“Sunshine is free” is a phrase you’ll hear tossed around quite a bit in solar malaysia circles. But how true is it, really? For many people, the thought of continuous periods of sunlight over Malaysia’s tropical scenery makes it seem like a great place to harvest solar energy all year. But tropical weather is harder to forecast than a kid who has had too much candy.

To make it clearer, let’s look at the facts. Because it sits a little north of the equator, Malaysia is in the “solar belt,” which is like a VIP club for sunlight. The country gets about 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. That means that each square meter gets between 1,400 and 2,200 kWh of solar energy per year. It puts Malaysia on the same level as southern Spain or parts of Australia, which are famed for their solar energy. But here’s the local twist: the weather can change from brilliant blue mornings to tropical downpours by the afternoon. When it rains a lot, especially on the east coast, from October to March, solar output decreases down for a short time.

Solar panels, like everything else in life, don’t have to be perfect. Even when it’s gloomy, solar panels can still catch sunlight. Did a thunderstorm take up half a day of your time? The next bright spell helps you get back on track. The average daily output stays fairly stable all year long because the rain doesn’t last long and the sun comes back shortly. People in Kuala Lumpur or Penang who put solar panels on their rooftops often remark that their monthly production only changes by 10–15%. Not a deal breaker at all.

Heat is something that doesn’t get a lot of attention. You can put cheap panels on your roof, but they might not work as effectively when the surface grows hotter. But high-quality panels, especially ones that can tolerate a lot of heat, keep working even when the sun is shining down on them in Malaysia. Having fancy gadgets or apps is less important than keeping things clean. For instance, you should wash out bird poop from time to time.

If you’re waiting for the “perfect” spot to put up solar panels in Malaysia, don’t worry. Because of where you live and the fact that the sky is constantly sunny, the sun sends you an RSVP every day of the year.