In India, where monsoon and winter bring long stretches of cloudy days, it’s natural to wonder if solar systems can still generate enough energy. Many people assume solar panels stop working when the sky turns grey. So do they work in such conditions? The answer is Yes, they do. While solar power output drops slightly, panels continue to work on the sunlight that’s available.
Let’s understand how solar panels perform on cloudy days, how much power they actually lose, and what you can do to keep your system efficient year-round.
Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days
When it’s cloudy, the sun doesn’t shine through quite as much; water droplets and particles in the clouds scatter the sunlight, which decreases intensity. However, solar panels will still function because they can absorb diffused sunlight, which can still make its way through the clouds. Rain can also help keep your panels working as efficiently as possible by washing away dirt and dust.
Panels will produce an average of 60%–80% of their normal output on a partly cloudy day; on heavier cloud days, this may drop to 25%–40%. So, while efficiency decreases, solar energy systems do not zero out on cloudy days. All types of solar panels, where you are located, and temperatures also affect daily output. Particularly, cooler weather can improve the output of solar panels, because high heat can impact performance once a panel has warmed to around 25°C (or 77°F).
Therefore, even during India’s monsoon, or places known for overcast skies frequently, solar panels produce energy efficiently and consistently, proving that solar is a reliable resource regardless of the weather year-round.
How Much Power Drops in Cloudy Weather
On a normal overcast day, you can expect a solar panel to generate approximately 10% – 25% of its normal production. How much solar panel performance is available on any given day will be a factor of several variables, including the density of the clouds, panel inclination and orientation, and the general location and climate of the area.
For example, a 1 kW solar system will produce close to 4.5 kWh per day on a clear day. When cloudy, a solar system can still produce between 0.8 kWh and 1.2 kWh. That the generation values can vary also indicates that the quality of the solar panel and the aspect of the system design matter to generation.
Key factors of cloudy day solar performance:
Purchasing high-efficiency panels will mean better energy production on cloudy days.
How to Maintain Power on Cloudy Days
To maximize your solar panel production on cloudy days, consider improving your system design, using energy storage, and maintaining your panels. Smart monitoring and net metering assistance in managing the relationship between solar energy production to solar energy consumption when sunlight is limited.
Cost and Savings in Cloudy Months
Solar panels can produce a bit lower power during cloudy and rainy days; however, the total savings and returns are still very strong throughout the whole year. This is because we measure solar on an annual basis, and the performance in the sunny months is so high that it makes up for the times it produces lower energy on cloudy days.
Homeowners will continue to save significantly, even in areas where there is a lot of cloud cover, because the cost of electricity is what has the most significant factor for whether the financial benefits of solar are due to the price of electricity, not the amount of sunlight. San Francisco and Seattle, cities that have a lot of clouds, remain solar leading adopters because of the overall cost of electricity and great net-metering prices for returning credit for sending excess back to the grid.
In India, the same concept also applies, even during monsoon months, your solar power may produce marginally less power, but due to the government subsidy, accelerated depreciation of your businesses, and net metering, your annual savings stay intact. The system would be designed and maintained to continue to have great returns and lower electric bills when there is some grey in the sky.
Do Solar Panels Work at Night?
The simple answer is no, solar panels don’t work at night. They need sunlight to generate electricity, and while they might capture tiny amounts of light from sources like the moon or street lamps, the output is negligible. When the sun sets, solar panels enter a sleep mode, becoming inactive until daylight returns.
While solar panels stop generating power at night, your home can still run efficiently using stored solar energy or grid credits. The solution lies in smart energy management through solar battery storage or net metering.
Common Myths and Facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Solar panels don’t work on cloudy days. | They still produce power up to 10–25% of normal output even under clouds. |
| Rain damages solar panels. | Rain actually cleans the panels, helping them work better. |
| Solar power is useless during the monsoon. | Output drops slightly, but extra energy from sunny days balances it out. |
| Solar panels stop working at night. | True, but battery storage or net metering keeps power running. |
| Solar only works in very sunny places. | Even cloudy regions can benefit from consistent daylight. |
| Solar panels need a lot of maintenance. | They’re low-maintenance and last over 20 years with minimal care. |
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Conclusion
Solar panels remain a reliable and efficient energy source even on cloudy days or at night, producing power from diffused sunlight and storing excess energy through batteries or net metering. By investing in high-efficiency panels and well-designed systems, homeowners and businesses can maintain a steady energy supply, reduce electricity bills, and enjoy long-term savings. Modern solar solutions, such as those offered by Alpex Solar, are designed to perform even under low-light conditions, providing uninterrupted power throughout the year while delivering durability, efficiency, and consistent returns.
