Should solar panels be installed on snow-covered mountains?

The placement of solar panels on snow-covered mountains can boost the production of electricity when it is most needed — in the cold, dark winter. Solar-power systems have long been hampered by a seasonal problem: the panels produce more energy in summer than in winter, at least in the mid-latitudes, where much of the planet’s population lives.

Is the Mountain West a good place to install solar panels?

Despite the snow, the Mountain West has strong potential for solar. For solar panels to make financial sense, they need to save more money than they cost. The local cost of electricity and solar installations, the amount of available sun, financial incentives and personal energy consumption all have a place on the balance sheet.

Where do solar panels get their power?

PV panels often get their power from low-lying areas where sunlight intensity is high, like deserts and industrial parks. However, technological advances have made it possible to use solar energy at higher altitudes and latitudes using higher-efficiency panels, also referred to as high-altitude photovoltaics.

Should solar panels be installed vertically?

Installing the panels vertically — which allows snow to slide off — enhanced their output even more. In the depths of winter, panels placed at an optimal orientation on snow-covered mountains produced up to 150% more power than panels in urban locations, the authors found.

Why do solar panels generate more electricity at higher altitudes?

Photovoltaic panels at a higher altitude are receiving more solar radiation compared to the sea level, resulting in more generation of electricity.

Can solar panels be installed in snow?

The thought of installing solar panels in isolated, snow-bound regions with harsh weather conditions may seem far-fetched. But Himachal Pradesh, a hilly state in northern India where snow and sun abound, is about to break new ground.