Putting solar panels on your home may seem tricky at first, especially when you think about stuff like clouds. You might wonder – Do clouds affect solar panels? The good news is, you don’t need a college degree to get the basics of how solar power works for houses.
To understand why clouds aren’t an issue for solar-powered homes, it helps to know about something called net-metering. Net-metering means any extra sunlight your panels take in gets added to your power bill as credits.
So if clouds block the sun, you can use those credits you’ve banked on sunny days. This makes sure clouds passing by don’t leave you without electricity.
Net metering allows solar panel owners to receive credit for the excess electricity they produce. Here’s how it works:
Your solar panels generate electricity in the daytime that feeds back into the power grid. When you don’t use all of the electricity right away, your solar system stores it on the grid in your name. Your net meter keeps track of both the energy you use and the energy your home puts back into the grid from the solar panels.
At night or when it’s cloudy and your solar panels aren’t making electricity, the electric grid still provides your home with electricity.
The power grid is like a well that you draw water from, and your solar system refills that well in your name. Sometimes it even puts extra water back.
Change water to electricity and you’ve got a good idea of net-metering works!
You only pay the energy company their connection/minimum fee and for the electricity your panels didn’t produce, if any.
Upon approval, Zone 5 makes enough solar energy in the summer to have extra credits for the cloudier winter months.
Net-metering makes going solar financially smart. It’s like saving unused cell phone minutes.
- Understanding the average cloud cover in your area enhances predictions of solar panel productivity over the year.
- Satellite data is utilized to ascertain the frequency of sunshine and cloud cover specific to your address annually.
- Analysis includes identifying which side of your home receives the most sunlight, factoring in seasonal variations.
- Calculations determine the optimal number of panels required to generate sufficient electricity for your home.
- The approach is precise and mathematical, rather than based on estimations.
Zone 5 factoring your cloud cover gives you a more accurate Energy Efficiency Report.
For an accurate assessment of your home’s potential, call Zone 5 for a specialist to inspect your home and review your electric bill with you. Saving thousands of dollars on electricity is closer than you think; it may just be one click away!
