rainy season Archives - Solar Panels Philippines

What happens exactly to the solar panels?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels use both direct or indirect sunlight to generate power – however, PV panels are most effective in direct sunlight. What about when it is cloudy, or when the light is blocked by clouds? Your Solar panels in the Philippines will still work, but will not harvest as much power as they would when the sun is shining bright.

Myth buster: Solar does work when it’s raining

When it’s raining, solar power systems still work – they still generate power. Solar panels operate at maximum efficiency in the midst of the full, bright sun, but your solar panels in the Philippines don’t stop when it’s cloudy or raining. Why? It is because visible light still gets through the rain and clouds. Rain also does something good for solar panels. The rain actually helps clean the solar panels, which in turn causes the panels to operate more efficiently because dust and dirt are washed away. Just think of it this way. When it’s raining, the solar panels do not produce as much electricity as they’d normally do a sunny day, but they get cleaned, so it’s like sending the car to the car wash.

Is that a fact?

Yes, people still struggle with believing the fact that solar still works during cloudy and rainy days. Let’s look at it from another perspective. If solar only worked in sunny places, then how does Germany produce 20% to 30% of all its energy from solar? Here’s the answer in a nutshell: clouds do not stop the solar ultraviolet rays from shining through, which hits the PV panels and get converted to electricity. Solar companies should be transparent with their clients, however, when providing ROI analysis. In simple calculations in the Philippines, we calculate using 4.5 hours of solar harvest, to take into account the hours that the sun is shining bright. That way, clients have realistic expectations of savings from their solar systems.

Turn on the sun

Solaric has established its name across the renewable industry as a proven and reputable rooftop solar leader. Solaric has installed more than 50% of residential rooftop solar, and remains the number one choice for corporate and industrial solar projects in the Philippines. Call Solaric at 0917.860.3141 or 0908.377.5577 or 5040092, or send an email to info@solaric.com.ph or visit www.solaric.com.ph for more details.

How can you make the most of solar panels during the rainy season?

Consider the amount of sunshine for the whole year
Rainy weather is sometimes actually better
Take advantage of “edge of cloud effect”

Unsurprisingly, many of us already know that solar panels generate the most power during clear days with abundant sunshine. Typically, solar panels can produce 10 to 25% of their rated capacity on a cloudy or rainy day (depending on the density of the clouds for that day, the exact amount may vary). The amount of energy produced can also vary depending on the type of solar panel installation in your Philippine home as certain kinds are better at receiving diffused light.

During rainy or cloudy days, ultraviolet rays still reach the surface of the earth in abundance. In fact, if you have ever gotten sunburn at the beach even though the sun isn’t out, you have probably already experienced this firsthand. And while there are some solar cells that are in development which can capture UV rays, these are not yet available on the market.

Either way, you will still be able to generate power on a cloudy or rainy day even with a standard solar panel. Here’s how you can make the most of them during the rainy season.

Consider the Amount of Sunshine for the Whole Year

Consider how much sunshine you are actually going to get over the entire year instead of just a particular day if you are looking at how solar energy is going to help you save money on your power bill.

What this means is that even if you do encounter a few days without sunshine, you are still likely getting enough sunlight over the year for installing solar panels.

Rainy Weather Is Sometimes Actually Better

Did you know that Germany, a country that gets only about as much sunlight as the state of Alaska, has successfully installed solar panels that produce about 25 gigawatts of energy, which is about half of the supply of the entire world?

Solar panels actually work best when it’s not too hot because of the electronics inside them. A city that experiences extreme heat might find that their solar panels are less efficient, so as somebody who is living in the Philippines, you should have nothing to worry about.

Take Advantage of “Edge of Cloud Effect”

If you already have solar panels installed, keep a close watch on your power output during a rainy or cloudy day and you might just come across a strange phenomenon. During days when the sun is partly obscured by clouds, it can actually be possible for you to exceed the rating of your solar energy system and produce more power than you would on a sunny day.

This is known as the “edge of cloud effect.” This happens when the sun passes over the edge of a cloud which magnifies its rays. This intense burst of sunlight causes your solar energy system to temporarily boost its power output and help balance out the losses from full cloud covers. Take advantage of this phenomenon and install components, such as an over-sized solar inverter, and capture these surges in sunlight.

Key Takeaway

The bottom line is you can still make the most of your solar panels even when it is raining. But while energy production is going to be somewhat limited, this is not going to matter in the bigger picture. What matters most is how much sunlight you actually get all year-round.

Cloudy and rainy days will come and go, but for the most part, the odd overcast day here and there is not going to affect the return on investment of your solar panels installations in the Philippines.

Tag: rainy season

DOES SOLAR WORK WHEN IT’S RAINING?