Shaded solar panels obviously produce less power than unshaded ones, but most consumers are unaware that just a small shadow on a huge surface area of panels can recude photovoltiac module power by 50%.
Depending on how much shade a collection of panels regular sees, this can make having solar power cost more money than it saves.
As SolarFeeds.com points out, 95% of solar systems installed today use “String Inverters,” which make having one shaded solar panel akin to having a dead battery in an electric gadget that requires more than one.
The figure below diagrams just how much a little shade can take away from a bed of panels.
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