No. Solar PV does not need constant direct sunlight to work.
Solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not just direct sunshine. They use both direct sunlight and diffuse light scattered through clouds, which means they continue producing energy whenever there is light in the sky, even on cloudy or overcast days.
In some conditions, such as light or high cloud, solar panels can perform surprisingly well. Cooler temperatures and evenly distributed light can be favourable, and systems may begin generating earlier in the morning or continue later into the evening, particularly on east- or west-facing roofs.
During heavy cloud or rain, output is lower, but solar PV never switches off during daylight, it simply produces less when less light is available.
Across the year, most homes generate more electricity in summer and less in winter. Surplus summer generation can be exported to the grid to offset electricity costs, or stored in a home battery and used later when the sun is not shining.
With the right system design, including array size, battery storage, and smart energy management, some homes can achieve what we call “24-hour sun”, covering the majority of their electricity needs across both day and night.
