Does solar work in the Northwest
The Pacific Northwest’s long summer days…made for solar
Thanks to all that sunlight and utility net metering programs, we can build energy credits in the summer months and work off of them during our darker months.
Solar panels also operate more efficiently in our cooler summer weather, which means more power than hotter climates, not less. Solar energy systems keep on working on cloudy days too, collecting scattered light and focusing it into power.
Sure, cities like Seattle and Portland may not produce as much solar power as the southwestern states, but we still generate enough to make solar a financially and environmentally viable solution. In fact, our solar resource is better than Germany’s, which leads the world in solar energy installations.
Given proposed rate increases by utilities, what are you waiting for? Get started by solar proofing your electricity bill.
How can I offset all my usage with solar energy?
During our long sunny summers, your production is often much higher than what your energy usage might be. That means you’re spinning your meter backwards and generating credits with your utility. If your system is matched to your consumption patterns, it’s possible that you can generate enough credits during the summer to offset all of your winter consumption.
Net metering allows our customers to become “100 Percent Solar Powered” even without batteries.
Here’s a rough idea of what percentage of energy you can expect your system to product each month. As you can see, 60 percent is created during the summer months.
