What Happens When There’s Snow on Solar Panels?

Do Solar Panels Still Work If There’s Snow On Them?

Well, it depends on how much snow we’re talking about. If your solar panels are buried under heavy snow buildup, they’re not getting any direct sunlight and therefore won’t be generating any solar power while they’re covered.

On the other hand, if it’s just a thin layer of snow and solar rays can still get through, there will still be some solar energy production, although it will be significantly reduced. Additionally, if there’s heavy snow on parts of the solar array but areas where the panels are still exposed, you’ll still see some energy output.

In the long run, a few days of snow on your solar panels isn’t going to have that big of an impact on your overall solar energy production. But investing in solar energy storage batteries is a good idea, especially in states with frequent inclement weather. These will help maintain your monthly solar savings — an average of around $105 — even when snow covers your panels.

What Happens To Your Solar Panels When It Snows

Aside from wondering if solar panels still work in cold weather and snow, many homeowners wonder how inclement weather can affect solar panel systems.

Does Snow Damage Solar Panels?

You shouldn’t have to worry too much about snow damaging your solar panels because they’re designed with frames and crannies to withstand added weight.

In fact, panel spec sheets almost always include a max snow load, with an average of 5,400 Pascals. As per LG, a current player in the solar industry, that’s equal to over 110 pounds of snow per square foot. If you see that much snow, you have bigger issues than worrying about whether or not your panels are safe!

So long as your solar PV module is installed by a reliable solar company, you shouldn’t have to worry about snow.

That’s not to say you should start singing “Let It Snow,” either.

With that being said, studies have shown that of all extreme weather events snow represents the biggest challenge to a solar power system’s performance.² 

The potential for solar system damage is minimal from snow, but it’s still there. That’s why we always recommend choosing a solar company that installs high-quality panels and offers a comprehensive warranty for your solar energy system so you’re covered in the event of snow damage.

How Snow Can Be Beneficial for Solar Panels

You probably didn’t think that snow could actually be good for solar panels. But when snow melts off your solar panels, it washes away dirt, dust and pollen with it, making your solar panels cleaner and more efficient.

Those contaminants can absorb and reflect light, which means less sunlight makes its way into your panels and is used for electricity generation. In areas that don’t see regular precipitation, some solar owners need to pay for solar panel cleaning services. Having occasional snowfall in your area can help avoid that extra payment.

How Do You Deal With Snow On Solar Panels?

You invested in a solar panel system and you don’t want snow to lessen its efficiency. So you might be wondering if you should remove snow from your solar panels.

In most cases, there’s really not much you can do to combat snow on your solar panels. But here are three possible options:

1. Clean Snow Off Your Solar Panels

We’re going to be honest, this is probably not your best option. Trying to clean snow off your solar panels is typically not worth the risk of injuring yourself or your solar system. Some companies make long brooms specifically meant for wiping snow off of panels, but this is really only a viable option if you have a one-story house.

If you live in a state like Minnesota or Alaska where snow is abundant and daylight hours are extra short on winter days, solar panel snow removal might be necessary. In that case, you should invest in proper solar panel snow removal tools like a roof rake or a snow broom.

2. Invest In Snow Guards

If you live in a snowy state, you may want to install snow guards with your solar panel system. Snow guards are also easy to add to an existing system, so be sure to ask a local solar installer about them.

Technically, these won’t actually help keep snow off of your panels. In fact, it will keep snow ON them for longer because they prevent the snow from sliding off all at once. However, these are still a good option because they prevent potentially dangerous amounts of snow from falling on you, a family member, or a car parked in front of your home.

3. Wait For Nature To Do Its Thing

In our opinion, the best way to remove snow from your solar panels is to wait on gravity and sunshine to do their thing.

Solar arrays are installed at an angle, so heavier snowfall is likely to slide off on the next sunny day. Plus, dark solar panels are designed to attract and absorb heat, so snow melts faster on them compared to a standard roof shingle.

Final Thoughts: Snow On Solar Panels

Heavy snowfall can stick to your solar panels and block solar production, but it’s not a significant enough impact to make solar not worthwhile. And if you don’t want to take our word for it, know that the Solar Energy Technologies Office has publicly stated  that they’re confident solar panels can still thrive when the snow piles high.³

Additionally, as solar technology advances, more is being done to mitigate snow being an issue. For example, Tesla solar boasts about snow sliding right off of its solar shingles, and CEO Elon Musk has even discussed built-in heating elements as part of solar technology to automatically melt snow and frost.

Solar glass tiles can also incorporate heating elements, like rear defroster on a car, to clear roof of snow and keep generating energy

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 29, 2016

So, if there’s snow in the forecast, don’t worry so much about how your solar panels will fare. Instead, think of it as a free, easy solar panel cleaning solution.

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