Solar energy has great potential for producing electricity, but it depends on many weather and climate factors. The efficiency of a solar power plant isn’t only influenced by the location and panel placement—its full potential depends on several factors. The power density of sunlight is especially important, but it constantly changes with the time of day, weather conditions, and seasons.
Why isn’t your solar power plant performing as expected?
The performance of solar panels is affected by air temperature – in very high heat, the panels work less efficiently, while wind is helpful because it cools down overheated panels. The operation of a solar power plant depends on many weather-related factors, including pollution from desert dust, which reduces performance. Extreme weather events, like hail, can even damage the panels.
How to ensure your solar power plant works optimally
Weather is unpredictable and constantly changing. To make sure your solar power plant is running at its best, it’s important to know what’s really happening with the panels and what the actual reasons might be for any performance issues. Is the energy loss caused by dirt on the panels, hail damage, worn-out batteries, overheated photovoltaic cells, lack of wind, or a fault in the power wiring?
The performance of solar panels is affected by air temperature – in very high heat, the panels work less efficiently, while wind is helpful because it cools down overheated panels. The operation of a solar power plant depends on many weather-related factors, including pollution from desert dust, which reduces performance. Extreme weather events, like hail, can even damage the panels.
How to ensure your solar power plant works optimally
Weather is unpredictable and constantly changing. To make sure your solar power plant is running at its best, it’s important to know what’s really happening with the panels and what the actual reasons might be for any performance issues. Is the energy loss caused by dirt on the panels, hail damage, worn-out batteries, overheated photovoltaic cells, lack of wind, or a fault in the power wiring?
“Installing a weather station and sensors to measure wind strength, temperature, and panel pollution helps us better identify the causes of losses, giving us a clearer insight into how our solar power plant is performing.”
Matjaž Loborec, CEO of VNet
Matjaž Loborec, CEO of VNet
