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Energy Environment Physics

Solar Panels work by absorbing LIGHT from the sun, not heat

Solar Panels on top of the Roof
Whether it is the expenditure on food, accommodation or luxuries, we want to save money on everything. When it comes to the electricity bill, the scenario is no different. One of the best ways to do that is by installing solar panels on your home. With the expenditure of each kilowatt of solar, it will let your utility bill reduce up to $0. There are even various service providers which can even let you end up with a negative electricity bill when you are having a solar home. But, if certain environmental factors aren't there. putting solar panels atop your home's roof might not be for you. Sunlight is the most obvious one of these environmental factors, and homes with good south, southwest or southeast exposure in sunny states will generally produce more energy than solar panels in darker areas or facing the wrong direction. Additionally, a good roof for solar panels is unobscured by shadows from dormers, chimneys or trees, and should measure at least 200 square feet. If you live in the United States, you can get a good idea of how much sun your state gets at Energy.gov and check how popular solar panels are in your state at SEIA.org Image source: PXHere

Ignorance is a very, very bad thing. Last week, as North America suffering from extreme cold weather because of a phenomenon called “polar vortex“, Jim Hoft, founder of the American far-right news and opinion website The Gateway Pundit has tweeted that: “It’s a bit cold outside this morning in middle America… Aren’t you glad you aren’t heating your home with a solar panel like nitwit socialist @AOC is demanding?” (@AOC is the American politician and activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez here.) What Jim Hoft says is flat-out wrong. Solar panels DO work in the cold. They work by absorbing LIGHT from the sun, not heat.

Tweet of Jim Hoft about solar panels
Tweet of Jim Hoft about the cold weather and the solar panels

In fact, solar panels are more efficient at cooler temperatures. Furthermore, white snow can act like a mirror to reflect more light on them.

You’re likely to produce less energy in the winter months, but that’s not because of the cold – it’s because the days are a bit shorter, especially in the northern latitudes.

NASA has put a few rovers and landers on Mars in recent decades, and they were all solar-powered (with the exception of Curiosity rover – which uses an RTG – a Radioisotope Thermal Generator, which converts the heat from a decaying 5-kg slug of plutonium into electricity using Peltier devices). And Mars is an extremely cold place with an average temperature of -63 °C (210 K; -81 °F). Actual temperature measurements at the Viking landers‘ site range from -17.2 °C (256.0 K; 1.0 °F) to -107 °C (166 K; -161 °F).

What’s depressing is that this guy has a big reach on social media. So many people are getting misinformed by nonsense like this.

Organic solar panels

Related: Organic solar panels: lightweight, bendy, cheaper

How do solar panels work?

In the video above, physicist Nick Lucid, also known as “The Science Asylum” explains how do solar panels work (by turning light energy into electrical energy). Photovoltaic modules use light energy (photons) from the Sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect.
Coal? Wind? Solar? Which ACTUALLY Works Better in Winter? (feat. The Space Gal, Emily Calandrelli) Last week was the #polarvortex and during the chill out more than a few conservative commentators were losing their minds. A few even claimed SOLAR PANELS don’t WORK in the WINTER! Is that true? How DOES #renewableenergy perform in the coldest months of the year compared to coal and natural gas? What’s better? I was curious, so I looked into it, and was quite surprised with the result.
Solar Panels on top of the Roof
Solar panels work by absorbing light from the sun, not heat. Image source: PXHere

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M. Özgür Nevres
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Özgür Nevres

By M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer and a science enthusiast. I was graduated from the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Computer Engineering. In the past, I worked at the Istanbul Technical University Science Center as a science instructor. I write about the planet Earth and science on this website, ourplnt.com. I am also an animal lover! I take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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