If you’re considering installing solar panels for your South East home, you may ask:
Do solar panels work at night?
The straightforward answer is no – a solar PV system requires daylight to generate electricity, so when it’s dark, generation stops. However, that doesn’t mean you stop benefitting from solar energy overnight. With the right setup – particularly battery storage – you can still power your home after sunset and maximise your savings.
In this guide we explain how solar panels work, how battery storage keeps your home running after dusk and how homeowners across the South East can get the most from their solar investment.
Why Don’t Solar Panels Work at Night?
Solar panels generate electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity through the photovoltaic effect. No sunlight means no electricity production.
So once night falls, your solar panels stop generating energy. This is completely normal and is already factored into how a well designed solar PV system operates. During the day, your panels generate electricity to power your home. Any unused energy can either be exported to the grid for payment under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) or stored in a solar battery for use later in the evening and overnight. This is where battery storage becomes especially valuable.
Do Solar Panels Need Direct Sunlight?
Many homeowners in the South East worry about the UK climate. The good news is:
Solar panels do not require direct sunshine to work.
They generate electricity from direct sunlight, indirect sunlight and diffuse light on cloudy days. Even on grey or overcast days, your solar PV system will still generate electricity, just at a lower output compared to bright, sunny days.
What About Moonlight?
Moonlight and artificial light (like streetlights) are far too weak to generate meaningful electricity. Solar panels require high photon intensity, which only sunlight provides.
How Solar Batteries Power Your Home at Night
If you want to use your free electricity after dark, battery storage is the solution.
Here’s how it works:
Daytime Generation
Your solar panels produce DC electricity during daylight hours. Your home uses what it needs first.
Excess Energy Stored
Any excess electricity is stored in your solar battery instead of being exported.
Evening and Night Time Use
When the sun sets, your battery discharges stored energy to power your lights, appliances and devices.
Grid Backup
If the battery becomes depleted, your home automatically imports electricity from the grid.
A hybrid inverter converts stored DC electricity into AC electricity, which your home appliances require.
Does a Solar Battery Work All Night?
Your solar battery will work until it completely depletes, the length of time it lasts will depend on the size of your battery, how much energy you stored during the day, your evening electricity usage and the time of year.
In the South East, summer months typically allow for greater solar generation dur to longer daylight hours. Winter months produce less stored energy, meaning partial grid reliance may still occur.
A properly size battery, installed by an experienced MCS certified installer like SolarTherm UK, ensures optimal performance based from your household consumption patterns.
Benefits of Adding Battery Storage
Battery storage offers far more than just night time power.
Greater Energy Independence
Use more of your own solar electricity and reduce reliance on expensive grid power. Every unit of your self-generated solar power you use in your home, is a unit you don’t need to purchase from the grid.
Lower Electricity Bills
Store power for use during peak rate periods when grid electricity costs more.
Backup During Power Cuts
Some systems can keep essential circuits running during outages.
Improved Self-Consumption
Maximise the amount of renewable electricity used within your home.
Future Proofing
With rising energy prices in the UK, battery storage adds long term financial resilience.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Using more of your own solar energy lowers your household carbon emissions.
Access to Time of Use Tariffs
Charge your battery on cheap overnight tariffs for use during peak windows.
Could Solar Panels Work at Night in the Future?
Researchers at institutions including the University of California, Davis and Stanford University have explored “anti-solar cells”.
Unlike traditional solar panels, these experimental devices generate electricity from infrared radiation released by the Earth at night. By using thermoelectric generators to capture temperature differences between the panel and the night sky, small amounts of electricity can be produced.
At present, this technology is still in development and generates only minimal output – enough for small electronics, not to power a whole home through the night. For now, traditional solar panels combined with battery storage remain the most effective solution for UK homeowners.
How to Maximise Solar Output (Without a Battery)
If you’re not ready to install battery storage yet, you can still improve overall performance of your solar PV system:
- Install solar panels facing south where possible
- Aim for a roof pitch of 30-40 degrees
- Minimise shading from nearby trees or neighbouring properties
- Keep panels clean from debris and bird droppings
- Run appliances during daylight hours
- Monitor system performance regularly
In the South East, correct system design is crucial to ensure your system performs efficiently for decades to come.
Is a Solar Battery Worth It in the South East?
While a battery is not mandatory, it significantly increases the value of your solar PV system. Although there is an additional upfront cost, the long term benefits often include:
- Increased bill savings
- Reduced grid reliance
- Greater energy security
- Better return on investment
For homeowners in the South East facing rising energy costs, battery storage is increasingly becoming a smart choice.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice – and the time you need to make an informed decision. Solar panels may not work at night — but with the right system, your savings certainly can.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
FAQs
Can solar panels generate electricity from moonlight or streetlights?
No. These light sources are too weak to create usable electricity.
How can I have solar power at night?
By installing a solar battery that stores excess daytime generation.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
Yes. Output is reduced but still functional.
Are there solar panels that work at night?
Not commercially available yet. Nighttime solar research is ongoing but not viable for home systems.
What happens if my battery runs out overnight?
Your system automatically switches to grid electricity.
