Solar energy is very much epitomized by solar panels; they define solar energy best as anything else. Which is why, given solar energy’s prevalence in the world, especially in Middle East, it is important to know just how exactly solar energy works and how solar panels work. One of the major misconceptions about solar panels is the fact that many people think that they need direct sunlight to work, and during overcast or cloudy, rainy weather, solar panels are as good as non- functional. In this blog, we’ll answer the question whether solar panels really do need direct sunlight to work, and how exactly does a PV cell work.

We’ll also look at the best solar company in Dubai, Beacon Energy, and how it is shaping up the renewable energy skyline of the entire region by providing and supplying the best solar energy equipment from reputed manufacturers across the world.

Let’s get started on ‘do solar panels need direct sunlight’.

Do solar panels need direct sunlight to work?

The short answer is no. Solar panels do not need direct sunlight to work, but they do need direct sunlight to generate electricity at their maximum potential. The simple matter of fact is this: solar panels do operate in overcast, rainy or even snowy conditions. As long as there is a little bit of light, solar panels will work.

However, as you can probably guess from the difference between being operational and generating on maximum capacity and efficiency, the difference between full sunlight and overcast conditions is the generation potential. The solar panels will work and even generate electricity during cloudy weather; but you will notice a considerable drop in the generation from the panels.

On the other hand, with bright and strong sunshine, you can notice the difference in generation from the solar panels. Operating at full efficiency, the solar panels will easily reach their maximum efficiency and will generate enough electricity to run the household. In the former scenario, during overcast or cloudy weather, the generation will be low, and wont make any difference; should your system be a hybrid or on-grid system, you will continue to use from the grid while solar will only be able to supplement it.

How does a solar panel function?

Much of this is down to the functioning of a solar panel. A solar panel’s surface consists of thousands of PV cells that generate electricity by using silicon wafers to initiate a stream of electrons once sunlight hits the surface of the cells. With thousands of these cells per solar panel, and numerous solar panels per system, the electricity generated in ideal conditions can be enough to power the household.

However, during overcast conditions or during weather where direct sunlight isn’t reaching the solar panels, there is still enough light to kickstart the reaction within the PV cells. This allows them to still generate electricity, albeit on a very limited scale. This is why, while solar panels are technically active and operational during such weather, they won’t be able to give you the performance as advertised.

How to ensure optimal solar panel performance?

The Middle East in general and Dubai in particular are places where sunlight isn’t a problem and is quite readily available. This means that the potential for solar is greater here than anywhere else, and this also means that households or commercial sites for solar won’t experience such dips in generation. To ensure optimal solar panel performance, two things are imperative: the angle at which the solar panels are installed, and the exact timing at which sunlight hits its peak.

When combined, these two factors can give a huge boost to your solar energy system, allowing you to tap into the full efficiency of solar energy. During peak solar hours, usually around midday or noon, sunlight penetration is at its maximum, and depending on the receptive angle of the solar panels, you can generate enough energy in those couple of hours to last you an entire day.

So, ensuring optimal solar panel performance depends much on the type of the solar panel, and on the installation angle of the panels.

Beacon Energy: The best solar panel supplier in UAE

We’ve talked at length about how the Middle East is a region with a lot of potential for solar energy. Middle East also happens to be the region where the best solar company in UAE, Beacon Energy, is focusing its efforts on, making the region more conducive towards solar energy. By providing quality solar energy equipment from tier-1 manufacturers like Canadian Solar, SOFAR Solar, Solana and others, Beacon Energy is aiming to bring an entirely new class of solar to the region. Check us out at Beacon Energy and learn more about how our excellence shines through the renewable energy skyline in UAE.