Solar panels work best when the sun is shining, the sky is clear, and the panels are clean. However, solar panels do not need sunlight - they need light. So, solar panels will collect energy when the weather turns cloudy. Indirect sunlight produces power, but not as much as direct sunlight.
Most solar panels are black so that they can absorb more light, even on cloudy days. When daylight hits the silicon semiconductors in the glass-covered board, chemical reactions generate an electric current. The panel turns the photons into electrons, then sends them off to an inverter so your home can use the AC energy.
When solar panels are shaded, they cannot function at their total capacity. If a percentage of the solar panels are shaded, the rest of the panel will continue to collect light, and the electricity production drops.
Solar panels need direct sunlight to work at their peak. When they get full sun throughout the day, the arrays can collect a maximum amount of energy to store for days when clouds get in the way. Usually, most solar panels function around 60% of their standard capacity on overcast days with indirect sunlight.
Fortunately, homeowners can connect their solar panels to the electric grid or install a battery storage system. These systems give homeowners access to electricity, even if the solar panels get minimal sun for several days.
Peak sun hours only last for three or four hours per day. During this time, when the sun is directly overhead and not covered by clouds, it can provide up to 1,000 watts per square meter on a solar panel. This statistic should give you some perspective on how long solar panels efficiently collect sunlight to convert to electricity.