Heat affects solar panel business

TERRE HAUTE, Ind (WTHI) - On Friday, record setting temperatures had community members and several businesses across the Wabash Valley ready for a cool down.

Even a store whose business is focused on the sun's light affected by the heat.

Phillip Roberts, owner of One Planet Solar in Terre Haute, Indiana, said his business depends on the sun’s rays to function; however, June and July’s heat is causing problems.

"Because of the heat factor during this time of year, this is one next to winter time, one of our lowest producing months,” said Roberts.

Roberts revealed the heat has quite an opposite affect on solar panels.

The heat actually decreases power intake.

"But we've also seen where the intensity of the sun has actually increased within the last ten-months, and its something we've seen as designers. So with that little bit of a buffer, they have been equaling themselves out,” said Roberts.

Roberts said the sun's increasing UV-rays generate power, but, for solar panels, the extreme heat provides no benefit.

"During our solar time, when the heat is a hundred 105 degrees or 100 plus, we do see a drop in production during solar noon,” said Roberts.

If a homeowner uses solar panels, Roberts said the panels will continue to generate power; however, at high temperatures, the watt levels produced are lower.