Yes, solar panels absolutely work in winter. They generate electricity whenever there is daylight. Even on cold, cloudy days your system will still be producing energy.
Winter generation is naturally lower than summer because the days are shorter and the sun sits lower in the sky. Across the UK and Channel Islands, a typical system will generate around 20 to 30 percent of its annual energy between October and February, with the majority produced between spring and early autumn.
This seasonal difference is completely normal and is fully accounted for in our designs. We size systems based on your aspirations, whether that is energy resilience or independence. We base it on a full year of energy use, not just summer performance.
In the winter, you will get days where generation is minimal, especially during stretches of heavy cloud, rain, or very short daylight hours. This is completely normal for the season. Solar doesn’t stop working, it simply produces less.
When paired with battery storage, winter performance becomes even more powerful, allowing you to store low-cost off-peak electricity overnight or capture what your panels produce during the day and use it later when demand is higher.
In simple terms, solar does not switch off in winter, it just changes gear, and with the right design, it continues to deliver real savings, resilience, and lower reliance on the grid all year round.
