The Philippines is known for being a tropical country with many sunny and hot days. However, when investing in solar energy, many people are unsure whether the operation of photovoltaic panels on rainy days is affected. They want to know how the solar panel works during these times.
The question is valid because, after all, many places face constant or heavy rain. As the investment is detachable, there is nothing better than getting complete information beforehand and being able to plan. So, see what photovoltaic panels capture during rainy periods and discover everything about this option.
How does the photovoltaic system work on days with little sun?
When generating solar energy, it is easy to achieve good performance when the sun is shining, such as on summer days or at lunchtime. However, it is necessary to think about other possibilities. Cloudy or rainy periods are inevitable and influence the functioning of the equipment.
The good news is that such conditions do not necessarily mean the stoppage of the set and energy generation. The system’s technology already predicts the issue as they are natural phenomena.
Even on cloudy or rainy days, the sun’s influence remains. Radiation and light are still sent and can be captured by the panels. This happens because generation is not linked to temperature, but rather to lighting. A mild winter day with clear skies will probably perform better than a rainy summer day.
The only deviation from this possibility occurs when days with high cloud density or intense rain appear. At these times, light may find it difficult to reach the solar panels. However, the situations are atypical and extremely rare, so the impact is minimal.
What happens at night?
Although photovoltaic panels do not stop producing energy during rainy periods, everything changes at night. This is because, as mentioned, the process depends on solar luminosity. And, as soon as night appears, the main star in the solar system does not emit any radiation there.
Therefore, nighttime solar energy generation is non-existent. However, this does not mean that everyone will be left in the dark, as there are solutions to ensure that the nights bring maximum comfort.
What happens to photovoltaic panels during rainy periods?
Cloudy or rainy days do not prevent photovoltaic modules from collecting and converting solar radiation. However, it is essential to understand that there are impacts on the amount of energy produced at these times.
When the sky is not completely clear, the sun cannot act as intensely. Clouds retain part of the radiation; in certain situations, the light does not pass entirely through these formations.
As a result, solar energy generation is less intense when the sky is not completely clear. Once the clouds disperse, energy capacity increases, and performance returns to usual standards.
To understand better, imagine that a house is in a place that rains for an entire month of the year. Solar energy generation will continue to occur during this period, but it will be lower than at other times of the year. As a result, there will be fewer credits on the electricity bill or reduced power capacity, but nothing that will affect the return on investment.
How is energy stored?
Off-grid systems are those in which there is no connection to the electrical grid. At the same time, it is necessary to give a destination to the energy that is produced but not consumed at that exact moment.
Storage elements such as batteries are used to solve the problem. The solar energy captured and converted is transferred to these items, which are then activated when there is no longer generation.
For example, this is an excellent resource to guarantee the property’s power supply at night. As the system is not actively functioning during this period, the energy produced throughout the day and not used is used.
At the same time, it is a great solution to deal with the issue of photovoltaic panels during rainy periods. If rainfall and cloudy weather are constant in your region, resort to a project like this. This way, there will be no loss of energy use capacity, as it is possible to use the energy captured on other days, for example.
What happens when the system has no batteries?
Using a set of batteries is the best solution for dealing with photovoltaic panels during rainy periods. However, the on-grid system may be more viable for your investment and your property, especially when the rainy season and cloudy days are not extensive.
Even in this case, the home or business will not be left in the dark or at low capacity on cloudy or rainy days. Instead, it is feasible to use the electrical grid, as was the custom before the investment.
A significant increase in the electricity bill will not be the mandatory consequence. During clear sky days, all energy that was not used immediately was redirected to the electricity grid. Production, in a way, was aimed at the network concessionaire. By default, it generates credits on the electricity bill, which act as discounts.
What is the composition of the solar panel?
The solar panel has 7 layers, which are: the aluminum frame; special glass; the encapsulating film (EVA); photovoltaic cells; the other encapsulating film (EVA); the protective bottom (backsheet); the junction box.
Photovoltaic cells are most often made of silicon. The panels, or plates, of the solar energy collection system, use two mixtures of silicon:
1. With boron, to create negative charges;
2. With phosphorus, it creates positive charges.
3. The reaction of silicon with boron and silicon With phosphorus in contact with the sun produces electricity.
How does solar energy transform into electricity?
To better understand the behavior of a photovoltaic system on rainy days, see more details about how solar panels work, among other aspects.
Each cell is arranged in series, one after the other. The connection between them occurs through a skinny strip woven from top to bottom of each cell, connecting them all and creating a circuit.
Two conductors are coming from a junction box on the back of the panel. They serve to connect the solar panels on the roof. The set of boards is connected to the inverter via direct current cables.
The process that generates electricity is called the “photovoltaic effect.” Each particle of light that travels from the sun to the earth is called a photon. The approximate period for sunlight to reach the solar panels on the roof is 8 minutes and 20 seconds.
The photovoltaic effect is achieved by following the steps:
1. Photons reach the photovoltaic cells, causing some electrons to detach, leaving empty spaces;
2. Free electrons migrate, through electrical current, to the part of the cell that is positively charged (electrons are missing);
3. During the day, electrons follow this rhythm, always taking a constant direction, leaving empty spaces that are filled by other electrons, generating a continuous cycle between atoms;
4. This displacement of electrons creates an electrical current called “photovoltaic solar energy”.
This process is the same on sunny days and rainy days. Even if less intense, sunlight radiates during rain, being captured by the system’s cells.
Studies have shown that a photovoltaic system achieved average peaks between 5 kW and 6 kW on a partly cloudy day. But at times, peaks of up to 10 kW were reached.
How is electricity distributed throughout the property?
The solar inverter converts the energy from photovoltaic panels and electricity in direct current (DC) to electrical energy in alternating current (AC).
The electrical energy generated by the system leaves the inverter. It goes to the light panel, distributed throughout the property, thus powering the refrigerators, televisions, stereos, computers, microwave ovens, lamps, and all-electric motors.
Ultimately, every device that needs electricity to function and is connected to sockets benefits from the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system.
After knowing all this about how solar panels work, you can say that the operation of photovoltaic panels is not interrupted during rainy periods. With storage or production solutions for the electricity grid, it is possible to guarantee good performance and savings!