Afternoon Shade On Solar Panels

Shade is the enemy of solar.

Afternoon shade on solar panels.

Solar pv panels should ideally be in full sun from at least 9am to 3pm and are most effective if they can be positioned to operate longer when the household uses most power. However the shade gets there the result is the same as it restricts the flow of direct sunlight to your panels and limits the reliable operation of your system. Shade on your solar panels can come from several sources. The use of half cut solar cells increases the available electric pathways in a solar panel making it more resistant to shade.

Perhaps most obviously trees near your solar array can cause shading issues. Not all solar panels are created equal and you can actually minimise the impacts of shading by choosing a better solar panel for your system. Now for the good news. Many residential properties are situated in green spaces and constantly growing trees and foliage can encroach on solar panel setups.

A visual explanation of how shading affects solar panels to help you understand exactly what is meant by partial shading and how it affects the power output of a solar panel check out this video from the alte store. Diffuse shade from a soft source like a distant tree branch or cloud can significantly reduce the amount of light reaching a solar panel s cells. Where does solar panel shade come from. Thanks to this updated technology the amount of shade eclipsing the solar panel is now directly proportional to the amount of energy production the solar panel.

This is generally in the afternoon. Just a little shade can affect a solar panel s power output dramatically.