Do Solar Panels Work in Ireland?
This is a good question if you live in Ireland and are considering solar alternatives for your electricity supply. Many homeowners question if solar panels in Ireland are a worthwhile investment. This post will address your concerns about solar panels in Ireland.
Believe it or not but despite Ireland’s unpredictable climate and relatively poor weather solar panels are still a great investment and still work throughout the entire year, even on the cloudiest of days.
Solar panels consist of photovoltaic cells which trap energy from sunlight to produce electricity. This means that solar panels need sunshine to work – obviously, the reason this concern needs to be clarified.
The average weather condition in Ireland hangs somewhere around 9° and 18°. And of course, sunshine is about the most sought after element in Irish geography. But contrary to popular belief, the Irish climate can support the use of solar panels and has sufficient solar energy to power a solar system.
It is normal to think that solar panels require sweltering weather conditions to function. But in actuality, all they need is irradiation from the sun, and you're good to go. And the good news is that Ireland enjoys an excellent daylight intensity to keep solar panels in good shape. So, yes. A solar panel will work in Ireland even though we do not receive sunshine as intensely as Spain or France or any other European country for that matter. Plus, there are other reasons you may want to proceed with your decision to get solar panels installed.
Low Temperatures are Good for Your Panels
Intense sunlight isn't exactly what your solar PV panels need to work. Solar panels perform their best in excellent conditions. And the climate condition around Ireland is simply good enough to keep solar panels performing optimally.
Your Panels Need Some Rainfall
Before you worry that Ireland is not as sunny as the Sahara Desert, here's another important feature of solar panels that will keep you calm. These panels consist of photovoltaic cells that trap irradiation. Hence, their surfaces need to stay clean for maximum performance.
Scorching and dry climate expose panels to dust and dirt, impairing their performances, especially on high-rise rooftops that are rarely assessed. On the other hand, the frequency of rainfall we receive in Ireland cleans out your panels, and you have them performing excellently.
Backup Power for Blackout Periods
The upfront cost required to install solar panels often makes people back down from their decisions to have this backup system. But some events can undoubtedly make this cost worth its weight in gold.
Sadly, blackouts have been a reoccurring issue in the Irish power system. While this occurrence is commonly associated with colder months, SEMO has recently reportedly issued two electricity shortage alerts this spring. So, where does this leave solar PV panel users? At an advantage!
High Electricity Bills
Even when there are no blackouts and no alerts of possible power shortage, Ireland has one of the highest electricity costs in Europe. So, you'll be saving a large chunk of your electricity bill for each solar unit you install in your home.