Service after the sale is important for every product, and solar installations are no exception. To keep your solar panels performing at their peak capacity, it’s important to know what can affect the performance of your system. As your desert solar specialists, Renova Energy is here to help you identify the conditions that can most often affect solar customers in the Coachella Valley.
Wind and Dust Storms
Let’s start with the most obvious issue: the strong winds and dust that blow through the Coachella Valley, especially during the spring months. Our service department, RenovaPLUS, recommends having your panels cleaned 2 or 3 times per year to prevent dust build-up from diminishing your system’s efficiency.
The Seasons
The concept is simple: during the winter, the sun isn’t as powerful and the daytime hours are shorter. In the summer, the sun is extra powerful and the daytime hours are longer. This means your solar system’s production will vary throughout the year, and that is perfectly normal. In terms of savings, what matters most is your system’s annual production.
Roof Orientation and Shade
When you work with Renova Energy, our team of solar technicians and engineers perform thorough site inspections to calculate a solar system’s potential efficacy on a home or business based on its roof orientation and any shade that might pass over the solar panels at different times of the day. For example, south and west-facing rooflines are the most optimal for solar production, however, any large trees or structures that cast shadows for long periods of time will impact your system’s ability to capture the most sunlight possible. But don’t worry – your roofline and shade aren’t the only factors, and our team is often able to arrive at a custom solution to fit the needs of your home or business.
Surprisingly, Overcast Skies Aren’t As Important As You Think
There’s a common misconception that cloudy days prevent the photovoltaic (PV) technology in your solar system from generating energy from the sun. The truth is your solar panels will see a slight drop in production on an overcast day, but overall, the panels still receive light and convert that light into electricity, so there’s no need to worry about a cloudy sky.
Have more questions about what affects the performance of your system? Call our Coachella Valley solar experts at Renova Energy or RenovaPLUS today!
