This afternoon (11 August) a maximum temperature of 35 degrees or more was measured in the Netherlands for the fifth day in a row. Despite this unprecedented heat record, there is no record high energy production by solar panels. According to energy company Essent, solar panels perform best at a temperature of 25 degrees.
Every degree deviation from this optimum temperature causes a yield loss of 0,5%. During tropical days with exuberant solar radiation, the temperature of solar panels can rise to 65 degrees.
Material makes a difference
According to Essent, the material from which the solar panels are composed also makes a difference. A monocrystalline panel limits the yield loss per degree temperature deviation to 0,40%, while a polycrystalline panel loses 0,50% yield per degree temperature deviation. Thin film panels, made of amorphous silicon, deal best with temperature variations with 0,20% loss per degree temperature deviation from the optimum 25 degrees. Essent therefore has high expectations for this type of solar cell.
In addition to temperature, light intensity also plays a role in the performance of solar panels. During very sunny spring days with steel-blue skies, the yield potential is greater than during the current heat wave. High clouds and smog reduce the light intensity. Dust blown up on the solar panels as a result of the increasing drought also has a negative influence on the energy production of solar panels.
Record longest day
Experts assume that the record for daily production of solar energy, which was set as the longest day this year, will not be broken this year. The longest day has already been almost 2 months ago and at this time of year the day length decreases rapidly.
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