In short, it depends. There are various factors that impact if and how solar panels work in the snow. If your panels get completely covered in snow, they will not work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it. Many people make dusting off their solar panels a part of their snow plowing routine. With a simple extended brush or squeegee you can help assist snow in sliding off of your panels in order to continue producing renewable energy.

If your roof has a high enough pitch, this process might be unnecessary as your panels will shed snow better than people with low roof pitches. Our GAF Energy consultants can discuss this with you further when designing and installing your new solar system.

Do solar panels work in snowy weather?

Solar panels need sunlight to produce energy, so if it’s cloudy or snowing, your solar system will produce less energy. But as soon as the sun comes out, they’ll be back to making energy. In fact, solar works better in cooler weather, so just because it’s winter doesn’t mean your system can’t make energy.

Contact us at GAF Energy to learn more about how you can turn your roof into real estate that works for you.