Solar Panel Energy on Overcast Days

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd

I am considering solar panels.  I would be interested to know how much energy you produce on a cloudy and wet day in say November (such as to today in south England).  

It just to give me an idea.  Would also need to know how many panels you have.

gefnew

Try here on this forum.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/green-ethical-moneysaving

[Deleted User]

I have a 4kW array - 16 panels - of which 4 face south and 12 face east. Output varies between about 20kWh at the height of summer to 0.5kWh on a cloudy and wet November day like the ones we've had recently. Hope this helps

nologo

Kent, 4.6 kw South facing. 30 Watts so far today

nologo

jackieblack

It varies massively, but the handful of days with zero generation have been those when the panels are covered by a layer of snow

[Deleted User]

A 6.35kWp array. The monthly TOTAL predicted output for December is 110kWh. Last December, daily outputs ranged from 10.3kWh to 300Wh. This year my total output is c.12% above what was estimated. Solar; Winter and heavy cloud etc do not produce much in the way of a useful output - both in terms of kW and kWh.

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd

Thanks for the feedback so far.  So in summary, a 4kw array, on a wet cloudy day, could just keep the household ticking over with produced energy i.e (fridges, freezers, LED lighting, central heating pumps, standby devices, about 200 watts)

chris_n

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd said:

Thanks for the feedback so far.  So in summary, a 4kw array, on a wet cloudy day, could just keep the household ticking over with produced energy i.e (fridges, freezers, LED lighting, central heating pumps, standby devices, about 200 watts)

The odd day if won't do that, most days my 3.75kWp system would do a little more than that. Right now under heavy cloud in NE England 353w. In winter you only get generation for maybe 6 hours, maybe more on South Coast where at this time of year the days are an hour longer.

Bianchiintenso

As an example, I have had 8kwh system up and running for 2 days, it’s an overcast, day at the moment, no direct sunlight and this is what the system is producing at the moment 11am. 

649w, and battery is giving back 71w, house load is asking for 605w. So running entirely on solar/ battery 

[Deleted User]

So in summary, a 4kw array, on a wet cloudy day, could just keep the household ticking over with produced energy

Err - no. You cannot take the total kWh generated in a day and divide by 24. If you look at my graph above, the TOTAL output from my array on the 21st November was just 280Wh or c. 1/4 of 1kWh. My inverter normally kicks in when the solar output exceeds about 70W.

As I post, my array is outputting 500W.

Krakkkers

Lincolnshire, 4kwp, 16 panels south facing, dull and overcast, current production 196w.