I don't think I've seen this mentioned by our Enviro-Masters
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easy solution: put big fans around them. of course, the wind often disappears when the temperature soars, but is that really Al Gore’s problem?
As the temperature rises, solar panels lose efficiency: 25% at 90° (Another surprise, is that that efficiency drops to zero when the sun goes down)
Besides having to compensate for the winds dropping away (uh-oh), who knew solar panels go to poop in the heat?
Britain has started burning coal to generate electricity for the first time in a month and a half, after the heatwave made solar panels too hot to work efficiently.
…High temperatures over the weekend also reduced the amount of energy generated from solar panels. Output on Sunday was almost a third lower than a week earlier, despite temperatures climbing above 30 degrees celsius across large parts of the country.
Solar panels are tested at a benchmark of 25C. For every degree rise in temperature above this level, the efficiency is reduced by 0.5 percentage points.
The temperature level refers to the solar cell temperature, rather than the air temperature. In direct sunlight, the cells can easily reach 60 or 70 degrees.
Alastair Buckley, professor of organic electronics at the University of Sheffield, said: “Both days were largely sunny in the morning, so a good part of the reduction in output will be due to the efficiency reduction from higher temperatures on Saturday compared to Friday.
“Compared with a cool cloudy day, the cells might be a maximum of 25pc less efficient.”
And “solar” panels need their OWN cooling systems (!) in the desert. GTFO!
…In hot environments, PV panels tend to be less efficient due to the negative impact of high temperatures on the performance of PV cells. As the temperature rises, the output voltage of a solar panel decreases, leading to reduced power generation. For every degree Celsius above 25°C (77°F), a solar panel’s efficiency typically declines by 0.3% to 0.5%.
This decrease in efficiency can be significant in regions where temperatures rise dramatically during the day, such as deserts or tropical areas. In these environments, it’s best to select PV panels with a low-temperature coefficient. Also, installing cooling systems and ensuring adequate ventilation can help mitigate the effects of heat on solar panel efficiency.
…Why Don’t Solar Panels Work as Well in Heat Waves?
Solar panels don’t work well in heat waves due to the temperature-induced decrease in efficiency. As the temperature of the solar panels rises, their power output decreases. During a heat wave, the higher temperatures hinder the panels’ ability to convert sunlight into electricity effectively.
Other options for increasing efficiency include cooling your panels off with water. Although, if you’re concerned about conserving water, that might not be a great option. It’s also recommended homeowners position their panels in such a way that they receive good ventilation, and consider keeping indoor energy usage to a minimum. This will help increase output from the solar panels.
So, when the heat comes barreling in, turn off your a/c and climb up on your roof with a garden hose. Genius.
