Time to read: 5 minutes
January 5, 2023
Solar powered systems are more popular in Texas than ever. While it’s quickly becoming more common to see solar panels on rooftops, there are still a lot of common questions about the sunniest renewable energy around. Before you dive into solar panel calculations and start researching solar powered systems, let’s look at the five most common questions our team is asked.
Do Solar Panels Work at Night?
You need sunlight for them to make any power at all, right? Well the answer to that depends on how you use your solar panels.
The immediate answer is no, your solar panels will not create electricity if there is no sunlight. But, when the sun is shining, your panels will create plenty of electricity and any excess energy can be used in a couple or different ways. One way that you can use the excess energy is by installing a backup battery to store it for later use (like during the night when there isn’t sunshine).
Many Texans who have solar panels store electrical power in their backup batteries so that they can power their homes at night. This way, they don’t have to rely on the Texas power grid and save money on their electrical bills. Better yet, some Texans even eliminate their electric bills all together.
Another way that Texans make use of the extra power that their solar panels create is by selling it back to their utility company through solar buyback. Luckily, IES Texas Solar has partnered with Enphase to carefully curate the correctly sized system to pair with your solar energy system. You don’t need backup batteries to benefit from solar buyback, but batteries give you far more advantages like being able to switch to your batteries to avoid peak energy hours.
Some Texans may be wondering if moonlight can be used by your solar panels to generate power. After all, isn’t moonlight just sunlight being reflected off of the moon itself? While this is true, solar panels don’t generate much, if any, power from moonlight. Moonlight simply doesn’t have the photons needed to create the photovoltaic effect needed to produce much electricity.
Do Solar Panels Work During Cloudy and Rainy Days?
This is easily the biggest question that Texans ask about solar panels. After all, what would be the point of getting a solar powered system if they didn’t work half the time? Let’s get this question answered once and for all – Solar panels work even on cloudy days.
Solar panels work well even with cloudy days that have lower levels of sunlight. Cloud cover is only an issue when there is low heavy cloud cover, where the clouds are extremely dense. Other than that, you’ll still be able to generate plenty of power.
Solar Power and Birds?
Do solar panels kill birds? This is an interesting question, but the answer is more surprising than you might think. The way that solar panels are installed on a roof generally poses no harm to birds that walk around on your roof or even nest around parts of the roof. There are, however, some birds that dive into bodies of water for different reasons. Some birds will see the reflective surface created by solar panels and mistake them for bodies of water. This causes some of them to dive straight down into the solar panels.
On another note, solar panels help birds by reducing carbon emissions. This helps reduce pollution and changes in the climate that would cause them to move somewhere else as a result of environmental changes.
Do Solar Panels Get Too Hot?
This is an interesting question. A lot of Texans are concerned that their panels will stop working or even catch fire if they get too hot. First of all, solar panels absolutely work in high heat. The only difference that you are likely to see when temperatures are in the upper 90s or even over 100 is that your panels will have slightly diminished efficiency. Even if the surface temperature of your solar panels is high, they still produce plenty of power for your needs (so long as you worked with a professional to size your solar powered system correctly).
But what about the other question? Can solar panels start a fire? The good news is that it is incredibly rare for solar panels to cause a fire. If they ever are involved in causing a fire it could be from a few different things. There could be an electrical issue, the system may not have been installed properly, or part of the solar powered system itself could be faulty. Again, these are very, very rare. All solar powered systems are designed to ensure that things like power surges and lightning strikes don’t present a danger to your home, and there are many safeguards in place.
It’s always important to remember that a solar powered system contains electrified live wires, and the risks are very similar to a normal electrical installation for your home that is connected to the power grid. Always have solar powered systems installed by experienced professionals. Additionally, you must avoid installing or working on a solar powered system yourself. Hire professional solar panel installers, schedule regular maintenance, and call contact an expert from IES Texas Solar if there are any issues with your system.
The Big Question? Why Not Install a Solar Powered System?
Now that we’ve cleared up a few of the more common questions about solar panels, it seems clear that now is a great time to install your own solar powered system. IES Texas Solar has the most experienced solar consultants and PV design engineers on the market and has been helping Texans with their energy solutions for almost 50 years. Also, don’t forget that IES Texas Solar also installs backup power such as backup batteries and Generac® generators to optimize your system! With a solar powered system, you can reduce or even eliminate your electric bills. Better yet, you can also sell your extra electricity back to your utility company through solar buyback. While these are incredible benefits, the best one is that when you switch to solar you are making a long-term investment that will take care of you for years to come.
If you are considering switching to solar for your home or business, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or by giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.
If you are considering switching to solar for your home or business, or if you have questions about your system, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or by giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.
Sources:
https://www.nachi.org/solar-panel-fire-electrical-hazards.htm
https://www.kbtx.com/2022/05/05/man-warns-others-after-solar-panels-almost-burn-his-house-down/
