# Solar Panels and Snow Coverage **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567 "2010-11-13T17:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/1 "2010-11-13T17:27:18Z")
Do solar panels, the kind that generate electricity, not the hot water kind, still function during the day when covered in a few inches of snow? Given the shorter days, lower outdoor temperatures, and the abundance of snow in the northern regions of the US (and Canada), are solar panels financially worth it given their cost? I live in NW Montana, about 100 miles from the Canadian border in case you were wondering. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/2 "2010-11-13T17:42:11Z")
No, they won’t work under snow. I’m a big advocate of Solar, but it’s always hard to make a financial argument for it, even in the Desert SW. In Montana, the only way it would make sense is if you you no other source of power. Even then, wind might be a better idea. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/3 "2010-11-13T17:45:44Z")
you mount at an angle to be self cleaning of snow if they are on a high roof. if you ground mount on a tracker or rack you can manually clean the snow when needed if they are at an angle that is not self cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/4 "2010-11-13T19:54:44Z")
I would say Montana is a poor place for efficient solar power in the winter even if you could eliminate the snow. The days are too short and the sun too low in the sky. Move to Arizona. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/5 "2010-11-13T20:04:07Z")
Hasn’t it been shown that solar-electric power is viable in Germany? I’ve only been there in the Summer, but I gather they get some small amount of frozen precip in the cooler seasons. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/6 "2010-11-13T20:09:27Z")
off topic, but related: if it were an option, couldn’t you mount a transducer of some kind on each panel to create vibrations that would break the surface tension or whatever it is that makes the snow/ice/sneet [sic] stick to the glass or polycarbonate? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/7 "2010-11-13T20:41:38Z")
most solar panels that I’ve seen are dark, correct? so wouldn’t they just naturally have a slightly higher temperature from the sunlight that makes its way through the snow cover, so that the snow would gradually melt off? plus the slope. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/8 "2010-11-13T21:17:51Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > off topic, but related: if it were an option, couldn’t you mount a transducer of some kind on each panel to create vibrations that would break the surface tension or whatever it is that makes the snow/ice/sneet [sic] stick to the glass or polycarbonate? Whatever device you use, it will require some kind of power, reducing the net output. And in the winter in higher latitudes, you don’t have much to begin with. That doesn’t make it impossible, just less rewarding. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/9 "2010-11-13T21:34:48Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I would say Montana is a poor place for efficient solar power in the winter even if you could eliminate the snow. The days are too short and the sun too low in the sky. Move to Arizona. We had trouble with solar powered garden lights, in that they never got enough charge to glow at night, so that is a real concern here. On the other hand, Calgary is one of the sunniest locations in Canada. I guess you’d have to weigh a high percentage of days with sun against shorter periods of the solar panels actually getting sun. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/10 "2010-11-13T21:46:22Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > We had trouble with solar powered garden lights, in that they never got enough charge to glow at night, so that is a real concern here. On the other hand, Calgary is one of the sunniest locations in Canada. I guess you’d have to weigh a high percentage of days with sun against shorter periods of the solar panels actually getting sun. those things can be a low quality product, both for photocells and battery and at a bad angle. i wouldn’t judge the potential of a photovoltaic array based on then. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/11 "2010-11-13T22:03:21Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > those things can be a low quality product, both for photocells and battery and at a bad angle. i wouldn’t judge the potential of a photovoltaic array based on then. Yes. I got a couple sets from Costco that had 4 lights to one solar panel. It’s a little ungainly since you have to run wires, but you can direct the panel as needed and set it to the best angle - even changing the angle depending on the time of year if you’re feeling really ambitious. > [@Musicat](#): > > Whatever device you use, it will require some kind of power, reducing the net output. And in the winter in higher latitudes, you don’t have much to begin with. That doesn’t make it impossible, just less rewarding. I don’t think transducers use much power especially if they are used intermittently. I can’t see it drawing much from a solar panel but I don’t really know. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/12 "2010-11-14T01:10:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Hasn’t it been shown that solar-electric power is viable in Germany? I’ve only been there in the Summer, but I gather they get some small amount of frozen precip in the cooler seasons. Germany is the largest PV market in the world according to this [site](http://www.solarbuzz.com/FastFactsGermany.htm), so winter climate can’t have too large an effect. ---
