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OurWhoresAreClean t1_jd8r16w wrote

Reply to comment by PlentyCommission166 in Maine's Energy future by mainething

>in Maine: You know solar panels still work under snow, right?

I did not know this, and I'm still not sure I do. Are you saying that they work even with a foot of snow on top of them blocking out the sunlight? Or just that snow tends to melt and slide off of them so it doesn't end up being a big deal?

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PlentyCommission166 t1_jd8wtpc wrote

Everything counts in large amounts. If there's a little snow or it's not completely covered, you still get some power. If they're completely covered by several feet, they don't generate power.

But there's a couple ways they can still work: 1) angled arrays that snow slides off and 2) this neat new idea called a bifacial array. Bottom side collects light scattered off the ground snow and generate power. Top melts faster too because the electricity warms the panel.

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OurWhoresAreClean t1_jd8xxik wrote

>If there's a little snow or it's not completely covered, you still get some power. If they're completely covered by several feet, they don't generate power.

Ok, that's what I figured you meant. Thanks for clarifying.

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thesilversverker t1_jd9c5p8 wrote

It's basically 1/4", stop effective generation in my experience. An inch and it's all ogre.

15° angle and snow stayed on ours for weeks.

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