Do solar panels work when it's dark outside?

Solar panels generate electricty from light. It does not have to be direct sunlight, it can be reflected or it can be from another source, such as street light. I worked on Topaz Solar Farm, the largest PV solar plant at the time. read more

No, the solar panels work or produce electric current only if the sunlight or photons hits the solar panels. When the sunlight (photons) hits the solar panels, the light energy gets converted into electric current. But at night times, solar panels do not get energy from sunlight. So solar panels do not work at night times. read more

In order for photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity, there must be sun. At nighttime, when the sun makes its daily round across the globe to provide other areas with sunlight, solar panels also go into sleepy mode. Solar panels work best during the seasons where sun is more available with longer hours, such as the summer. read more