As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, many homeowners begin to brace for the inevitable increase in their energy bills. However, there is a way to not only lower your energy usage but also reduce your reliance on expensive fossil fuels – solar panels.
While solar panels are often associated with sunny summer days, they can be just as effective in winter. In fact, with the right setup, solar energy can be an excellent way to lower your energy bills even during the colder months.
Read on to find out how solar panels can help lower your energy bills in the winter.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Solar panels, also known as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, are a renewable technology designed to convert sunlight directly into electricity using the photovoltaic cells in the panels.
This electricity can then be used by appliances and devices in your home that require it. Alternatively, it can be stored using a solar battery for later use or sold back to the grid for extra money.
What are the Benefits of Solar Panels?
There are many benefits of solar panels including:
- Reducing your energy bills – By generating electricity you will not only cut your reliance on the National Grid but also your energy bills.
- Generate money – If you have excess electricity that your panels have generated, but you haven’t used, you can sell this electricity back to the grid for some extra cash.
- Solar power is clean and green – Do your part in helping tackle the climate crisis by switching to solar as it is a low carbon, renewable energy source.
Can Solar Panels Help Lower Your Energy Bills in Winter?
Yes! Solar panels can help you lower your energy bills in winter. Many people worry about the cold dark winter months and whether solar panels will affect the performance on their panels but in most cases it shouldn’t affect it too much.
Solar panels rely on sunlight and daylight to function not heat and therefore lower temperatures shouldn’t affect their performance. The only thing that will affect their performance is the fewer sunlight hours that winter brings.
However, solar panels can still produce enough energy during daylight hours to power your home, especially if you have an adequately sized system. Energy production will naturally be lower on cloudy days or during extended periods of snow, but solar systems are still effective even with reduced sunlight.
You just need to make sure you are making the most of your panels and the energy produced during generating hours.
How to Make the Most of the Electricity Your Solar Panels Have Produced?
To make the most of your solar panels during low generation hours there are a few things you can do:
Consider Battery Storage
Solar batteries, or solar power storage, allow the energy generated from your solar panels to be stored. The stored electricity can then be used at a later time. This means that when your panels aren’t generating electricity – such as through the night – your appliances and devices will still have power.
This is especially helpful in winter when sunlight hours are shorter. With a battery, you can avoid drawing power from the grid during peak hours, further lowering your energy costs.
Check Nothing is Shading Your Panels
As the sun is lower in the winter months you may find your panels becoming shaded. This is because the from objects that they weren’t from previously.
Check your panels You may need to check that your panels are still shade-free. Any shade on your panels can reduce their efficiency.
Keep Your Panels Clean
Cleaning is the most common maintenance you will need to perform. Most of the time, the rain should be enough to wash off light debris from your panels.
However, you may need to give them a proper clean from time to time. This may be needed during a rare dry spell of rain or a build up of bird droppings.
If heavy snowfall occurs you may need to clear it off your solar panels to keep them working efficiently.
Use More Energy During Daylight Hours
To optimise your energy savings, consider running appliances like your washing machine, dishwasher, or water heater during daylight hours when your panels are producing the most energy. Shifting high-energy tasks to the day can help you reduce reliance on grid electricity.
Looking for Solar Panels?
If you are looking for solar panels then you can get a free no obligation quote here.
At Homeshield Scotland, we have been providing homeowners with ways to make their homes more energy efficient.
We have been installing renewables such as solar panels, air source heat pumps and batteries in customers’ homes for a number of years.
Get started on your journey to a warmer cheaper and greener future today.
