Will Solar Power Work on Cloudy Days?

Solar power is a great way to help reduce both harmful emissions and expensive energy spending. When the sun is out and shining, you have a steady supply of clean, renewable energy that can be used to help power anything in your house and drastically reduce, or even eliminate, those costly electric bills every month.

What happens when the sun isn't shining, though? Will solar power work on cloudy days? For those considering a switch to a solar-powered home, this is important information to understand.

How Solar Power Works on Cloudy Days

While solar panels are unquestionably most effective when exposed to direct sunlight, that doesn't mean it's necessary for them to work. Solar panels are highly efficient at collecting any available sunlight and converting it to energy. So, even on overcast days, when it may feel like there's no sunshine to capture, they'll still be able to generate electricity in an indirect manner - albeit, at a reduced rate.

On particularly cloudy days, you may notice your solar system's energy production drop to about 25% or even 10% of its usual output. In these instances, you'll likely hope the rain will at least hold off, but that's the opposite of what you'd want. The rain actually improves the efficiency of solar panels by washing away any dirt or dust build-up that may be inhibiting their ability to absorb sunlight.

Solar Power Storage Solutions for Back-Up

If you're worried that your region doesn't receive enough sunlight for solar power to be continuously effective, then it may be worth looking into solar power storage solutions. You can install batteries to your system that will store any excess energy that's built up during sunny days that you can later use when the sun isn't available. It's the perfect solution for nighttime and cloudy days.