Living in Australia, you’re likely using air conditioning in the summer and heaters in the winter to keep your house at optimal temperature. Running these heating and cooling appliances, however, consumes a lot of electricity.
These days, many Aussie homes are choosing to utilise the power of the sun to meet their electrical needs and save on their power bill. But as a power source reliant on certain climate conditions, there’s some debate over the effectiveness of solar panels during winter, where sunlight perhaps isn’t as prevalent. So, how do solar panels work in the winter exactly, and is there a drop-off in energy output? Read this Canstar Blue guide to learn more.
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Do solar panels work in winter?
Solar panels work by converting sunlight into energy. So, as long as there’s sunshine, solar panels will continue to generate energy. The main impacts on energy generation during winter come from shorter days and greater potential for cloud cover.
Do solar panels work better in summer or winter?
The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it might seem. While the output of solar panels is generally higher in summer due to the longer days and sunnier conditions, solar panels are more efficient in cooler temperatures. In fact, the optimal temperature for solar panels is around 25 degrees Celsius. Once the temperature exceeds this, overall output tends to decrease. According to the experts at Solar Bright, your solar panels’ efficiency could decrease by about 5% on a 35C day.
So, in terms of solar panel efficiency, winter usually presents the more ideal conditions in many parts of Australia due to cooler temperatures. However, it’s important to note that the increased efficiencies brought on by cooler temperatures does not mean your panels generate more solar power in winter. Because of the long days and increased sun exposure, summer is still the best season for solar power production. According to RACV, a 5 kilowatt (kW) solar system will produce, on average, 10-15kWh a day in winter and 20kWh a day in summer.
Of course, there are some exceptions. Darwin often sees better solar energy output in the winter because the length of days does not vary as much and summer usually brings rain, which means cloudy skies. Solar panels do not work as well with cloud coverage so Darwin’s winter, which brings dry weather and clear skies, generally brings better performance.
Compare Solar Plans & Prices
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on SA Power network in Adelaide but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Make the most of your solar power in winter
The best way to utilise the solar energy produced by your solar panels not only in winter, but all year round, is to monitor your usage to see when the panels are producing the most energy. From here, you can find a way to maximise your usage during this time. This might involve moving more of your energy consumption into the middle of the day, a feat made possible for those who are out of the house during this time through the use of timers or automated processes. For example, setting your washing machine on a delay so that it’ll be ready for you when you get home, rather than putting it on when you get home in the evening and electricity rates are higher.
Alternatively, you might consider adding a battery to your solar energy setup to capture any of that unused power to use later on or to sell back to the grid when it is at an optimal price. A time-of-use tariff may help to align with times of peak and off-peak demand. However, be sure to set up your usage periods correctly, or you may end up footing the bill for more than double the average prices during peak times.
If you are on the hunt for a new energy plan or can’t remember the last time you compared prices then be sure to check our free comparison tool below. Here we show a range of plans from over 30 providers. All you need to do is add your postcode – no emails or phone numbers needed.
Image credits: Shorzewiak/Shutterstock.com, John Martin Will/Shutterstock.com
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