Does Solar Panel Work in Shades? This question bothers everyone who gives installing it on their roofs a thought. But honestly there isn’t any good guide regarding it on the web. That’s why I have decided to write one here.
We all know that under the contemporary trend of environment preservation, the usage of solar panels is on the rise on a global scale. People from all over the world are resorting renewable sources of energy for fulfilling power requirements. Cost-effectiveness is the main reason for the popularity of solar panels.
But there are a lot of confusions about solar panels which are needed to be addressed. One such confusion is whether solar panel works in shades or not. We will try to decode that in this article. Let’s begin!
Yes, the solar panels are effective and efficient enough to work even in the shaded areas and clouds. But, in that case, the power output of the panel will be lesser than normal because of lesser exposure to sunlight. Expert panel designing and altering roof orientation can address the issue effectively.
Some of the Common Reasons for Shading of Solar Panels
- Trees: There are several residential areas which are quite densely vegetated. The panels put up in those areas face shading issues resulting in reduced power output.
- Clouds: The weather plays a very crucial role in the expert functioning of the solar panels. The presence of clouds prohibits the panels from receiving optimum exposure to sunlight. This results in reduced power production.
- Presence of other panels: The ground installed solar panels get mostly overshadowed by the presence of other neighbouring panels. In such cases, expert and careful installation are necessary so that the overshadowing issue does not pose a threat to power production.
- Buildings and roofs: The efficiency of the panels are greatly hampered by the presence of tall buildings in the surroundings. Such presences greatly hinder the exposure to sunlight resulting in reduced power production.
If these solar cells remain shaded they stop functioning. The efficiency of power production is determined by the amount of exposure these solar cells are receiving. The shades do not completely block the power production but its efficiency is affected. There are certain advanced solar panels now available that can work under poor lighting conditions. But these panels are also not 100% immune about addressing the flaw.
Addressing shading issues
There are multiple methods to combat the shading issues of solar panels. Continuous shading reduces the life span of the panel. Some of the most common methods to overcome the shading issues are:
1. Stringing arrangements
The modules of the solar panel system are attached together to form a string-like setting. They remain in parallel to the inverter. Shading issue can significantly drop down the power output of one string. However, the parallel string’s output cannot be reduced by the shaded module of one string. Therefore, the system can be optimized by the correct altered classification of the shaded and unshaded modules into separate strings.
2. Bypass Diodes
These devices allow the current to move past beyond the shaded modules. Proper utilization of these diodes allows the unshaded cell strings to let the current flow through them.
3. MLPEs
These devices are connected to each shaded solar panel module in a PV system. It enhances the power output by utilizing optimum power point tracking. MLPEs generally include microinverters and DC optimizers.
4. Ground mount PV system
Here, the panel orientation can be optimized without any space restriction. There is also good ground clearance amidst the ground and the panel.
Conclusion: From the above discussion (does solar panel work in shades), it is evident that the efficiency of the solar panels is optimum when exposed to direct sunlight. However, cloudy or shaded conditions will also get them going if the above-mentioned techniques are carefully implemented without compromising productivity much.