For homeowners considering solar power, a major concern is whether energy is still produced when conditions are less than ideal. After all, the Intermountain region of the U.S. is known for weather extremes. Snow, rain, sleet and clouds can all occur, sometimes all within a few hours on a given day.

"One of the top search results recently for solar is if it works in Utah weather," says Trent Vansice, one of the owners and founders of Auric Solar, Utah's largest and most trusted solar provider. "A properly sized system takes into account Utah's diverse weather," Vansice continues. "With 5.2 average solar hours every day, Utah is a great place for solar, even with all of its rain, sleet, snow and fog."

Solar panels are designed to withstand the worst possible weather while still producing sufficient power. Here is some information about how solar energy functions during Utah's typical inclement weather.

Clouds and shade

Greenlivinganswers.com reports, "Just as visitors to the beach can still experience sunburn on a cloudy day, solar panels can still collect some degree of energy from the sun's rays, even if the day is overcast." While cloud cover or shade can diminish energy output, one study found even with heavy, dark afternoon clouds, a solar panel still produced energy at 70 percent capacity.

Hail

To obtain UL safety standard approval, solar panels must withstand a hail test. During the test, "hail is simulated with a 1-inch steel ball at terminal velocity that strikes the solar panels at an angle of 90 degrees," reports energyinformative.org. For most standard tests, panels must withstand a simulated hail impact at 50 miles an hour, according to an article in Mother Earth News.

Wind

In most cases, solar panels themselves will not be harmed by severe winds. In the installation process, the panels are mounted to withstand winds typical for the area. During Hurricane Sandy, which caused extensive damage along the East Coast, most rooftop solar installations came through unscathed.

Snow

"We have snow and single digit temperatures for a few weeks a year, but that averages out with all of the great sunlight we get year round," says Jess Phillips, another owner and founder of Auric Solar. It also helps that solar panels are situated to capture the most sunlight in a given location. As a result, snow usually quickly melts off the panels' surface. If there is a heavy accumulation of snow, it can be removed with a roof rake without any fear of damage.

In some instances, snow can even increase solar energy. In an article for accuweather.com, Joshua Pearce, associate professor at Michigan Tech University, is quoted as saying, "When snow is on the ground and the panels are clean, the snowy surface basically acts as a mirror and you can get higher output. In many cases, you end up with a small boost because of the reflection off the snow."

Rain

Rain is another weather event that can actually benefit solar panels. Rain can wash away dust and dirt to help keep panels operating at highest efficiency. Even on rainy days, the amount of visible light that makes it through to the panels is sufficient to generate power.

Significant advances in solar energy science are still occurring. A team of students from MIT, the California Institute of Technology and Stanford University, recently won an award for technology to optimize solar energy output. The discovery has the potential to eliminate the problem of diminished solar power from weather, shade, clouds, etc.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports solar power currently produces enough energy to power the equivalent of 4.3 million average American homes, and the number is constantly increasing, making it the best time for homeowners to jump in and benefit from the sun.

The opportunities have never been brighter for solar power. Contact a solar professional today to help you get the most of out of Utah's sunlight, even in the darkest of snowy, rainy, hail-ish days.

Related topics