Hi there. I live in Colorado, and we obviously get a ton of snow there. I im looking into a solar power system for my home, and I am wondering if the snow will accumulate on the panels, or if, because of the energy passing through, it will melt on contact? By the way we get about 20' of snow each year, and it comes on often. I will also be putting them on my roof. Thanks for your help.
If you have an electrical backup you could install something to melt the show where the solar panels are installed. You might try installing them near a fireplace chimney if you have one. My thinking tells me if you have a clear raised bubble or pyramid over the panels it might help.
The energy from the sun is converted to electicity, so there's very little heat produced. I doubt the snow would melt. Try finding a way to scrape it off or have them rotate so you can let the snow fall off.
Solar panels to almost 90 degrees. Clean off snow and spray with MINERAL SPIRITS. I just figgered this out during a snow storm today here at 8000 feet in So. Colorado during a wet and sticky snow. Panels are clean. Sealants used on panels are impervious to MS. Jesus loves us all.
In heavy snow areas, snow can build up on panels. If you mount on your roof as most people do, the angle of the panels will help the snow to slide off. Some people encourage the snow to slough off with a very long-handled squeegee or stick. You will see a drastic power reduction when the panels are covered with snow, even if it's just a few of them. However, the panels are made to take snow load, they won't be damaged. Generally, they are also designed to resist hail up to a certain size, if that's an issue where you live. I'd suggest looking in the phone book or on the internet for a local solar installer, and asking them for references close to you. You can then contact the people there and ask how it's working out for them. Also try searching for an answer on the link below. It's a solar discussion forum with very knowledgeable people.
Good news and not so good news. You need to be able to access the panels to clean the snow off. There is not any heat generated other than the heat of the sun hitting the black colour - which would amount to some melting ability during a sunny day - but it isn't sunny when it snows! Apparently, solar panels work better in the cold and where snow can reflect light so to increase the amount of light - photons - hitting the panel.
