Do Solar Panels Work at Night?

Solar panels have become more popular in recent years, with many homeowners choosing to install them on roofs as an alternative to a traditional power system. Solar energy systems power homes using energy from the sun and are a much more environmentally friendly and cheaper option than traditional power systems. But seeing as solar panels draw power from the sun, people often wonder whether solar panels will produce energy in bad or cloudy weather conditions or at night. So, do solar panels work at night? This article will explain the answer.

Solar Panels at Nighttime

The short answer to this question is easy: no, solar panels do not work at night. Since they create energy from the photons in the sun’s rays, solar panels are not able to produce energy at nighttime when the sun is not shining. To someone considering making the switch to solar energy, this might seem concerning. Will using solar panels leave your home powerless in the evening hours? Certainly not! Fortunately, there are a couple of ways that you can power your home using solar panels, even when the sun is not shining.

Net Metering

During the day when the sun is shining, your solar panels are hard at work producing all sorts of energy. Often, your solar panels will produce more energy than you immediately need to power your home. What happens to that excess power? Well, it must either be stored or used elsewhere. Net metering allows you to connect your solar panels to your local power grid. When your panels produce excess energy, that energy is deposited into the power grid, and the electrical company gives you a credit for that energy. At nighttime, or at any other time when your panels are not producing new energy, you can cash in that credit to use energy from the power grid. Net metering availability and policies differ based on your area, so be sure to check them out before choosing this option.

Solar Battery Storage

Alternatively, you can store the excess energy created by your panels in a solar battery that is installed to your power system. When your panels produce extra energy, it will be transferred to the solar battery and stored until it is needed. At night, your home will be powered by the energy that has been stored in the battery. This method allows your energy system to be completely independent of the power grid.

Technically, solar panels do not work at night, but that doesn’t mean that the solar panel system as a whole is crippled without sunlight. Net metering and solar battery storage are both good options to consider for powering a solar panel-equipped home in the evening hours. If you’re considering solar panels, know that you will be able to successfully power your home even when it is dark outside.

FAQ

Do solar panels work at night?

During the day when the sun is shining, your solar panels are hard at work producing all sorts of energy. Often, your solar panels will produce more energy than you immediately need to power your home. What happens to that excess power? Well, it must either be stored or used elsewhere. Net metering allows you to connect your solar panels to your local power grid. When your panels produce excess energy, that energy is deposited into the power grid, and the electrical company gives you a credit for that energy. At nighttime, or at any other time when your panels are not producing new energy, you can cash in that credit to use energy from the power grid. Net metering availability and policies differ based on your area, so be sure to check them out before choosing this option.

Additional Resources:

Solar Energy for your Home or Business

4K HDR

Moon

Lithium

Galaxy

Harvard: Future of Solar