Solar panels can suffer slight losses in power output when they’re too hot, so mild or cold conditions suit them best. You’ll see a small drop in generation above 25°C, though solar panel manufacturers are rapidly shrinking this negative effect with new products with better heat resistance.
The most obvious factor is that panels are usually placed where they can absorb direct sunlight for maximum energy capture, which naturally raises their temperature. Also, the materials used in the construction of solar panels, such as metal frames and silicon cells, are excellent conductors of heat.
While extreme heat can reduce a solar panel’s efficiency, they continue to function effectively, even in high temperatures. In the UK, around 40% of a solar panel system's energy is generated in the summer, showing its strong performance in warmer months.
In hotter conditions, panels can reach temperatures significantly above the ambient air temperature. Even though solar panel manufacturers and installers apply mechanisms to prevent solar panel overheating, in extremely hot conditions, the energy output of solar panels might decline significantly.
Solar panels don’t work well in heat waves due to the temperature-induced decrease in efficiency. As the temperature of the solar panels rises, their power output decreases. During a heat wave, the higher temperatures hinder the panels’ ability to convert sunlight into electricity effectively. How Hot Do Solar Panels Get?
This difference plays a major role in answering the question of whether or not solar panels work less at certain temperatures. The number one (often forgotten) rule of solar electricity is that solar panels generate electricity with light from the sun, not heat.