Can it be too hot for solar power generators?

Date: 28/06/23

You would imagine that all the recent sunshine we’ve enjoyed would be great news for solar power generators, and in a way it was. However, a strange quirk in the way solar panels work means that it can actually be too sunny for solar power to work as well as it can.

What’s the problem?

It might sound counter-intuitive, but solar panels actually work less well as it gets more sunny. Solar Energy UK estimates that solar power generator performance drops by 0.34percentage points for every degree above 25°C. That might not sound much, but in the recent heatwave, where temperatures reached into the thirties, it can mean a drop-off of 10% or more. The good news is that hot days tend to have much longer hours of sunshine, so the overall output will still be better than on cooler, cloudier days.

How does heat slow solar power generators?

Power is generated when photons hit the solar panel and excite the electrons within it. This creates voltage and produces a current. On hot days, more of the electrons in the panel are already excited by the heat, so there are less available to be excited by the arriving photons, so less voltage can be produced.

Of course, solar power generators are not the only power plants to be affected by the heat. Coal fired, gas fired and especially nuclear power plants all use water to cool them down. If this water is warmer, as it often is during a heatwave, it’s less effective at cooling the plant and so the plant itself is less efficient.

Increased demand in hot weather

Unfortunately, as the warmer weather makes the UK’s solar power generators slightly less efficient, it also increases demand for electricity. More power is needed for specifically hot weather purposes such as air conditioning and refrigeration. Hot days also tend to have less wind, so there’s less energy being produced from wind farms. This is why the UK had to start up coal fired power stations in mid-June, despite solar power providing around 20% of the UK’s electricity at its peak.

Should you still choose solar power generators?

So should this strange quirk of science make you think twice about hiring solar power generators from Think Hire? Absolutely not. As mentioned above, even with the slight drop in efficiency, solar power generators still produce more energy on sunny days, thanks to the clear skies and long hours of daylight. In fact, Germany broke their records for solar power generation during the last heatwave, with output reaching over 40,000MW mid-afternoon.

The latest solar power generator technology

Better still, by hiring your solar power generators from Think Hire, you benefit from the very latest technology. While older solar panels can lose as much as 25% of their output in extreme heat, modern versions only lose 10%, even under the most testing conditions, making them much more efficient and dependable. Hire a solar power generator, such as the versatile Solartainer, and you can enjoy low cost, low emissions energy right across your site, whether you are working in construction in the city, or on road and rail projects in remote locations.

Solar power is growing fast

Solar power generators and solar farms are making a huge contribution to the UK’s goal of net zero by 2050. Solar capacity has increased 2.2% this year, with good weather increasing output by a massive 21%. If you’d like to plug in to the benefits of solar power for your business, get in touch with Think Hire today. We can supply all your renewable energy needs, and we will guarantee to cut costs as well as emissions in the process. To find out more, complete our contact form or call Think Hire directly on 0330 133 2222.

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