The idea that solar panels need full sunny days is a myth. As the technology advances, solar panels are getting more efficient. Home solar panel systems overall can be a worthwhile investment whether you’re living in the Sun Belt, the Southwest, or New England.
Palmetto helps people get started with solar in sunny places like California. We also help customers install new systems in cooler, cloudier places like Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts. We can also help you learn more about the impact of cloud cover on solar energy production, and how well solar panels work on cloudy days, so you can make an informed decision about installing solar power on your roof.
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Will Solar Panels Work on a Cloudy Day?
Yes, solar panels will still generate electricity from indirect sunlight sources. They are designed to use every possible ray of sunlight that comes their way. This includes producing electricity on partly cloudy and totally clouded-over days.
If you’ve ever gotten a sunburn while working outside, even with cloud cover, then you understand the sun’s energy still gets through clouds. Even if you can’t see the sun, sunlight can still reach your solar panels to create energy for your home.
How Well Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?
Solar panels work just fine on cloudy days, even if they’re not quite as effective at generating electricity compared to sunny days. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, solar cells can still generate 80% of their maximum output potential, even in partly cloudy weather and overcast days.
If you live in a cloudy area, you don’t need to avoid solar power. In fact, several U.S. cities with more overcast days on average, or with shorter days of sunlight during the fall, winter, and early spring, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon, have the highest rates of solar panel adoption.
Homeowners in those regions realize solar panels will still decrease their reliance upon electricity from fossil fuels and lower their electric bills. They just install the number of panels that will meet their overall energy goals, even if it needs to be a higher number because of reduced efficiency from regular cloud cover.
What Happens When My Solar Panels Don’t Produce Enough Electricity?
Clouds, and really bad weather, will happen. So, no matter where you live, you need to be prepared for your local climate when you install solar panels. Instead of worrying about underperformance after your panels are installed, you should focus on designing a solar power system that meets your big-picture electricity needs.
Obviously, you want your panels to get as much sun as possible. Solar panels work best on bright, cloudless, sunny days at temperatures under 75° F. It also helps if they’re angled to receive the maximum amount of peak sun hours possible.
That said, if your solar panels don’t produce enough electricity on a cloudy day, your home can still draw power from the utility grid, keeping the lights on and your appliances running.
According to the US Energy Information Administration in 2022, the average US home uses about 10,800 kWh of electricity a year. Roughly calculating how big of a solar system you’d need to cover that consumption requires a fairly simple formula.
Annual consumption / (peak sun hours x 365) = solar system size
Using the US average in a place that gets 6 peak sun hours a day, that looks like this.
10,800 kWh / (6 x 365) = 4.93 kW
You’d need 12 or 13 panels with a capacity of 400 watts to make a system of that size.
This is obviously a rough estimate that doesn’t take into account the specific details of your location, roof, and the actual panels that get installed. Your region’s climate is one of many factors a team should help you consider. Every new system is customized for each customer or each home in some way.
More factors are:
- Geography
- Peak sun hours
- Roof shape and orientation
- Current electricity use
- Future electricity needs
- Battery storage plans
- Net metering goals
Your ultimate goal should be to install the right amount of solar panels to ensure you get all the electricity you need during the daytime, no matter the cloud cover. This starts by talking to a licensed solar installer like Palmetto, who will review those factors and create the best solar power system for your home.
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What Happens When You Get Lots of Bad Weather?
Admittedly, there will be times when your solar panels don’t get enough sunlight during the day to generate the electricity your home needs. A large storm system could cover your region with rain and dark clouds for several days, and those are poor conditions for solar power generation.
Even in wintery weather, solar panels are typically fine and reliable in mild and moderate snow or ice. Snow and ice will melt off solar panels faster than other surfaces and once a portion of a panel is exposed to sunlight, it will generate power again. Heavy snow or ice can be a problem if it covers panels for long stretches.
Luckily, you have two primary options available to make sure you always have power at home
- Battery Storage: On the days when your panels generate more electricity than your home uses, excess power can get stored in batteries. You can then use that stored electricity at times when your panels don’t generate enough electricity to power your home.
- Connect to the Grid: With very few exceptions, every home with solar panels is still connected to the utility grid in their area, even if it has a battery attached. Your home will use electricity from the grid at times when your panels don’t generate enough electricity, or you’re out of stored electricity in your batteries.
Thus, you can always have access to electricity when you install solar panels, even if you don’t create it yourself.
Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days
Despite the myths that persist about solar panels, they will still create electricity on cloudy days. Yes, panels work better on sunny days, but the possibility of cloud cover shouldn’t scare you away from getting solar power for your home.
If you live in a cloudy area, an experienced solar company can help you design a solar power system that maximizes the amount of electricity your home can create from the sunlight that’s available.
By going solar with Palmetto, you’ll work with experienced professionals who will handle all of the details regarding design, installation, permitting, and more. We’ll design your solar panel system, see if you need solar battery storage, and deliver comprehensive post-installation services to give you reliable energy and peace of mind. Our free Solar Design Tool can get you started today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do solar panels work on cloudy or rainy days?
It’s a common misconception that solar panels won’t work in cloudy, rainy, or snowy areas. In reality, your solar panels can still capture and generate power from indirect light.
Can I go solar if I live in a cloudy climate?
Geography and weather are key factors in determining if solar is right for you and your home. In some cases, we may recommend integrating battery storage with your solar energy system to extend the benefits of energy produced across cloudy and inclement weather. During the initial survey and design process, we’ll examine your overall electricity usage relative to your potential solar energy production and structure your array to optimize savings.
Do solar panels work at night?
No. Solar panels need at least some direct or indirect sunlight to work. This is another reason to integrate battery storage into an overall system.
Is rain bad for solar panels?
No. Solar panels are built to be very durable in all but the most extreme weather conditions or natural disasters. In fact, rain can be a benefit to solar panels on a roof as it’s an easy way to clean panels, washing away a routine build-up of dirt or dust from time to time.
If there is a power outage, will my power go out?
If you add a home battery to your solar power system, you can avoid disruptions caused by grid outages. The amount of energy available for you to use in case of an outage will depend on several factors:
- The size and production of your solar panels
- The size of the battery installed
- The battery state of charge when the outage occurs
- The parts of your home you choose to power when the grid goes down.
If, however, your solar energy system does not include a home battery, your power will go out. In the event of an outage, all solar energy systems that can’t separate themselves from the grid will automatically shut down in accordance with grid codes and mandatory inverter specifications.
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Cory O'BrienSenior Director - Growth MarketingCory brings over 8 years of solar expertise to Palmetto, and enjoys sharing that knowledge with others looking to improve their carbon footprint. A dog lover residing in Asheville, NC with his wife, Cory graduated from UCSB. If you run into him, ask him about the company he founded to rate and review beer!
