In many parts of the world, it snows in the winter and when it snows hard enough, most of the solar panels on many roofs get covered in snowflakes. So, let’s take a look at how snow cover affects the normal operation of solar panels and how to deal with snow accumulation.

How snow affects solar panels?

After a heavy snowfall, most solar panels are covered with a thick layer of snow. First of all, the weight of this snow is likely to affect the structure of the solar panel itself, leading to a significant reduction in its efficiency in converting light energy. Secondly, after being covered by snow, the solar panel’s solar energy absorbing panels are covered, so the part of the solar panel that can receive sunlight is very small, which naturally reduces its normal efficiency of absorbing solar radiation.

Whether snow should be removed from solar panels?

1. When there is not too much snow, no need. Most solar panels nowadays have excellent load-bearing structures that can carry some of the pressure of snow. Moreover, solar panels are usually discharged at an angle, so when there is not much snow, the snow can be made to slide off by itself. In the process, the snow also keeps the solar panels clean. Since the solar panels carry a certain amount of heat, the snow will melt much faster than we think.

2. When there is a lot of snow after a snowstorm, the snow needs to be cleared. In addition to lowering the efficiency of the solar panel, more snow will also bring safety risks. In order to absorb sunlight better, solar panels are usually installed on the roof by users. Therefore, when too much snow accumulates, when the snow slides down, falling from a height creates a huge impact, which can easily create a serious threat to the safety of the residents.

How to clear snow from solar panels?

1. Use of foam-head snow brooms: In order to clean up the snow on the solar panels and avoid damage to the solar panels, many companies have issued a new type of foam-head snow brooms, whose heads are soft enough to clean up the snow at the same time will not damage the solar panels.

2. Use a heating system: When solar panels are installed, a heating system designed specifically for solar panels can be installed along the way. When the solar panels accumulate snow after a heavy snowfall, the heating system can be turned on to melt the snow quickly.

3. Use the faucet to flush out the snow: when the water flow is large, it can produce an impact force, we can use this impact force to flush out the snow on the solar panel (this method can only be used when the weather is warmer, otherwise there is a risk of icing).

4. Cover the tarpaulin: when it snows, you can cover the solar panel with the tarpaulin in advance, and when it stops snowing, you can pull down the tarpaulin under the condition of ensuring your own safety.

5. You can use the snowball effect: first create a small snowball and roll it on the solar panel. During the rolling process, the small snowball can take away the snow adhered on the solar panel.

6. You can use a roof rake to bring down the snow.

7. Leaf blowers are used, but they are only able to deal with less snow and are not as effective once there is more snow.

4. Precautions in dealing with snow on solar panels

1. Do not lie on the solar panels in full body

2. Do not use hot water to rinse, will damage the solar panel

3. In case of danger, immediately stop clearing snow to ensure their own safety.

When the solar panel accumulates snow, many users will find some tools to deal with it by themselves for convenience, which is not desirable. First of all, if the residents clean up the snow, inevitably go to the roof first, the roof is more snow, may make people slip and fall. Secondly, residents who have not received professional learning in clearing snow are likely to accidentally damage the solar panels and make them work less efficiently. Therefore, when snow accumulates on solar panels, we should seek professional help from the solar installation company and let the professionals carry out the snow removal from the solar panels.

To summarize

After a heavy snowfall, solar panels more or less accumulate snow, but we can take the above-mentioned preventive and remedial measures to make the solar panels work as properly as possible.