When considering a sustainable energy option like solar panels, potential clients often wonder what will happen to their system on cloudy days. If you’re a Minnesotan, you may really wonder what happens on snowy days! Don’t fret – your solar panels still work on cloudy and snowy days, since sun rays make their way through rain and clouds. For snow, your panels are installed at an angle so that the snow can melt and slide downward. However, since the sunlight is limited on cloudy days, so is your solar system’s production. The amount of electricity generated is dependent on the density of cloud coverage. But don’t worry that a couple of clouds will render your solar panels obsolete! Solar energy systems are designed to maximize the energy they produce to save you money.
Sustainable energy in cloudy climates
Using solar energy allows for sustainable energy solutions on rainy days, even in a cloudy or snowy climate. There are several ways for you to take the energy your system has generated on clear days and use it to power your electronics in a rainstorm. For example, net metering through your utility company can allow you to make the most of the energy your system produces on those bright, sunny days. You can also install energy storage options like solar batteries that will store excess energy so you can use it when your system is not producing.
Meet your energy needs with net metering
Many grid power companies use net metering to help home solar energy users make the most of their system’s output. On sunny days your solar panels are working at peak performance to soak up free energy from the sun. They will generally reach their top potential during the brightest parts of the day, which also happens to be times when most people are at work. Because of this, your home solar system will likely be harnessing more energy than you can use.
With net metering, any surplus energy will be transferred to the grid so the power company can use it as it is available to help power other homes and businesses. But this is really just an “energy loan” from you to the grid. When you need energy back from your utility company on a cloudy day it will be available to you at no cost.
Net metering is one of the most useful ways to get the most of your Minnesota solar panels on rainy and cloudy days, but don’t fret if your power company doesn’t offer such a program. You can also store your own solar energy through the use of solar batteries.
Save it for a rainy day – use solar batteries!
You can achieve further energy independence and store supplemental power by installing an energy storage system in your home to work concurrently with your solar array. Combining solar panels with battery storage will allow you to save excess solar energy generated when it’s sunny, which is used to run your household on rainy days. Your solar battery can also bridge the gap when there’s a short power outage. You won’t have to go around resetting all the digital clocks in your house; they’ll still be running even when grid power is out! Both new solar users and those with solar panels already installed can benefit from solar batteries, but they should be installed by an experienced, local Minnesota solar company. Cedar Creek Energy is an authorized solar battery installer, and we also offer solar maintenance services in Minnesota to ensure your system and batteries maintain optimal output.
Solar energy installations in every climate
If you’re hesitant about solar energy because you don’t know if it will work for your home, don’t be! Many Minnesotans assume that our gloomy winter days and rainy springtimes mean solar isn’t an option for our homes, but nothing could be further than the truth. Even if you see a lot of cloudy or rainy weather in your area, a Minnesota solar power system can reduce your reliance on grid power. It’s a cleaner, greener energy option, and it’ll save your family money, too!
To get started with a free solar energy audit and consultation, give Cedar Creek Energy a call at (763) 432-5261. You can also reach us via our website.