Many in the country have no plans to adopt solar panels because it needs a steady stream of sunlight to generate electricity. The heat and light produced by solar energy are invaluable in generating power that can support an entire house. However, light is scarce in some regions of the country. Some people in colder regions complain that the solar panels do not generate enough light and heat to collect sufficient energy for their entire house.
For most homeowners, solar panels will fare much better in tropical countries because of the steady sunlight stream. Consistent heat is seen as beneficial for any solar panel system because many perceive it can produce more electricity in that way. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
Solar panels do absorb heat during operation. The sun’s rays will hit the cells and generate electricity. However, too much heat can also destroy solar panels. Solar panels have their respective optimal operating heat – going above or below it means inefficient energy production.
Temperatures in tropical countries will need specially-manufactured solar panels that can withstand heat going beyond 25 degrees Celsius. Existing panels today have this temperature as their limit, and going beyond it will play a huge role in solar energy production in various countries in the world – especially as a deterrent to global warming.
Read more about solar panel energy generation and the ongoing heatwave in various Western countries in this post from CNBC.
Last week saw temperatures in the U.K. surge, with highs of over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded for the first time ever.
The news out of the U.K. — which experienced a number of significant weather-related disruptions — came as other parts of Europe grappled with a heatwave that caused fires, delays to travel, and death.
On July 20, Solar Energy UK, citing data from Sheffield Solar’s PV Live site, said the country’s solar power output had “met up to a quarter of the UK’s power demand.” The trade association added that, across 24 hours, solar had “provided an estimated 66.9 gigawatt-hours, or 8.6% of the UK’s power needs.”
Many would think the scorching heat of the past few days would represent the ultimate sweet spot for solar photovoltaic systems, which directly convert light from the sun into electricity.
The reality is a bit more complex. According to Solar Energy UK, the U.K.’s solar capacity reaches an optimum level of output at temperatures measuring roughly 25C.
“For every degree either side of that, it is lowered by about only 0.5%, though newer modules have improved performance,” it says.
In a statement, Alastair Buckley, who is professor of organic electronics at the University of Sheffield and leads Sheffield Solar, said this was “why we never see peak output in midsummer — peak national output is always in April and May when it’s cool and sunny.” Sheffield Solar is part of the university’s Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures.
Buckley’s argument is borne out by the current record for solar generation in the U.K. It stands at 9.89 GW and was reached on April 22, 2021, according to data from Sheffield Solar.
The temperatures of last week were far higher than 25C, but the overall effect was, it would seem, not too disruptive. A significant ramp up would be required for major issues to arise, according to Solar Energy UK.
It says panel temperatures are determined by a range of factors: what it calls “radiative heating from the sun,” ambient temperature and the cooling effects of wind. “Losing 20% efficiency, considered a significant amount, would require them to reach a huge 65°C.” (Continue reading to learn more)
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