Solar panel installation is a great way to take advantage of the sun’s free renewable energy. For many homeowners considering solar, their regional climate is the many concern. Are they in an area well-suited for solar panels? Will they get enough sun to meet their household electricity needs? First, understanding how panels work is key to figuring out if they will work best in your area.
So how exactly do solar panels bring electricity to a household? We like to keep it quick and simply so you can understand the basic idea without getting into the nitty gritty science details. When the particles of sunlight reach the solar panels, the conversion process begins. The photons of the particles are turned into electrons, which are used as direct current electricity. From there, the system’s inverter will begin it's work, converting it to usable electricity for a home.
Most people assume that solar panels are only able to work when the sun is out and shining. While this is definitely the best weather for solar panels to produce useful energy for a home, it's not the only time those solar panels can harvest sunlight. Of course, it would be reasonable to think that solar panels can only create converted electricity when we can see the rays of sun hitting them, but this is simply a misconception.
The important thing to remember is that direct sunlight isn’t necessary for this process. All the solar panels on a roof need are the photons that are emitted from the particles of sunlight, which means even a cloudy day can result in solar energy. While not as powerful as direct sunlight, this allows a home’s solar panels to be productive even in not seemingly “ideal” weather conditions.”
Overall, solar panels are extremely durable and designed to withstand even harsh winter climates and storms for decades. Still, getting 100% production compared to the 10 to 25% production rate on cloudy, stormy days is preferable, which is why consistently sunny areas can be much better suited for solar panel systems.
When you live in Southern California, you know you’ll be enjoying particularly sunny and comfortable weather year-round. Even with the winter months are pretty moderate considering the snow and ice storms in other areas of the country can experience. That’s one of the main reasons that San Diego - including Clairemont - is one of the leading cities in renewable energy.
Modern PV panels undergo serious testing to ensure they meet quality standards and can endure extreme climate and weather. While solar panels can still produce electricity in colder winter climates, the more moderate winter in Clairemont means there will be no snow or ice to clear off of panels to ensure they are operating at maximum capacity.
San Diego is one of the top cities (in 2nd place behind Los Angeles) in the nation for solar, boasting a total capacity of 287.2 megawatts and at least 50 watts of PV capacity installed per person. As a nearby neighbor, Clairemont is part of the trend as well, with more and more homeowners opting to have solar panels installed to increase their savings and boost their home value.
Want to join the renewable energy movement? Let our team help you install solar panels in Clairemont! Get in touch with our solar contractors to learn more.
