The Solar Bell: Secrets to Maximise Solar Panel Potential

We’re seeing daylight hours getting longer and recently the clocks sprang forward. Did you know that as well as boosting our moods, the longer days can be used to help you save money on your energy bills with solar PV? In this article, we will explain how daylight hours impact the energy generation of solar panels in Cambridge and other parts of the UK through a model known as The Solar Bell.

The Solar Bell Explainer

Before we talk about using the solar bell to help you plan when to get solar panels installed, we ought to explain what it is. 

The Solar Bell is a model demonstrating the relationship between the length of daylight hours and solar energy generation. 

Solar Panels generate electricity using sunlight. Therefore, as you may have already guessed, the longer the daylight hours are, the more electricity your solar panels can generate. 

In fact, between March and September each year, a whopping 70% of solar electricity is generated in the UK. If you were to plot the annual trend for solar energy generation, it would create a bell-shaped curve, hence why the model is known as the solar bell. 

What time of year is best to install your solar panels? 

If you are reading this article and you already have solar panels installed, you know that you will be getting plenty of green, affordable electricity from your panels all year round. However, if you have not got your solar PV installed yet, you’re probably debating when to take the plunge. 

There are a few different philosophies you can consider. Firstly, if you want your panels to be generating lots of energy when you first get them, opt for a mid-summer installation slot. In the summer of 2022, lots of people were determined to beat rising energy prices and take advantage of the warm weather. So much so that just over 3,000 solar panel systems were being put in place per week in the UK during this time. 

Alternatively, if you want to make the most of the peak energy generation for the year, aim to have your solar panels installed by the end of March and you’ll be just in time for the longest days of the year. 

Getting solar panels installed in autumn or winter may seem counterintuitive because you may have to wait a little while to get the best results from them. However, solar installation companies tend to be less busy at this time of year meaning that you might have a shorter waiting time from making your initial query to having the system all set up. 

Carpe Diem

In our personal opinion, the best time to get solar panels installed is as soon as you can, no matter what time of year it is! This is so that you can start saving on your energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint as soon as possible. 

Although the month or season when you get your panels installed impacts the amount of solar power your panels will generate at first, because solar power has a long lifespan, you can still expect many years of solar savings. Indeed, many manufacturer warranties for panels last for around 25 years. 

Whether you’re ready to get your very own solar PV system fitted at your home, or you want more information first, we’re happy to help. Get in touch with us by calling 01440 712 710 or emailing sales@advancedeco.co.uk today! 

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