Dec 28, 2008 12:38 pm US/Pacific
Rainy Weather Improves Solar Panel Output
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS) ―
Solar panels produce more electricity during the summer months rather than winter, but California's rainy winters can be a good thing for producing solar energy.
"There's actually a weather phenomenon that works to the advantage of solar power here in northern California during the winter and it's called rain. The rain actually cleans the system which improves production and we find that systems don't need any cleaning during the winter months where as during the summer time we find that they need two or three cleanings," said Rob Erlichman, President of Sunlight Electric, a San Francisco solar company.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) defines winter as November through April, and in those six months, Erlichman says his company generates just 40 percent of the company's annual production even though the skies are gray.
He says, however, that there are ways to squeeze more energy out of the panels.
"You can increase the 'tilt' to improve winter production, but as a result you wind up sacrificing summer production for fixed tilt systems. So we typically optimize at a tilt of 20 to 30 degrees and that maximizes overall annual production."
Erlichman believes that despite the tough economic times solar energy is primed to grow because of growing interest in green energy and because it saves money.
"One of our greatest challenges is addressing the misperception that solar is not affordable. Both homeowners and businesses can take advantage of leases that require no out-of-pocket payment."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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