There is a lot of debate surrounding solar panels and whether or not they absorb heat. Some people believe that installing solar panels will actually lead to an increase in the temperature of your roof and home, while others claim that this is not the case at all. So, what’s the truth?
Do solar panels absorb heat?
Solar panels absorb heat by providing a physical cover and limiting the amount of heat absorbed by the roof. People believe that when solar panels turn sunlight into electricity, they produce heat. This is not the case, however. Solar panels collect heat that sunlight would otherwise transfer to your roof.
A team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, discovered that panels could reduce the surface temperature of a roof by as much as 38%. Considering the ambient and roof temperatures observed in hot regions, this is enormous.
While impressive, it is essential to remember that every solar array is unique. The results of your solar positioning and roof will vary depending on the architecture of your roof, the surface area covered by your solar panels, and the type of solar panels you have.
Solar panels provide a physical cover for your roof
The physical cover offered by the panels helps reduce the amount of heat energy absorbed by your roof. This has the effect that your roof and your home will be cooler.
This can have a significant impact on your cooling costs and the overall comfort of your space.
Solar panels create a convection current between the roof and panels
Solar panels are cooled by a convection current, which is the movement of air between the panels and roof. This creates the main cooling effect on the roof.
Solar panels work best when they are tilted and have a space between the roof and the panels. The bigger this space is, the stronger the convection current will be, and the better the heat will be dissipated.
Solar panels reflect an amount of heat.
Solar panels have a glass surface and aluminum pieces that will also reflect some heat. More efficient solar panels will reflect less heat, and some panels also have an anti-reflective coating to help with this.
The amount of heat reflected by the solar panels will depend on the type of panel, how well it is made, and the angle at which the sun hits it.
Do solar panels absorb heat? In conclusion
Solar panels do absorb heat and keep your roof and home cooler in the following ways:
- By providing a physical cover for your roof
- By creating a heat-dissipating convection current between the panels and roof
- By reflecting some of the heat off their glass surface and aluminum.
