Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days? What the Data Actually Shows

If you're considering solar, you might be wondering: "Do solar panels still work when it's cloudy?"

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Short Answer: Yes — But Less Than on Sunny Days

Solar panels produce roughly 10%–30% of their usual output on cloudy days compared with clear, sunny conditions.

They don't shut down — they just produce less at that moment.

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Why Solar Still Works Without Direct Sunlight

Solar panels don't need heat to work — they need light.

Even when clouds block the sun, a lot of sunlight still gets scattered through the sky as diffuse light. Solar cells can harvest that light and convert it into electricity.

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How Much Power Are We Talking?

• Light cloud cover: ~30–50% of normal power
• Moderate overcast: ~10–25% output
• Heavy cloud: Under 10% of peak

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Cloudy Doesn't Mean Useless — Especially in California

California's climate typically delivers hundreds of sunny days each year. Cloudy periods don't erase seasonal production — annual generation remains strong.

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Final Thought: Clouds Don't Kill Solar

Solar works whenever there's light — just not at full blast. 🌥️🌞