Do solar panels work in winter?
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If you’re thinking of installing solar panels on your home, perhaps with a battery as well, you’ve probably asked yourself how well solar systems work in winter.
You’ll be pleased to know it's a myth that solar panels only work when it's hot and sunny. It's easy to see how this misapprehension came about - after all we tend to associate sunny days with hot weather.
In fact, solar panels convert energy from light, not heat - so they work in all seasons and in all weather conditions, even in British winters.
Why sunlight matters more than temperature
The photons in light create electricity via the photovoltaic effect when they hit solar panels. This process is more efficient at lower temperatures, so solar panels actually work more efficiently in cooler weather.
However, winter sunlight is less intense in Britain. The sun rises lower in the sky and the days are a lot shorter than in summer. This means that on average, solar panels receive less light and generate comparatively less electricity.
This is a simple product of our northerly position in the world, and home solar generation in the brighter half of the year is around 65-75 per cent of the annual total. Customers who install Ecotricity’s Home Solar & Battery can save over £1,000 a year* by switching to solar despite seasonal fluctuations.
Tips to maximise your winter generation
British solar installations are designed with the difference between summer and winter in mind. Systems are often sized to maximise generation throughout the year.
This helps balance things out, as does selling your excess power to the grid in summer and buying from the grid in winter to fill in any gaps.
To help make the most of solar generation in winter:
South-facing roofs are best, but east and west-facing locations can also work.
Panels should be unshaded by chimneys, buildings or trees.
Check your panels are clean – if they’re on a normal roof angle, the rain and wind should do the job for you.
If you don’t have a battery, time your chores to use all the electricity you generate – it’s usually more cost-effective than exporting.
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*Based on MakeMyHouseGreen's modelling of approximately 1,500 UK homes (Sept 2025 to Aug 2026).
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