It would be a pretty lousy realization that your five-figure investment into solar will start keeping you up at night by buzzing or humming…luckily you don’t have much to worry about.
But what about other aspects of your solar array?…will any component produce noise and if so, how loud will it be?
In this article, I’ve looked into some questions and answers regarding annoying noises that your solar array may produce and if you should be concerned enough to mitigate that noise.
Do Solar Panels Make Noise
Generally, since solar panels don’t have any moving parts they do not produce any noise. Even solar panels that have moving parts and string inverters have also been designed to be incredibly quiet.
Of course, you wouldn’t want to install something on your rooftop, if it’s constantly making noise. The creators of solar panels have taken that into consideration and came up with an option that you wouldn’t have to bear with sound-wise.
However, there are a few scenarios when you might hear a low-level noise coming from your solar panels:
- Loose Cabling
- Loose Racking
- Wind
Loose Cabling
Solar panels have cables that run between them and your roof. Unless the cabling is clipped correctly, you might hear some noises when the wind moves it.
Fortunately, it’s an easy and quick fix. Simply call a professional who is going to take care of the problem by adding a few clips.
Loose Racking
Your panels are not attached directly to the roof. They lie on special racks that are, in their turn, bolted to your roof.
If the mounting racking is improperly installed or if it had become loose over time, the construction can start making noises (a rattling sound to be exact).
Once again, all you would have to do is call the installer who is going to come back and secure the racking.
Wind
Depending on how the solar panels were installed, you might hear the wind blow or even whistle when ‘squeezing’ through the small tunnels. This ‘tunneling’ can increase if the surface where the panels have been installed is uneven.
The sound might not annoy you at all and you will hear it only when the wind is relatively strong. However, if you are sensitive to various noises, you should talk to the installer in advance about a panel configuration that would help avoid such a ‘whistling’ effect.
Although solar panels are very quiet, you can’t say that these technologies are equally noiseless.
Some systems can produce a humming noise during the day. You might not even notice the sound unless you get too close to the panels, but it is definitely something that you should be aware of.
Solar Panels Making Humming Noise At Night
The humming noise that some solar panels produce at night is typically caused by the inverter, which converts the DC power generated by the panels into AC power that can be used by your home or business.
Inverters can produce a low-level humming sound when they are in operation, which is more noticeable at night when background noise levels are lower. However, the noise level should be minimal and should not be loud enough to disturb your sleep or daily activities.
If you are experiencing a loud or persistent humming noise from your solar panels at night, there may be an issue with your inverter or other components of your solar panel system.
In this case, it is important to contact a qualified solar panel technician to diagnose and repair the issue. Ignoring the problem can lead to decreased performance of your solar panel system and potentially costly repairs in the future.
To minimize the humming noise from your solar panels, you can try installing acoustic barriers or insulation around the inverter or other components of your solar panel system.
Additionally, you can consider installing your solar panel system in a location that is further away from your living space or bedroom.
However, it is important to note that these solutions may not completely eliminate the humming noise. So, to reiterate…if you hear a humming sound coming from your solar array it’s most likely coming from the solar inverter.
Do Solar Inverters Make Noise
Out of the three main types of solar inverters, string inverters will make a small amount of humming noise, however, it will only be about 45 decibels which is less than the hum of a refrigerator.
String inverters are the oldest of the three main types of solar inverters, the others being microinverters and power optimizers, which is why they are more prone to noise.
However, there is no need to worry…the maximum noise level of this part of the system is only around 45 decibels. For comparison, 45 dBs are somewhere between a quiet library and a moderate rainfall on the ‘noise scale’.
| Level (in dB) | Real World Equivalent |
| 30 dB | Whispers |
| 40 dB | Quiet Conversations |
| 45 dB | Solar Inverter Noise |
| 50 dB | Refrigerator Hum |
In a solar energy system, an inverter plays one of the most important roles. The device converts the DC current to AC electricity – the latter is what the electrical grid uses.
In alternating current (AC), the electricity is able to flow in both directions. This fact allows changing the voltage of the power which is especially important for the power grid.
If you find the quiet humming disturbing, you can:
- Choose to place the inverter in an enclosed space…this will minimize the noise even more.
- Opt for a system with other types of inverters from the very beginning.
Do bear in mind that if your house has a high electricity demand or if the panels are installed in direct sunlight, the inverter might come with a fan. Its main job is to cool the inverter that contains a lot of electronic circuits and that can’t function properly if it’s not cool.
Usually, inverters are placed in shaded, cool places. But if that’s impossible for some reason, the installer is going to add a fan.
As with any moving component, the fan will be making a noise, but this low-level sound is not disturbing in any way.
Are Solar Farms Noisy
In general, while solar farms can produce some noise, you won’t be able to hear any beyond 50 feet from the solar farm boundary.
‘Sound pressure’ and noise pollution are definitely something that a lot of people are concerned about when talking about solar farms. Hardly anyone would want to live next to a power system that is constantly making noise, right?
Of course, a solar farm would require a more powerful inverter that, in its turn, is going to be noisier than a regular residential type. Such inverters will also require powerful fans that would be able to keep the components cool.
However, the things mentioned above will not become an issue due to the following reasons:
- The professionals carefully choose the right location for a solar farm. Such systems can be installed on unused land, in the fields, or can be co-located with wind farms, for example. These places are often found far away from any residential areas.
Even though the solar parks are relatively quiet on their own, the noise will vanish completely before it reaches a residential district.
- As we have already figured out, inverters (and their fans) are the only part of the system that can be making noise on a solar farm. As there are no sun rays during the night, the inverters will have no electricity to convert, thus, they will shut down and become completely silent.
- Furthermore, central inverters are generally surrounded by plenty of solar panels from all sides. Such a configuration allows the noisiest part of the system to be placed the farthest away from any residences.
- By the way, we should not forget that nowadays quiet inverters exist. Farms with such components are going to be making even less noise.
- Finally, any kind of power station has to be compliant with state and municipal noise codes. So, basically, if a solar farm is being constructed, it means that the noise level is under control.
Final Thoughts
There you have it…no need to worry about solar panels putting off annoying hums and buzzes right above your head at night.
Even the parts that do make noise…solar inverters…are at such a low level that they won’t cause any disturbance to your or your neighbors.
If you live in a particularly windy area or have an older roof then you may experience some creaking as the roof bends and bows under the panels as the wind picks up…but chances are, your roof was already doing that anyway.
And lastly, even though most people won’t have a solar farm of their own…I mean, that would be overkill for a single-family home…you may end up living next to one as more are developed and built across the nation.
Aside from being a potential eyesore…I suppose this is subjective…you don’t have to worry about noise from the solar arrays that are built on these farms either. That means even more great news about solar power, Green Energy is also QUIET energy!