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Do They Work When It’s Cloudy?

The weather in Scotland is not very predictable. So for people considering installing solar panels in Scotland, it is pertinent to ask – will the solar panels work on a cloudy day?

The answer is yes, yes they will. It is better that there is abundant sunshine to make the most of the technology, however, solar panels will keep producing electricity, even in low light. The solar irradiance in the UK and Scotland is not too dissimilar to Germany, who is the largest photovoltaic (PV) market in the world. So this should never really be a reason not to install solar panels!

Solar Panels on the external of a house



How Do Solar Panels Work?

Solar panels are made up of solar cells or “photovoltaic” cells. Photovoltaic cells are made from two layers of semi-conducting material, commonly silicon. When sunlight hits these cells, the energy absorbed excites the electrons in the layers so that they move from one to the other which creates a current. The electricity produced is direct current (DC) so it needs to be converted to alternating current (AC) before it can be used. The more energy that is absorbed by the solar cells, the greater the amount of electricity that is produced.

The efficiency of the solar panel can vary depending on the quality of the panel, the construction of the solar cells and the installation, but most solar panels have an efficiency of around 15-25%. Panel efficiency is calculated by dividing the power output of the module by the physical area of the module.

There is new research all the time to increase efficiency by experimenting with different materials and it looks very promising.

Integrated solar on new build



Light Intensity Measurements

A good installer will have software that uses historical Met office data for a given location and will give an accurate prediction of performance of solar PV based on previous light levels. A light meter is the only way to test the intensity of the light and to make an accurate prediction of the potential efficiency of the solar panels.  In this way the customer understands their return on investment.

Solar panels are a good investment for a number of reasons. They can help your home, help your savings, and help the planet.