Solar efficiency is determined by the type of panels you have installed on your home, the direction they are facing, how much sunlight they receive, and ultimately this determines the actual energy output of the solar panel.
Solar panels that are facing the south produce the most solar power overall. They produce most of their power during midday. Midday is when consumption of power is typically at its lowest, therefore there will be a lot of surplus power being produced at this time also. The power homeowners in Orange County derive by their solar absorbing energy 24/7 is only equivalent to 5 to 6 hours of full sun per day. The time that solar panels work the best though is 11:00am to 4:00pm. This is also considered midday, or peak sun hours.
Peak sun hours are not the hours between sunrise and sunset. They refer directly to the solar insolation a particular area would receive when the sun’s intensity is highest for a specific number of hours. This creates the best-case scenario for your solar system, as it will produce the maximum amount of energy in the shortest time.
Solar panels can also work in the shade – that’s right! They will generate less electric current than they would under optimum conditions, yet they still generate some power. On cloudy days, solar energy panels only receive about 10% to 25% of their capacity energy. This percentage varies depending on the solar panel’s efficiency and the amount of clouds in the sky.
Solar does not typically work to its full capacity during the night time. Solar panels need light – preferably sunlight – to create energy. Although they are able to generate some energy from light sources such as street lamps, building signs, and even the moon, their output of energy is very low.
Considering getting solar energy panels installed on your home? Visit Orange County Solar online today and get your free solar installation and/or solar battery quote right away. We pride ourselves in superior solar installation services throughout Orange County, CA and stand by our quality for decades to come.