Does Solar Power Work in New Jersey Winters?
One of the most commonly asked questions about home solar systems is whether or not they’ll work through winter. Here are some answers from the specialists in residential solar in Morris County, NJ:
- Solar Panels Love Daylight, Not Heat
Solar panels work by harnessing sunlight through photovoltaic cells, converting the sun’s rays into electricity. This means that sunny days are better than hot days – and there are quite a few of those in winter. In fact, the reflection from snow and ice as well as gusty winds along with the cold temperatures can improve solar performance, so they’ll keep producing energy to power your home.
- Sunlight Statistics for New Jersey
New Jersey is a fairly sunny state, ranking 37th out of 50 for sunny weather with an average of 2,500 hours of sunlight per year. In summer, there are around 4.76 peak sun hours per day and, in winter, this falls a little to 3.2 peak sunlight hours. These are the hours where your panels will be producing the most amount of energy.
- Staying on Solar Through Winter in NJ
There’s plenty of sun in the Garden State throughout the winter months to help you stay on solar power and reduce home power cost in Morris County, NJ, but this will typically differ between home solar systems based on two factors:
- The Quality of Your Solar Panels
High-quality solar panels like SunPower are very efficient. This means that they produce much more energy from sunlight than low-quality panels, so they work well even on low light days. Your solar panels should be designed and tested to handle the New Jersey weather, including snow, hail, winds, and rain.
- Your Solar Panel Installation
The number of solar panels you have, how they are positioned on your roof, and whether or not you have buildings or trees shading the roof will make a big impact on your home’s ability to generate solar power. It’s best to call in experienced local solar specialists to ensure that your installation is designed to be as effective as possible.
If you’re worried that your solar system won’t handle the additional energy needs of winter, solar installation specialists can assist you by installing a battery back-up system. This will store the energy produced by your panels on sunny days for use on cloudy or low-light days.
Reduce Your Home’s Power Cost in Morris County, NJ, This Winter with Solar Power
Greenhouse Solar is one of the leading solar companies in Morris County, NJ. We are Sonnen Certified, and our experienced teams are ready to answer all your questions about home solar systems and solar battery backup systems. We are here to help design, install, and maintain your solar system, completely customized to your needs and budget. To find out more about solar backup systems and residential solar in Morris County NJ, our company or services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://greenhouse.solar/.