Can solar farms operate in cold temperatures?

Cold (bright) weather is not detrimental to solar farm performance. In fact, lower temperatures can make panels more productive. According to solar panel manufacturers and installers including Renvu, CED Greentech, Sunrun and Ecomark Solar, panels begin losing efficiency above around 77ºF.

One example of solar panels operating in cold temperatures is a farm in the frigid Alaskan town of Willow. The Willow farm generates 1.35 megawatt hours per year, enough energy to power 120 homes year-round. Snow is the bigger concern, and the farm sometimes hires people to remove from the panels. Setting the panels at a 45-degree angle helps snow slide off on its own. The Willow farm‘s central issue is that peak sunlight doesn‘t match peak energy use. In the dark winter months, Alaskans use the most energy and solar panels produce the least; the reverse is true in the summer.