Maximising Your Solar Panel Efficiency During the Summer Months

Summer has arrived, and with it comes longer days and plenty of sunshine. For homeowners with solar panels, this means an opportunity to generate more electricity and save money on energy bills.

It’s time to take full advantage of the summer sun and ensure your solar panels are operating at maximum efficiency! In this blog, we’ll share some tips for maximising your solar panel efficiency during the summer months.

From cleaning your panels to installing extras, read on to learn how to harness the power of the sun this summer. 

Summer is the best period for solar panels

During the summer months, solar panels in the UK reach their maximum power production potential. It’s straightforward: Summer brings longer, brighter days which provide more exposure to sunshine. 

More sunshine means more solar output, so summer is always going to be a great time for absorbing and converting sunlight into electricity.  When you have solar panels installed, you’ll have plenty of energy in sunny seasons. But there are ways you can make your solar PV system even more efficient. We’ll explore them in more detail below.

Clean and maintain your solar panels 

Solar panels require very minimal maintenance. That said, it’s recommended to regularly clean your solar panels since dirt and dust can build up on the surface and lower solar panel efficiency. As solar panels installers East Anglia residents love, we know how to best clean your solar panels for maximum efficiency. 

Cleaning your solar panels is fairly simple, but it can be dangerous. Use water and a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge to remove dirt and avoid damaging your solar panels in any way. 

Summer is one of the best times to clean your solar panels. It’s the season with the least amount of rain, and rain can easily wash dirt off your solar panels. Additionally, it’s better to clean your panels when it’s hot outside.

Avoid installing panels in shaded areas

Your solar panels should be positioned so they can receive the most sun exposure possible. Being on your roof, they are placed perfectly near the sun. However, any overgrown trees could potentially block sunlight. Make sure you trim any trees and branches that may be preventing sun exposure. 

Monitor your solar panels 

The sun’s course varies slightly every day, thus constant monitoring is essential. You can easily monitor your solar panels manually rather than spending money on an automated tracking system. You should also monitor your solar panel output for optimal results from your solar PV system.

Consider buying a solar battery

The solar energy your panels absorb during the day can be stored in a solar battery so you can use it to generate electricity at times when your panels aren’t producing, like at night. 

A solar battery is a fantastic investment because many houses will most likely only consume half the energy generated by the panels on a sunny day. So, you can store around half the energy your solar panels produce on a summer’s day to use at night. It will cost to install battery storage, but you can get them included with a solar package. 

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