As you might know, solar energy is one of the greenest and cleanest energy forms you will find. Because of this, you might be able to reduce the carbon footprint of your household by investing in solar technology. Some of you may wonder if solar panels work at night.
In addition to this, you will be able to cut your electricity costs and generate all (or much) of the energy you need. Your solar panel system can be considered your own little power station.
But what happens when the sun sets? Will solar panels provide you with electricity at night? For many Australians, this might be a concern. Many appliances – like air conditioning and other systems – need electricity during the night.
First of all: How does solar panel technology work?
To be able to understand whether solar panels can work at night or not, you should first understand how solar panels work.
A solar panel is made out of photovoltaic cells. These cells are placed between layers of silicon or other materials with semi-conducting properties. The layers will energise and create an electric field when they are struck by photons emitted through sunlight.
The process is often referred to as the photoelectric effect and will create a current that can be used to generate electricity. In other words, the cells in your solar panels can convert energy from the sun into electricity.
The electricity is DC (direct current). If the current is going to be used by the grid or by your home appliances, it must first be converted into AC (alternating current). This can be achieved by sending the current through a device called an inverter.
So, do solar panels work at night?
During the night, your rooftop and solar panels will (obviously) not receive any sunlight. As the photovoltaic cells of your solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity, they will technically not work at night.
However, you don’t have to worry about not having any electricity at night. Thanks to battery storage systems, it is possible to utilise solar energy at any time.
How do solar batteries work?
During the day, your solar panel system will often produce more electricity than your household needs. In cases like this, the excess power can be stored in solar system batteries.
More specifically, the power will charge the batteries, and the batteries can then provide you with electricity whenever you need it. In other words, you will have access to electricity during the night – even though your solar panels are not producing energy.
Will solar panels produce energy in low-light conditions?
Although solar panels will not work during the night, they might still produce power during low-light conditions. Typically, you will experience low-light conditions when the sun is setting or rising, and also during cloudy or rainy days.
The rays emitted from the sun will penetrate clouds and emit photons that your solar system needs to produce electricity. Solar panel systems might also activate before the sun fully rises above the horizon if they are high quality.
To make sure the solar panels produce power effectively, it is important to install them in an optimal orientation and position. This way, the panels will receive as many photons from the sun as possible.
Remember, the rain will often contribute to keeping the solar panels clean – especially if your roof is pitched.
Future solar panels might actually produce electricity during the night
Some Australian researchers have been studying the possibilities of solar technology that will be able to produce electricity during the night. In 2022, they had a breakthrough.
The technology is based on utilising the thermal energy radiated from the earth at night. After the sun sets, the energy will continue to emit from the earth’s surface.
However, the technology is still in its early phase, and according to the researchers, it will take some time to finish it. They need to find a material that can be used to achieve the effect they are looking for.
So, one day we might be able to get solar panel systems that produce power during both day and night. Time will tell! But until then, we have solar panel batteries that will do the job.
Are you looking for solar panels and batteries?
As solar panel systems require sunlight to produce energy, no electricity will be produced during the night. So, if you consider installing a solar panel system, it will be a good idea to include batteries. That way, you can store excess energy and use it during the night.
To make sure your solar system is as effective as possible, it might be a good idea to invest in high-quality products and ensure that the installation is done correctly. Find an approved solar panel installer, and enjoy clean energy both day and night!