Solar panels use one of Earth’s natural resources – the sun- to generate renewable energy to power homes.
Despite Scotland’s usually dull and gloomy weather, solar panels are still a highly effective and worthwhile investment for Scottish homeowners – especially during the summer months.
Read on to find out more about how to make the most of your solar panels during the summer months.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Solar panels work by absorbing solar energy through the photovoltaic (PV) cells in the panels. This is then converted into usable electricity. The panels don’t need direct sunlight to work.
While they don’t need direct sunlight to generate electricity, solar panels are still more effective in the sunnier months during spring and summer – compared to the months during autumn and winter.
This means you should make the most of the electricity your panels are generating during these months.
Why Do Solar Panels Work Best During Summer?
Solar panels work best during the summer because they have more opportunity to generate electricity.
In Scotland, the sun is up for over 17 hours at the height of summer. As well as the longer days, the additional sun and clearer skies also help the panels to generate more electricity.
The possibility of warmer days and heat waves is not an additional bonus for solar panels. Heat, especially excessive heat, can affect solar panel performance, making them less efficient.
How to Make The Most of Solar Panels During Summer?
To make the most out of your solar panels during the summer months you can:
Clean and Maintain Your Solar Panels
Solar panels are designed to be low maintenance. However, sometimes they need a little maintenance to help keep them running efficiently.
Cleaning is the most common maintenance you will need to perform on your solar panels. While the rain should be enough to wash off light debris from solar panels, you may need to give them a proper clean from time to time. This may be needed during a rare dry spell of rain or a build-up of bird droppings.
Your solar panels do not need annual maintenance either. The only time you may need your panels checked is when they aren’t generating as much electricity as they usually do – and it is not because of any weather changes. This may mean there is an issue with your system which may need to be looked at by a professional.
Invest in a Solar Battery
Solar batteries, or solar power storage, allow the energy generated from your solar panels to be stored. The stored electricity can then be used at a later time. This is especially useful during the summer months when your panels are producing more electricity than you may typically use.
It is a great option for those with solar panels to make the most out of the energy their panels have generated. The majority of the electricity generated by solar panels is generated during the day. This is often when people are out of the home and if the energy is not used it will be sent back to the grid.
By installing a solar battery, instead of any unused electricity being sent back to the grid, it can be stored instead for when it is needed. This means when your panels aren’t generating electricity – such as through the night – your appliances and devices will still have power.
Any remaining energy that’s not used can be sold through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Keep in mind that not all energy providers who purchase solar electricity will accept it if it has been stored in a battery.
You can add a solar battery to an existing system or if you haven’t invested in solar power yet you can usually get it as part of a package. It can be an extra cost to an already expensive system, but often a worthwhile one.
Looking for Solar Power?
At Homeshield Scotland, we have been providing homeowners with ways to make their homes more energy-efficient.
We have been installing solar panels, air source heat pumps and batteries in customers’ homes for a number of years.
Get a free no obligation quote here and start your journey to a warmer, cheaper and greener future today!
