How Efficient Are Solar Panels On A Cloudy Day

Solar panels can still can produce 10 25 of their typical output on a cloudy day.

How efficient are solar panels on a cloudy day.

For that same reason solar panels can still produce electricity on cloudy days. During cloudy days and seasons where the sun s hidden behind the clouds solar systems are less efficient. But depending on the cloud cover and the quality of the solar panels efficiency can drop to anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of the energy output seen on a sunny day. Depending on your energy consumption on a typical cloudy day your solar panels will only generate roughly 10 27 of what it normally would than if the sun was out and pounding strong waves down to your solar panels.

Obviously this amount is much less than during periods of direct sunlight but it is not nothing. Though estimates range solar panels will generate about 10 25 of their normal power output on a cloudy day. The exact amount will vary depending on the density of the clouds and may also vary by the type of solar panel. It s just naturally going to produce less electrical energy because the grid receives less light.

The simple answer is that solar panels do work on cloudy days they just do not perform as well as they would on a bright sunny day. Anyone who has gotten sunburned on a cloudy day knows that solar radiation penetrates clouds.