Do solar panels work in winter?

Let’s start with a zip through the basics. Solar panels use solar energy which is the energy from the sun falling to earth.  There are two ways of harnessing solar energy.

A solar thermal system  uses this solar energy to warm water while solar photovoltaic (PV) systems (Solar PV for short), convert this captured energy to electricity that is then used in the house or exported to the National Grid.

Solar PV panels absorb solar energy and convert it into electrical energy. It’s important to remember that for solar panels, it’s not about heat, but light. It is sunlight which provides the energy to solar panels.  Low temperatures have no bearing on the effectiveness of solar panels.

Solar panels convert light into electricity. So as the light reduces in the day so the output of the solar panel goes down. In winter the amount of solar power from solar panels reduces, not because there is less heat, but because the sun rises later and sets earlier, so days are shorter so there is less sunlight.

A solar panel produces electricity even when it is not in bright sunlight because there is diffuse light, but the amount of electricity produced is less than when the solar panels are in full sunlight.

So, to answer  the question: Yes, solar panels work in winter but don’t produce quite as much electricity. When days are cloudier, the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panels is reduced so the amount of electricity falls.

If it snows and the panels are covered in snow this will  dramatically reduce their effectiveness.

Whatever the season the amount of energy produced depends on the number of solar panels and where they are fitted on the roof. They can either be integrated into the roof, replacing some tiles, or fixed on top of the existing roof tiles. A pitched roof is the best site for a Solar PV System. South-facing roofs give the best results, but East or South-facing roofs are also fine too.