'tis the season
How the Change In Seasons Change Your Solar Production

In the Midwest we see our fair share of weather extremes as the seasons change, from hot summer days to harsh winters filled with snowstorms. How does each season impact your solar array’s production?

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Seasons &
Solar Efficiency

Many believe that summer is the best time to go solar. While solar does perform best during summer months, when the earth’s tilt and longer days allow solar panels to bask in more sunshine, conditions throughout the year remain good for energy production (and utility bill savings).

Surprisingly, spring and fall also create great conditions for solar efficiency. A cold, sunny day is actually ideal for your array. 

The key is in the science of how a solar panel works. Your array can produce more power on a cold day than a warm one because there is less resistance for electrons to move, which solar panels use to generate electricity for your home. More energy can flow through the components instead of getting slowed down by warm air surrounding the array. Learn about how solar panels work below.

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How it Works

Use our interactive graphic to learn more about how solar can work for your home.

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1

1. Solar Array

The sun's rays hit your solar panels and generate
direct current electricity

2

2. Inverter

An inverter changes this direct current electricity
to alternating current and it's ready for use in
your home

3

3. Excess Solar Electricity

Anytime you produce more than you use, the
excess is shared with your utility

4

4. Net Metering Credits

In exchange, your utility gives you a credit to use
when the sun is down

5

5. Monitoring

You can even go online to track your solar
energy production

Cloudy & Snowy Days

We know that the fall, spring, and winter are not completely full of cold, sunny days. Solar arrays will still produce on cloudy days, but the production will be less than a sunny day. That’s just the nature of solar.

As far snow goes, it can have a few negative effects. When a heavy snow covers the panels, energy production can decrease. Yet, if your panels are angled, it does not take long for the snow to slip off, especially when the sun starts to hit a panel and heat it up. Once the snow slides off, your panels will produce as normal. Snow can also increase production in some cases, because a bright blanket of snow can reflect more sun onto your panels. Your solar array may pick up energy being reflected by the snow, giving you a little (not huge) energy boost. It will not be much energy, but every little bit is dollars saved on your energy bill. 

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Get the Best Production with Professional Solar Design

StraightUp Solar Project Developers and Solar Designers undergo rigorous training to provide you with a system that considers the unique setup and energy needs of your home. From your roof angle to basing designs on your actual energy consumption, we aim to give you the most accurate quotes for your home so there’s no surprises down the road. Our experts live and work in the local Illinois and Missouri communities we serve so we are familiar with seasonal weather patterns of our region. Seasonal changes are built into our calculations. 

We even back up our estimates with a Sunrise to Sunset Production Guarantee. We promise that your project will produce 85% of projected energy usage for the year, or we’ll make up the difference. Learn more about residential and commercial warranties.

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Any Season is a Good Time to Go Solar

Regardless of the season, your solar panels can produce power during all times of the year. No need to wait until summer to install your solar array, there’s plenty of sun to capture all year long. StraightUp Solar can design a system for you and project annual production that accounts for the changes in season. Get your free solar assessment today!

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