Sunnier days do mean more production from your solar system. However, solar energy production does not directly correlate with the heat index. This gives Wisconsin residents and business owners an unexpected advantage regarding solar benefits. As Wisconsin residents, we may seem skeptical that states such as Nevada or Florida will reap more benefits of solar energy due to their consistently warmer temperatures, however this is not the case.
Solar panels are tested by the Standard Test Condition to produce maximumly at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Since solar panels absorb the sunlight and convert what they can to electricity, there is a limit to what they convert. Essentially, panels in a lower, yet still sunny climate will be more productive than panels in a hot climate. Panels lose efficiency after a certain heat, making Wisconsin summers surprisingly more financially beneficial than stereotypically “sunny, hot” states.
Solar panels are on average 20 degrees higher than the local air temperature. The efficiency of your solar system is calculated by multiplying the energy current and voltage: System Efficiency= (max current x max voltage)/ energy input from the sun.
Ultimately, one would be quick to think of solar as more beneficial in consistently warmer states, however they would be in err. Wisconsin offers property owners extremely beneficial solar options. Incentives aside, our sunny, yet not “too hot” climate offers the prime environment for you to save the most with a solar installation, maximizing your system’s production.
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