Hi Luis,
PV modules are durable and reliable and snow does not cause any harm to solar panels.
PV actually performs better in the cold (less voltage drop) and can exceed their power rating; we design PV systems (Voc) for the coldest day of the year since that is when voltage will be highest.
Solar panels as part of their qualification to meet IEC 61215 / UL1703 already go thru thermal stress torture cycle testing from cold to hot in a short timeframe; this is used to stress solder bond joints.
Also PV is tested for hail stone strikes (something like ~1 inch hail stone at 60 mph).
Snow load tests are also performed usually from 2,400 to 5,400 Pa.
The only problem with snow is that obviously little or no sunlight is shining module so they cannot produce power if covered with snow.
In some snowy regions like Siberia, N. China, or Alaska, bi-facial PV modules take advantage of thereflected sunlight from the snow underneath to produce power on both sides of the PV module.
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Robert Foster
Assistant Professor
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces NM
rfoster@nmsu.edu------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: Feb 18, 2021 12:03 PM
From: Luis Ramon
Subject: Solar and Snow
The crazy temperature this week has brought to the United States has me thinking if snow could damage solar panels or does snow act as rain. What I mean by this is that whenever snow falls (like this week) does snow damage the panel? Example Texas, where they don't expect any snow are the panels prepared to be "hit" by the snow or do all the panels have a response as they do for the rain.
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Luis Ramon
lura1075@colorado.edu
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