Owning a solar system is an investment in clean, renewable energy, and understanding its seasonal performance is key to maximizing its benefits. During winter, snow or ice buildup can temporarily block sunlight from reaching your panels, halting energy production. These interruptions are normal and already factored into your system’s design and annual projections.
Quick Facts About Winter Performance:
- – Seasonal Variations Are Built In: Winter production fluctuations, including temporary interruptions, are accounted for in your system’s annual energy projections.
- – Monitoring Alerts Are Expected: Alerts like “low production” reflect snow or ice cover and are not a sign of a problem.
- – No Need to Panic: Your system will resume production naturally once the panels are clear.
- – Prioritize Safety: Do not attempt to remove snow or ice yourself, as this can lead to injury or damage. The system is designed to shed snow naturally.
If production does not return after the panels are fully clear of snow and ice, refer to the FAQs below for troubleshooting guidance. These resources explain common system messages, seasonal performance variations, and when to contact SkyFire for assistance.
System Notifications After Snowfall or Ice and Snow Buildup
Below are messages that are a normal part of your system’s behaviour during winter and do not indicate a malfunction. Snow or ice buildup temporarily blocks sunlight from reaching the panels, halting production until it naturally clears. Production will resume once the panels are completely free of snow and ice. For more information about how your system performs during winter, we encourage you to review our FAQs. If production does not return after the panels are fully clear, our team is here to help.
The messages will vary depending on the brand of your inverter:
SolarEdge System
Enphase System
APS System
FAQs: Snow, Solar Panels, and Energy Production
Why has my system stopped producing energy recently?
If your system has recently stopped producing energy, it is likely due to snow or ice covering the panels. Solar panels require direct sunlight to generate power, and when snow or ice accumulates rapidly, it blocks sunlight from reaching the modules, temporarily halting production.
Knowing the weather is important, as rapid snowfall or ice buildup can significantly impact production. When these conditions occur, your monitoring system may send alerts for low production—this is entirely normal and not an indication of a system issue.
As snow begins to shed or melt naturally, production will gradually resume. Remember that some panels may clear faster than others, depending on snow distribution, orientation, and thawing patterns. Full production will only return once all panels are clear of snow and ice. These temporary interruptions are accounted for in your system’s annual energy projections. If production does not resume after the panels are fully clear, please contact us for assistance.
Do I need to remove the snow from my panels?
No, snow removal is not necessary and is strongly discouraged. Panels are designed to:
- – Withstand snow loads: They are engineered for durability, even during heavy snowfalls.
- – Shed snow naturally: This process depends on factors like temperature, snow volume, and melting rates.
Attempting to remove snow yourself can result in injury (from climbing on wet or frozen surfaces) or damage to the panels. Let the snow shed naturally—this may take time, especially after heavy snowfall.
Why isn’t the snow shedding faster?
The speed of snow shedding depends on:
- – Snow Volume and Weight: Wet, heavy snow takes longer to melt and slide off.
- – External Temperatures: Warmer weather speeds up the melting process.
- – Melting Rates: Panels naturally absorb sunlight and generate heat, which helps melt snow and ice.
While shedding may take time, this is normal. Once sunlight reaches the panels, production will gradually resume.
Why do some modules produce more than others during the thawing process?
It’s normal for some panels to clear snow faster than others due to factors like:
- – Panel Orientation: Panels facing the sun may clear faster.
- – Shading and Snow Distribution: Variations in how snow accumulates and melts can affect individual panels.
This can lead to uneven production temporarily. Full production will return once all panels are completely clear of snow and ice.
My system worked fine last winter. Is there something wrong with it?
Winter performance varies depending on snowfall, temperatures, and thawing cycles. Even if your system performed differently last winter, it’s likely functioning as intended.
Winter is the lowest generation cycle, with decent production interrupted by snowfalls. These interruptions are expected throughout the season and factored into your system’s annual energy projections.
Why is production lower or zero during winter?
Based on the experience of our customers’ systems, approximately 80% of your system’s annual energy is generated during the spring, summer, and fall months, with only 20% coming during winter. This is due to several seasonal factors, including:
- – Shorter daylight hours, which limit the amount of sunlight available.
- – Lower sun angles, reducing the intensity of sunlight on the panels.
- – Snow or ice cover, which can block sunlight from reaching the solar modules.
During winter, snowfalls can cause temporary zero production until the panels naturally shed or melt the snow. As this process depends on external temperatures, snow weight, and melting rates, it may take time for production to resume fully. These seasonal fluctuations are normal and are already accounted for in your system’s annual energy projections.
While winter production is lower, your system is designed to build energy credits during high-production months to help offset electricity costs during lower-production periods. If production remains low after snow clears, please contact us so we can investigate further.
Does snow significantly impact my system’s annual performance?
No, your system’s annual performance is designed to account for seasonal fluctuations, including snow-related interruptions. During high-production months (spring, summer, fall), your system builds energy credits to offset winter energy costs. While winter production may be temporarily lower, these credits help balance your overall energy savings.
How do solar panels handle snow and extreme winter conditions?
Solar panels are designed to withstand Canadian winters. Key features include:
- – Durability: Panels are engineered to handle snow loads.
- – Self-shedding design: Smooth surfaces and tilt angles encourage snow to slide off naturally.
- – Heat Absorption: Even in cold conditions, panels absorb sunlight and generate heat, aiding snow melt.
Temporary production interruptions caused by snow are normal, with no need for manual intervention.