Find Out How Local Climate Affects Efficiency Of Solar Panels
If you are considering using solar energy, you need to know how local climate affects efficiency of solar panels. Obviously, the more efficient the panel the greater the amount of energy produced. All panels built are rated for their efficiency in average conditions. A variation in any one of those conditions can make a big difference.
The biggest factor affecting solar panels and their efficiency is how far they are from the equator. The further from the equator one gets, the lower the sun appears to be in the sky. The angle the sun strikes the panel at affects the amount of solar radiation the panel receives. This is what provides the energy collected by the panels, the less collected the less efficient the panel will be.
Homes near the equator have the sun almost overhead and receive the greatest possible amount of solar radiation. Those in higher latitudes have the sun at a lower angle in the sky and receive lower amounts. A range of solar panels are produced to compensate for these variations.
However near, or far, from the equator, if the aspect of the property is good (south to southwest facing) the panels will receive greater solar radiation than those facing in any other direction. Another factor that appears to play a part, is whether the property is on the east or west of a country. It seems that the western parts of many countries receive more solar radiation.
One would expect a house with an aspect just the other side of south to have comparable results, but the morning sun appears weaker than midday or afternoon sun, and morning mist can affect the collectability of the panels, by shading them slightly.
Mist or cloud will cause a shading effect over the panels. However weak this is, it will affect all panels as they only work at the capacity of the weakest one. Local microclimates can also affect their efficiency.
A house built in a ‘frost pocket’ may not receive the same amount of direct sunlight as another nearby. With less sunlight the panels will work less efficiently. Neighboring houses may escape this effect as they are less vulnerable to a reduction in sunlight.
Conversely, a house in what is normally a cool area with few hours of sunlight, may be situated so that it gets every minute of sunlight in that area. This house will collect the optimum amount of solar radiation and get more solar energy than those nearby.