Does hot weather affect the output of a solar system?

Does hot weather affect the output of a solar energy system? It certainly does! In summer conditions, the temperature rises and the solar panels heat up. The consequence: reduction in output.

In summer conditions, the temperature rises and the solar panels heat up. The consequence: reduction in output. The graph below shows that when the temperature of the panel rises, the MPP voltage falls. The power from the panel is: MPP voltage x MPP current (P= Umpp x Impp). When the current remains the same and the voltage falls, the power is also lower. Therefore, at higher temperatures less power comes out of the inverter.

Conclusion

In hot weather, the actual Watt values are lower but when there is persistent sunshine, the output is just as high in relation to the days when there is less sunshine. With inverters that have been fitted with minimum string length, it is possible that in very hot weather the MPP voltage falls below the minimum MPP voltage required. The inverter may then stop producing electricity. Fortunately, the inverter is able to cope with this and will not be damaged by it.