Seclusion in the mountains with solar panels

Should solar panels be installed on snow-covered mountains?

The placement of solar panels on snow-covered mountains can boost the production of electricity when it is most needed — in the cold, dark winter. Solar-power systems have long been hampered by a seasonal problem: the panels produce more energy in summer than in winter, at least in the mid-latitudes, where much of the planet’s population lives.

Can solar power be installed in a snowbound area?

The state plans to set up a one-gigawatt solar power plant in the Spiti Valley, an area that typically sees more than 300 clear and sunny days in a year but remains snowbound for up to a third of the year. Installing solar power plants in snowbound areas offers an important avenue for reducing pollution and mitigating climate change.

How do solar panels work?

The solar panels are two-sided. As energy is generated, they heat up and melt away the snow landing on them © Romande Energie The Swiss mountain village of Bourg-Saint-Pierre has a unique claim to fame: a floating solar power plant at 1,810 metres above sea level.

How do solar panels work in the Swiss Alps?

Even though we associate having solar panels in sunny and hot regions, panels' efficiency drops remarkably in very high temperatures. So, cooler temperatures are ideal for increased efficiency, which is the case for the Swiss Alps. Also, at this altitude, the sun rays fall just at the right angle on the strategically placed panels.

Could thin air help fill winter solar-power gap?

Arrays sited in thin air could help to fill winter solar-power gap. Solar panels on a ski-lift building in the Alps. Sunlight reflected off snow adds to the efficiency of high-altitude arrays. Credit: Daniel Schoenen/Getty

Why do solar panels work in Switzerland?

High up in the Swiss mountains, the atmosphere is rarer, solar radiation stronger, and in winter the snow can reflect the sunlight. Romande Energie is the company behind the project. According to the founders, the unique alpine conditions are what allow the solar panels to act so efficiently.