Is It Possible for Solar Panels to Charge in the Moonlight?
One of our Best Solar Company Los Angeles clients asked us the other day if solar panels can be charged by moonlight, which is actually a very good question, one which our experts thought worthy enough to answer in the shape of this blog.
Solar panels rely on direct sunlight in order for them to produce electricity. Overall, solar panels are not capable of being charged by moonlight. Raw sunlight contains numerous energized particles, that include the all-important photon. When photons strike one side of an array, they cause the electrons to break off from one panel, cross over to a thin membrane, and attach to another panel. The crossing of these electrons is what generates a usable electrical current.
So, if there are no photons doing this, the electrons will remain in place and no electricity is created. This is why any dark clouds or nightfall are problematic when it comes to generating solar power on a large scale. When sunlight disappears, so does the electricity. The electricity made during daylight hours, however, is not lost forever. The excess will be stored in large batteries that will provide power during the night hours.
The main reason solar panels are unable to charge in the moonlight is due to the nature of the moon’s light. Unlike the sun, our moon cannot generate its own light energy. What people see when looking up is the sun’s light energy reflecting from the moon’s surface. A solar panel array that is placed on the moon could generate electricity during Earth’s evening hours, due to the fact it receives direct sunlight that contains photons. The reflected light seen from Earth will not have any photons, so in most cases, moonlight cannot cause the panels to generate electricity.
We hope that this answers your question? If you want information on our services and products, and you live in or around the Los Angeles, CA area, call us today at (323) 814-3525 anytime.