At LRP Energy we know that when it comes to such installations, many people have a lot of doubts, so in our articles and posts we try to solve them all.
If you’ve been thinking about investing in photovoltaics, you have surely asked yourself what is the best time to start this project. At first, you probably thought of summer, due to the many hours of sunshine and high temperatures we usually have all over the country.
Interestingly – it is not the best time of the year to install photovoltaic panels because the modules can overheat from the strong sun and high temperatures. The wrong thinking may come from connecting the sun with heat. Photovoltaics need sunlight to convert it into electricity, not the heat.
So if not in the summer, when is the best time to get our installation done? The first thing you should know is that solar panels are profitable all over the year, although their production and efficiency is different depending on the season.
In addition, it is important to consider the time of installation and commissioning of the project in order to calculate when we should start planning it.
Summer vs. winter
Regardless of the season in progress, whether it is hot or cold, photovoltaic installations do not stop working at any time when there is sunlight, thanks to the fact that their operation, as we have already mentioned, is due to solar radiation converting light into electricity for our home. Therefore, as long as we have a good location that allows us to make the most of the daylight hours, our installation will generate energy all year round.
First of all, we should know that the efficiency of photovoltaic installations does not decrease in winter, in fact, it can even be higher than in summer in some cases, as the panels will not overheat. However, it is true that the total energy production is usually lower because the days are shorter and therefore we have fewer hours of daylight.
In summer, on the other hand, hot weather can affect the output of solar panels, with the possibility that on the hottest days the installation will not reach maximum output due to heating up the panels. Nevertheless, summer production is usually the highest of the year thanks to the 15 or more hours of sunshine per day we receive in our country.
Autumn and spring, the optimal seasons
In Spain and the geographical region in which we are located, we are fortunate to enjoy long periods of sunshine throughout the year, keeping solar energy production stable. Spring and autumn are considered better than the opposite seasons, summer and winter: many hours of light and milder temperatures. This makes spring and autumn the perfect time to consider a solar installation.
Also, as an installation company, it’s true that we have a contracting boom in the summer, so in the off-season you can benefit from shorter delivery times and quicker processes. Similarly, if we have administrative procedures, we cannot carry them out if town halls and public offices are closed.
Is it cost-effective to install solar panels?
In general, a photovoltaic installation helps us to reduce our electricity costs by 50% to 80% throughout the year but it is possible to fluctuate depending on external conditions and even increase these percentages if our installation has batteries or storage systems.
On the other hand, when calculating the cost-effectiveness of these projects, we must bear in mind that the price of solar panels has dropped considerably in recent years, so if we find that photovoltaic installations are getting cheaper while electricity is constantly getting more expensive, there is little doubt: the use of photovoltaic panels is completely cost-effective and the savings they provide us with have multiplied in recent years.
Now, we can say without a doubt that we are in the ideal scenario to place a bet on renewables, and that going solar is now more cost-effective than ever – the investment can amortize in around five or six years.
If you are considering a photovoltaic installation with LRP Energy, we advise you to take into account that the process of installing, legalizing and commissioning solar installations requires an estimated time of five to seven weeks from the start of the project. Especially, if we are talking about the legalization and commissioning of solar installations for self-consumption, there are stages requiring the intervention of the public administration that are difficult to speed up.
Therefore, if you want to make the most of your photovoltaic installation during the coldest periods, when we are at home using the most electricity, do not hesitate to start the project now to reduce your monthly bill this winter.
Request a free survey with us now and find out if solar power is cost-effective for your home.