New York sees a fair amount of snow in the winter, which can affect solar production. If you’re considering a solar panel installation in New York, it’s important to think about how your system could be impacted in the winter months.
Solar can efficiently power your home or business while reducing your monthly electric bill. Some of our customers pay nothing more than a hook-up charge to the utility company for most months of the year.
If you’ve wondered will my solar panels work in the snow, we’ve got you covered.
Solar Panels Require Sunlight to Operate
Solar panels work by converting the sun’s energy through chemical reactions to produce electricity. Sunlight is abundant but it won’t always make it through to the photovoltaic cells mounted to your rooftop. Solar can work in the snow, but the diminished sunlight will reduce production. If your panels become covered by snow, they will temporarily shut down until the weather clears.
Solar panels are installed to closely match the angle of your roof in New York, and snow will naturally slide off just as it would the rooftop. Any reduction in solar production will be temporary and it usually only affects customers on a handful of days when there’s more than an inch of snowfall.
Facts – New York Solar Panel Installations and Snow
Asking will my solar panels work in the snow? Let’s cover the key details…
- As an integral part of your rooftop, solar panels are designed to support the weight of snow. New York solar panels are extensively tested to ensure that they meet quality criteria for environmental resistance. Your panels will resist snow, hail, rain, and heavy winds.
- Your panels will shut down when there’s a layer of snow on top, but the angle allows the snow to fall away and melt as the air warms.
- Solar panels are actually more efficient in cold weather. So, even though sunlight hours are fewer in the winter, you’ll still be able to generate a significant amount of electricity from solar.
Solar Battery Backup is Useful During the Winter
For the days when solar production is reduced or paused, you can rely on solar battery backup.
Battery backup stores the electricity produced by your solar panels. It can power the electrical systems and appliances in your home. With solar batteries in New York, you’ll rely less on the grid and you can have confidence knowing that your home will have power even if your panels are covered in snow, and even if the grid goes down.
We can recommend battery backup based on the location of your home and typical patterns in your electricity usage. When you choose New York Power Solutions, you’ll get a complete energy evaluation with a cost-benefit analysis. You’ll know almost exactly how much solar you could produce and how much money you would save throughout the year.
Our focus is on efficiency, clean energy, and savings for every customer. We provide the information. You make the choice.
Get a New York Solar Estimate Today
Solar can provide electricity for your home throughout the entire year. Savings generated during the spring, summer, and fall can offset any low production days during the winter.
Will my solar panels work in the snow? Yes, but they’ll shut down temporarily when completely covered. Want to know if your home or business is right for solar? Talk to a solar consultant at New York Power Solutions today.
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