When the days get shorter approaching the Winter Solstice every December, you may be wondering how the different seasons affect the efficacy of your home’s solar production. The short answer is that, during the winter, you are likely to see a decrease in overall production due to the limited amount of daylight. In this blog from Bluebird Sky Solar in Pittsburgh, we will explain how the different seasons affect solar production in Pennsylvania.
Spring
Spring and summer months are responsible for roughly 65% of the annual power solar panels produced. The longer days and sunnier weather make it the best time to collect solar power.
Early spring is the best time to install solar panels so that you can take advantage of the spring and summer months!
Summer
Summer months offer the longest and sunniest days of the year which help to maximize your solar panel production. This means that solar panels are a great way to lower or even eliminate those expensive summer electric bills due to high air conditioning usage in your home. And for some homeowners, they may even produce more power than they need, which they can then sell back to the electric company for a credit. That credit can then rollover to help lower future electric bills in the months where solar production isn’t as great.
Fall
Solar panels produce roughly 35% of their annual energy in the fall and winter. This is due to the shortened days and weather patterns. Historically, November has been the cloudiest month of the year nationwide, which will affect the overall production of your solar panels, but the good news is that solar panels still collect sunlight and produce power even on cloudy days.
Winter
Shorter days during the winter months mean less time for your solar panels to produce solar energy, but luckily solar panels work more efficiently in cooler temperatures which helps with the overall production during these months. Keep in mind if you live in a state that gets snow, it will need to be removed before solar panels can collect solar energy. Solar panels cannot produce energy through the snow, but there are tools to easily remove snow if it doesn’t slide off or melt.
If you have questions about solar production throughout the year, contact us here. We’d be happy to answer any questions.
About Bluebird Sky Solar
Our mission is simple: to have a positive impact on the lives of our customers and our employees and bring positive change to the local community. Bluebird Sky Solar is dedicated to providing top-notch service to our customers and building a company that we’re proud of!
