate as much energy as they do in the sun, they will still do the job.
To summaries, your solar panels won’t be operating at optimum efficiency when there is cloud coverage and shade, but they will be working their magic.
The optimum climate for energy conversion
This leads us nicely onto our final point, determining the optimum climate for energy conversion. Contrary to popular belief, the amount of sunlight isn’t the only factor in energy conversion. Solar panels can process around 15-22 % of solar energy into usable energy, with factors such as weather conditions and placement playing a part.
While solar panels will still function without direct sunlight or on a cloudy day, your solar panels will be most efficient in full, direct sunlight. Of course, we’re living in the UK, daily sunshine is not a given, but that doesn’t mean we need to rule out solar panels.
