# Performance of Solar Panels in Different Seasons
Are you about to install solar panels for your home in California? Of course, you must have already researched the benefits of solar panels and felt encouraged to switch to solar energy. But do you know the performance of solar panels varies with the season and various external conditions? Knowing what it is can help you plan and make the necessary arrangements (like installing solar panel battery storage) to optimize your use of solar energy across every season.


Factors Affecting the Performance of Solar Panels
Solar panels are designed to work optimally in a specific set of conditions. But the amount of energy they produce can vary with the season. Accordingly, here are a few factors that can affect the performance of solar panels. Here are some vital ones.
* **Location**
The sun’s position keeps changing throughout the year. The solstice marks the point when the sun emits light with varying intensities for many months. 
The different parts of your roof can get the varying extent of sunlight or shade across the year. You can optimize your solar panels’ output by avoiding shadows that can occur throughout the day owing to the sun’s position that keeps changing during the day. Consulting experts can help you position your panels optimally.
* **Temperature**
High temperatures during the peak solar production time of the year can reduce the amount of energy that the [solar panels](https://www.nabuenergy.com/solar-panel-installation/) produce. It is because solar panels perform optimally at around 25 degrees Celsius, and the performance declines by about 0.25 percent for every degree above 25 degrees Celsius. Excessive heat exposure causes the voltage between the solar cells to plummet.
But on the other hand, even when the sunlight is less intense during the fall, the panels that experience lesser stress can produce a relatively high amount of energy.
* **Sunlight Hours**
Let’s consider the example of San Francisco. The peak sunlight hours in San Francisco aren’t fixed. Some external factors beyond your control include inconsistent sunlight include, cloud cover, weather, and the sun’s strength in a particular season. 
Cities away from the equator experience a more significant change in the average peak sun hours between summer and winter. But those near the equator have a lesser variance. Thus, San Francisco’s latitude is a crucial figure in understanding the fluctuation of solar isolation across the year. Expert help can be helpful to make arrangements that help optimize solar energy production, regardless of the season.
* **Weather**
Of course, overcast weather can reduce the sunlight’s intensity and affect the panel’s performance. But during spring and summer, when the amount of sunshine received is relatively high, there will be a rise in the performance. The solar panels will continue to capture solar energy and convert it into electricity during all seasons. But the amount of electricity generated will vary throughout the year.
Besides, persistent winds during summers carry dust and debris that settle on the solar panels, thus proving to be another factor affecting the solar panel’s performance. So, the panels will require frequent cleaning to help keep them optimized.
An effective way to deal with these challenges is to install [solar panel battery storage](https://www.nabuenergy.com/solar-battery-storage-system/). The battery storage can help store excess electricity produced during the peak sunshine months. You can use the stored electricity during the low or shoulder season to power your appliances and reduce your dependence on the grid.
Get specific consultation and solutions for [solar panel battery storage](https://www.nabuenergy.com/solar-battery-storage-system/) and solar panels in California with Nabu Energy. We are credible solar energy experts with extensive experience in solar panels, solar panel battery storage, and installation solutions. Call us at (510)-737-6228 for end-to-end solar energy solutions and make the most of your solar energy endeavors. We’d be delighted to help.