What Affects Solar Panel Output?

When considering a solar installation in New York, you’ll learn that solar panel output is one of the most important factors in determining the benefits of going renewable. To enjoy a return on investment, your panels will need to produce enough energy to create savings on your utility bill. The whole idea of solar is that you can meet a significant amount of your daily electricity needs from the panels on your rooftop.

With a system that is well-designed and adequately sized for your home, you should be able to generate savings equal to the cost of installation within the first 10 years. Solar panels last for around 25 to 30 years, so all the savings after that point will be your return on investment.

Solar panel output will affect how much you can save with your system, and there are a few things to know before you take the next step on your solar journey.

Factors That Contribute to Solar Panel Efficiency

Three key factors affect solar panel efficiency and solar panel output. These are temperature, shading, and latitude.

• Shading has a significant impact on efficiency and output. If your panels are shaded, even for part of the day, then they will be less efficient. Sometimes this is OK, especially if the shade is temporary and if the panels can make up for the loss when fully exposed to sunlight. If panels are likely to be shaded so much that efficiency drops significantly, then natural shade structures like trees may need to be trimmed back or removed so that you can get the most from your investment in solar.
• Temperature also contributes to efficiency. If the panels get too cold or too hot, then they won’t work as well. In New York, temperatures fluctuate significantly throughout the year but mostly stay within a good operational range for panels to produce solar energy. The most efficient operating temperature is around 25°C or 77°F, but efficiency changes only a little when deviating from this. Generally, New York’s range of temperatures is considered good for solar energy production.
• Latitude also affects efficiency. Close to the equator, the sun’s energy is stronger because it travels through less atmosphere to reach solar panels. New York State might not seem too close to the equator, but it’s close enough that solar panels can still create impressive savings.

When your solar panels are installed, the system will be positioned so that it gets ideal sunlight throughout the whole year. A reliable installer like New York Power Solutions will use the best panels for the expected conditions. While the output of the system will fluctuate throughout the year, months with lower efficiency due to the seasons and conditions will be balanced by months with high efficiency. Before you invest in solar, you’ll get a detailed cost/benefit breakdown so that you can predict savings, the paythrough period, and the real value of switching to solar in your area.

New York Solar Tax Credits and SMART Solar Financing

Solar is relatively affordable today, largely thanks to federal and New York solar tax credits. You can get an initial interest-free round of SMART solar financing based on the expected tax credits, before moving to a standard solar loan. Our split financing requires no money down and is the easiest way to get solar power in New York.

Learn More About Solar Panels for Your Home

You can learn more about the cost of solar, solar panel output, efficiency, and potential savings. Start by talking to the team at New York Power Solutions, get your free home solar estimate, and see just how good things can be when solar is done right.