Solar panels have become an increasingly common sight on modern homes as they are effective at combating rising energy prices and reducing a family or business’s “carbon footprint.” Determining the amount of sun a set of solar panels needs is an important first step in arranging installation. Proper placement of solar panels and possible removal of surrounding trees may be required to obtain maximum energy from solar panels and the sun.

Solar Panels Need Direct Sunlight for Optimal Use

Solar panels can absorb ambient sunlight that may occur on a cloudy day, but the rate of solar energy absorbed won’t produce maximum power. A homeowner can’t control the number of cloudy days that may occur during the year, but ensuring panels aren’t placed where shade may impact their solar absorption is essential.

When you get solar panels for your home in Frederick, the solar installation company should place the panels on a south-facing area. Nearby buildings and trees may impact the number of hours per day the panels sit in direct sunlight. If panel placement is restricted to a small area of the roof, tree removal is an action that a homeowner should consider before installation.

Solar panels may see a reduction of energy output by anywhere from 25% to 40% per day when clouds obscure the sun.

Determining Peak Sun Hours

The sun’s position in the sky impacts how much energy solar panels can produce because of the difference in solar radiation from one hour to the next. Solar panels receive the most sunlight at solar noon, which isn’t necessarily at the hour noon on the clock. Solar noon occurs when the sun is highest overhead in the sky.

The seasons of the year impact the number of peak sun hours solar panels receive, and areas that are close to the equator also receive more solar energy than regions far to the north or south. For residents in the United States, peak sun hours tend to vary between three and five hours. Weather patterns and the location of a house will impact the number of peak sun hours available in the best and worst months of the year.

Calculating the average available sun hours in a particular region is an important activity for anyone who wishes to figure out whether solar panels represent a good investment.