In January and February 2021, the Sacramento Valley experienced 70-degree weather, which is uncharacteristic for our area. Spring also saw temperatures higher than normal. This leads to predictions of a hot summer indeed. Many households are already gearing up to use their air conditioners more than usual. In fact, some of them have wisely chosen to install solar panels on their roofs to protect them from electrical blackouts or high utility bills (or both!). But how does that intense heat affect solar panels?
Can They Take It Anymore?
When temperatures near 100° Fahrenheit, solar panels slightly lose their efficiency, typically about half a percent (.5%) for each increased degree. Keeping this in mind, the solar panel industry uses a standard certification. It requires test panels be exposed to 85° Celsius (185° Fahrenheit) and 85% relative humidity for 1000 hours. Maxeon tests their panels in house for over 8000 hours, guaranteeing their efficiency stays above the competitors’.
As a result, independent tests in Taiwan showed Maxeon photovoltaic panels generate five percent (5%) more energy yield over other panels after one year of use, in average temperatures of 27°C (85°F). That means your Maxeon solar panels, offered through SunPower and installed by Solaron, keep their efficiency better in high temperatures than other panels on the market.
Contributing Factors To Beat the Heat
There are, however, a few things that a homeowner can do to lower roof temperatures and keep solar panel efficiency at its peak.
Roof color — dark roofs absorb heat and then radiate it outward, increasing the temperature of the solar panel system. A lighter color on your roof helps to keep the heat down.
Roof composition — the roof material also affects how much heat is radiated. Ceramic or concrete tiles help to keep heat down, as does a green roof (covered with plants, soil and vegetation). Composite shingles or metal might be less expensive, but they produce more heat.
Roof coatings — the construction and roofing industries have various materials and products to coat a roof and increase its heat resistance. You can speak with a roofing specialist to see what product would improve your roof’s ability to endure the heat.
Even if you cannot adjust these factors, your Maxeon solar panels installed by Solaron are built to take the heat. Each panel comes with a 25-year warranty to make sure it keeps working efficiently every summer, so you can run your air conditioner for as long as you need without the worry of high utility bills. To find out more and get a free solar analysis, give us a call or schedule an appointment using our online form.