Do Solar Panels Work in Cloudy Weather or at Night?

The simple answer is no; solar panels rely on sunlight to produce energy, and there is no sunlight at night. For this reason, your solar installer should have advised you to use timers and change some of your energy usage habits so you can maximise your solar self consumption. 

If you have high energy usage at night, the simplest solution is to add a battery to your system, so you can store energy during the day, and then have it ready to utilise at night time. Batteries have longer payback periods than solar, however, so many people prefer to change their energy habits instead of investing into a battery system that may not pay for itself in the long term. 

The good news is that yes, solar panels will still produce electricity during a cloudy day, although production can decrease as much as 25%. The density of the clouds and weather impacts the amount of electricity produced; during a bad storm, output can be very low. 

There's a silver lining to this cloud though; rain can wash away dirt and debris, so when the sun returns, your panels may produce even more power. 

There are a range of reasons that solar panels may stop working, and we recommend you check your inverter for any warnings, and then talk to a solar professional to troubleshoot the issue. 

Lower quality, cheap panels, may take longer to pay for themselves, as they can't convert the same level of sun into electricity as a higher quality panel can. However, if your panels have a noticeable decrease in efficiency, warnings or anything that looks unusual or broken, it's always best to check with the installer.  

Solar panels can stop working for a range of reasons; some are caused by the sun, others by the product and yet others by broken parts. 

It's important to have your solar serviced at least once every 1-2 years and clean it every 6 months, so you know your system is safe and producing to its optimum capacity.