Once you have installed your solar power system, you can start thinking about protecting your solar panels. The most common natural phenomenon that could jeopardize solar panels is rain and snow, the truth is that you don’t need to worry about rain, solar panels are waterproof, and rain doesn’t damage them. So, do solar panels need snow protection? My answer is that the choice depends on the area, if your home is prone to snow, then it is best to install a snow guard. If your home is not prone to snow, then it’s fine to not install a snow guard.
Why install a PV snow guard?
There are many benefits of installing a snow protection unit in an area that is prone to snow. Next, let me tell you more about the benefits of installing a snow protection device.
1. Ensure a stable supply of electricity. As a matter of fact, the cold weather in winter does not affect the power supply of the solar power system, what really affects the power supply of the power system is the snow covering the solar panels. Solar panels need to absorb light in order to generate electricity, if the solar panels are covered with snow, then it will not be able to absorb light to generate electricity. Of course, solar panels do not stop generating electricity as soon as they come into contact with snow, a thin layer of snow on the solar panels can only affect the speed of power generation, when the solar panels are covered with a few feet of snow will completely stop generating electricity. If you install a set of snow protection device, you don’t have to worry about the solar power system stop working in winter.
2. Protect the safety of your tenants. Your solar panels won’t be able to generate electricity if snow completely covers them. After using up the electricity stored in the solar cells, if you still want to use electricity, you have only two choices, either to use the electricity from the grid or to go through the trouble of removing the snow from the solar panels. The former is fine, but if it’s the latter, you’ll have to climb up on a snow-covered roof, which is, without a doubt, very dangerous behavior.
3. Avoid avalanches. The vast majority of roofs have a certain amount of friction, so that the roof can make the snow falling on the roof in a slow and safe way. However, the surface of solar panels is very smooth, which leads to the fact that snow can collect in large quantities on the solar panels, which can eventually lead to avalanches. Heavy flakes of snow on solar panels falling from a height not only threaten pedestrians passing by, but can also cause damage to your property.
Types of photovoltaic snow protection devices
The main types of snow protection devices are snow mats, clip-on snow panels and snow fences.
1. Snow mat. Snow mats are small brackets installed between solar panels that slow down the melting and sliding of snow, which in turn reduces the probability of avalanches.
2. Clip-on snow guards. Clip-on snow protection panels are mainly installed on the edge or in the middle of the solar panels, which can release small pieces of snow slowly. In addition, it can also be used for snow melting, in the process of snow melting, the efficiency of solar energy generation will be reduced.
3. Snow fence. A snow fence is a device that is mounted on top of the eaves of a house and is bolted down. It collects snow from the solar panels. The fence can also block the snow that keeps accumulating on the solar panels.
Do you need a solar snow protection device?
Solar snow protection devices are primarily suited for areas where snow falls regularly in the winter. Of course, even if it doesn’t snow often in the winter, you can still choose to install a solar snow protection system. A solar power system can last at least 50 years, and there’s no guarantee that it won’t snow once in those 50 years.
The cost of installing a solar snow protection unit is not really that high, so it is worth it to pay a little bit of cost to give yourself peace of mind.
Conclusion
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow in the winter, installing a solar snow protection system is essential to keep you and your family safe from avalanches. If you have already experienced an avalanche event, don’t hesitate to contact the relevant installer and install a solar snow protection unit right away
