Partial shading can impact the power output of solar panels, but it doesn't always decrease as shading gets heavier. A study looked at how shading affects the power of a string of solar panels. Surprisingly, the power output can stay the same even with some shading, as long as a certain critical point is reached. This critical point varies depending on how many panels are shaded. The researchers found that there is a specific point where shading doesn't affect the power output of the solar panel string anymore. This discovery can help optimize solar panel setups to minimize the impact of shading on power generation.