There is no doubt that energy demands are lower in the summertime, at least in the UK. Here, our summer climate is mild and relatively gentle. It’s rare for the temperature to get above the 30C mark, and there are very few days that are uncomfortably hot. Unlike Australia, South Africa, and tropical countries, the UK uses very little energy to cool homes in the warmer months. Days are long in summer so lighting needs are also reduced.

Naturally, solar panels generate more electricity in summer than they do in winter. The number of daylight hours is greater and so is the proportion of sunny, cloudless days. Dry summer days also make life easier for solar panel installers and anyone else working on rooftops, so the warm season is the ideal time to put panels in place.

However, there is a minor sticking point. Solar panels deliver more electricity in summer, when there is reduced demand for it, and less in winter, when demand for heating and lighting energy is greater. At first glance this seems unfortunate, but actually, households can use the pattern to their advantage by selling electricity back to the national grid when there is an excess. The may not be a direct need for more energy in warm, sunny weather, but it certainly won’t go to waste.

Modern panels are efficient and many homes can generate enough power to get through the winter through solar means alone, but in other cases solar energy can be used in conjunction with a connection to standard electricity supplies. National grid energy consumption (and associated costs) can simply be reduced rather than eliminated.

Solar panel installers will be able to answer individual householder questions about how much energy could be generated in summer and winter. They’ll be able to advise on the best way of making up any shortfall in winter and using the Feed In Tariff scheme to sell energy in the summer.