It seems improbable for solar panels to work in the UK, as it is known for its cloudy and grey weather. But contrary to popular belief, the country receives enough sunlight for solar panels to be viable. Would you believe that the UK’s amount of sunshine is comparable to countries with a Mediterranean climate such as Spain or France?
Some southern parts of the UK receive as much sunlight as Germany, one of the world’s biggest markets for solar power systems. Solar panels produce more power when the sun shines brightly but will still provide enough energy during cloudy days. Just keep in mind that it is the light, not heat, which produces electricity.
Do wind and snow affect the performance of solar panels?
The solar panels on homes are installed close to the roofing materials, which trap the heat on sunny days. The wind is beneficial to these residential installations because it cools the photovoltaic modules, improving their efficiency.
Snow might pose a problem for solar panels, as it can cause the system to age faster. However, the panels’ angled installation allows the solar power system to maximise its exposure to the sun. There’s no need to worry about the proper positioning and installation of a solar array on your roof because you can always get expert help by visiting. You can get plenty of useful information from the site, and receive a quote tailored to your exact needs.
Light snow covering the panel will melt, but if the snow cover is thicker, you can call a technician to clean the system. The good news is that snow on the ground can improve your solar power system’s performance, as it reflects the sun’s rays to the panels.
Solar power generation
Despite the typical weather in the United Kingdom, harnessing the sun’s power is still viable in the country. Three years ago, solar power accounted for 3.4 per cent of the total electricity generation in the UK. Among the renewable energy sources in the UK, solar power ranked third. The others are biomass and wind power. Surprisingly, the country ranks the sixth-largest solar power producer in the world after China, Japan, Germany, the United States, and Italy (in that order). The country was in 10th place in 2013, which shows that the UK is increasing its utilization of renewable and sustainable clean sources of energy.
Innovation
The UK uses three types of solar panel cells, such as monocrystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and thin-film solar cells. Many organisations are conducting research and development to make solar power systems more efficient while reducing manufacturing costs. One example is the solar cell developed by the University of Sheffield. Its surface is embossed with small grooves with different electrical contacts that will improve the conversion of electricity.
You can look forward to more innovations and product developments from the UK, to prove that the country’s weather is not a hindrance to the effective use of solar energy.
