Does Rainy Weather Improve Solar Panel Output?

Rain is generally regarded as an enemy to solar panels, but it can have its benefits as well. In speaking with his local CBS affiliate, one northern California contractor lauds his region’s rainy winters as being a natural caregiver to his solar energy systems. Rob Erlichman, president of San Francisco’s Sunlight Electric, points out that the rain actually cleans the systems, improving output overall.

Sure output is down when the sun isn’t shining, but it saves time, hassle, and money when it comes to getting up on the roof to clean panels or paying someone else to do it for you. While you can increase the tilt of the panels to maximize winter sunlight, it can reduce output in the summer. Erlichman advises leaving them at optimum summer tilt, which maximizes overall annual output, and simply letting those rain showers wash the panels clean; if nothing else, naturally prepping them for peak summer sunlight. Oh, and regardless of winter output, solar systems have never been more affordable and effective.

Source: CBS5.com

Posted on January 15th in Solar Information by Dan.