Snow on solar panels: Clean up or wait patiently?

The winter blanket of snow on solar panels seems to have compromised their yield. Should you take action now and clean them, or is patience a virtue?

During the January snowfall, many homeowners with solar panels faced an unexpected problem: a layer of snow or ice on their panels. This phenomenon hinders energy production and raises the question of whether it is worth removing this white covering.

It is clear that both thick layers of snow and thin layers of ice have a significant impact on the energy output of solar panels. Currently, the panels are producing less energy. But before you climb to the roof to clear the panels of snow and ice, it is important to take some considerations into account.

The thing is, in private homes, where the panels are usually on sloped roofs, the snow slips off quickly. On flat roofs, cleaning is a huge job. For those few days it snows in Belgium, it is not worth the effort to start.

During the winter months, solar panels yield less anyway than during the summer. Less sun and shorter days contribute to reduced yields. Given these natural limitations, the question is whether it is worthwhile to clean your solar panels. Moreover, solar panels are typically designed to support the weight of a layer of snow of about 10 inches.

If you do decide to clean your solar panels, caution is advised. Hard brushes or ice scrapers, which can damage the panels, are best not to use. A soft brush is recommended to avoid scratches. But experts say the extra yield you get from this doesn't outweigh the risk.

An interesting aspect of patiently waiting for thawing is that the process itself brings a benefit. During thawing, the white snow reflects well and contributes to better solar panel output. In addition, thawing has another benefit: dirt on the panels sticks to the snow or ice. When it begins to thaw, some of the dirt is washed away with the melt water, so your solar panels clean themselves.

While it may be tempting to take immediate action when your solar panels are covered in snow or ice, expert advice suggests that patience pays off. The effort and risk of cleaning often outweigh the limited gain in yield, especially given the natural factors that characterize the winter months. Let nature do its work, and soon enjoy optimal solar yield again.