As temperature is rising day by day in many of the regions it is leading to the production of heat waves. Therefore, solar panel’s efficiency is also reducing. These panels ideally work best at around 25°C. But when it gets hotter and there is a rise in temperature between 1°C to 5°C solar panel efficiency drops from 0.3 percent to 1.5 percent.
According to the officials of Amplus Solar, Solar panels are affected by heat waves as they are designed to operate in temperatures between 15°C and 35°C with the most efficiency at 25°C.
High temperatures can significantly reduce the efficiency of solar panels. Generally, solar panels are made of silicon and its efficiency is declined by 0.3 percent to 0.5 percent for each degree Celsius over 25°C, says COO of Juniper Green Energy.
According to Pungalia, if solar panels stay in high temperatures for a longer period they can damage the panels. They can create tiny cracks in it and get damaged over time. This wear and tear reduces efficiency, making solar projects less profitable. Solar Panels are more efficient when the temperature is lower, they are effective in converting sunlight into electricity as heat waves hit the solar cells, and their thermal resistance rises which lowers voltage output and efficiency overall.
Even experts say that heat waves can impact solar projects financially. Whereas, the summer heat can reduce power generation due to the impact of solar modules which can lead to low income.
Experts from Blu Pine mention that extreme heat can decrease the productivity of the workers and slow down their construction work on solar projects. However, solar farms are established in unshaded areas with extreme temperatures which can make it more difficult for workers to perform their duties safely. Workers’ inefficiency can cause delays and it can increase the cost of solar capacity which will create income loss.
Major Challenges faced include a decrease in energy output, an increase in degradation of the material, a reduction of the lifespan of solar panels, and maintaining temperature may require more cooling systems which will raise the operational costs—fluctuations in energy output strain grid stability, especially during peak demand. Lower efficiency and higher maintenance costs can also delay financial benefits.
