Video of raining solar panels

Do solar panels work in the rain?

Solar panels definitely work in the rain. Whenever there is an adequate amount of solar radiation reaching the solar panels, they will generate power. Apart from that solar panels also produce a small amount of energy on cool evenings from the light of the moon and stars.

What happens to solar energy when it rains?

But if you have solar or are thinking about installing panels on your home, you may wonder what happens to the energy your solar system produces when it rains. The short answer: your solar panels will still capture and convert light into electricity during rainy or cloudy weather.

Does rain wash solar panels?

Rainfall can rinse solar panel surfaces, preventing layers of dirt and debris from forming and blocking future sunlight. Your solar power system may store less energy when it rains but it will clean your panel surfaces and relieve you of this maintenance task.

Should you put a solar battery in a rainy climate?

If you live in a rainy climate, adding a solar battery is a good way to store the power your solar panels generate and use it during less productive periods, like stormy and dismal days. But battery storage isn't just for homeowners in the damp Pacific Northwest or the dreary East Coast.

How do solar panels work?

Solar electric panels are also called photovoltaic (PV) panels, which means "able to produce electricity from light." Each panel is made up of PV cells that absorb particles of light from the sun (photons) that knock electrons loose from atoms, creating an electric current. * But this form of electricity can't power your home.

Do solar panels work in direct sunlight?

While PV panels are most effective in direct sunlight, they can also use indirect sunlight to generate power, allowing them to work even when the light is reflected by rain or partially blocked by clouds. We need to understand that if sunlight is limited, so is energy production.