**Author:** ![pabstist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@pabstist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pabstist)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/13 "2010-11-14T01:36:51Z")
> **[North Springfield now site of Vermont's largest solar energy installation](http://springfieldvt.blogspot.com/2010/11/north-springfield-now-site-of-vermonts.html)** > > A 200 kilowatt photovoltaic panel array large enough to cover 2 acres of land is now in place at IVEK Corporation. I happened to drive by this place for the first time today, and then saw the article about 20 minutes ago. And I wondered the same things as posted above. What do they do with the snow that lands on them? Looks maybe enough room to plow between rows after they brush the snow off, hopefully the plow driver doesn’t sneeze and take out an expensive panel! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/14 "2010-11-14T03:02:28Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I would say Montana is a poor place for efficient solar power in the winter even if you could eliminate the snow. The days are too short and the sun too low in the sky. Move to Arizona. You would gain a solar energy advantage but give up abundant water for increasing drought conditions. Poor choice to make. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/15 "2010-11-14T05:49:49Z")
Shouldn’t the short winter days be irrelevant because the summer days are longer? Unless you’re planning on using the solar panels as your only energy source, in terms of your long-term energy savings it shouldn’t really matter if you make most of your electricity in the summer and use most of it in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/16 "2010-11-14T07:17:15Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Shouldn’t the short winter days be irrelevant because the summer days are longer? Unless you’re planning on using the solar panels as your only energy source, in terms of your long-term energy savings it shouldn’t really matter if you make most of your electricity in the summer and use most of it in the winter. Storing power for that time length would be very expensive, require vast array of batteries. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/17 "2010-11-14T07:38:05Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Storing power for that time length would be very expensive, require vast array of batteries. But you don’t need to store it if you’re just using the panels to reduce the amount of line power you use. Plus, some (most?) utilities will even let you “run the meter backwards” where they pay you if your panels are generating more power than you use. So even if the panels contribute less in the winter, they contribute more in the summer and so in the end it should all work out the same. Maybe even more so, since energy rates are usually higher in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/18 "2010-11-14T11:45:39Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Germany is the largest PV market in the world according to this [site](http://www.solarbuzz.com/FastFactsGermany.htm), so winter climate can’t have too large an effect. I would suggest digging a bit deeper. Germany has such a large market because of rather ill-considered public promotion of PV panels (taxes and rebates). As an economic investment, for most of Germany it makes little sense. Wind, other renewables, fine, solar… Green-eyed bollocks. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/19 "2010-11-14T15:50:16Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Hasn’t it been shown that solar-electric power is viable in Germany? I’ve only been there in the Summer, but I gather they get some small amount of frozen precip in the cooler seasons. Really? The times I have been in Germany (in late spring through early fall) I got the impression that they didn’t have very many sunny days. Lots of overcast and rain. A friend of mine used to live in a berm house in northern Minnesota. The only part above ground was a gigantic picture window facing south that. They had heating but used very little. In the summer, they pulled curtains over it and didn’t near AC. They also had light pipes so they didn’t need as much artificial light as you would imagine. All in all, a much better way to go than to install solar panels in such a climate. When I go to Barbados for two or three weeks every February, I see no solar panels (though the sun gets to about 65 degrees above the horizon in February), but essentially all hot water is generated in rooftops solar tanks. They are ubiquitous and, I assume, not awfully expensive since even the poorest looking houses seem to have them. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567/20 "2010-11-14T15:54:38Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I would say Montana is a poor place for efficient solar power in the winter even if you could eliminate the snow. The days are too short and the sun too low in the sky. Move to Arizona. Arizona may not be any better when all factors are considered. Solar cells are heat sensitive, and lose much of their generating ability when they get too hot. You will get better generation in winter, but lose it in summer. Especially if they are mounted on the roof, which gets hotter than open air places. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-panels-and-snow-coverage/560567.md?page=2)