Cleaning Dust From Solar Panels

New research to keep solar panels clean and efficient.

Cleaning dust from solar panels.

Admittedly it is a very shallow hill and it might take over 40 years to get to the bottom but day one is going to be as good as it gets. New solutions are necessary to maintain maximum collection. In most cases occasional rain will be enough to naturally and safely keep your solar panels clean and free of debris that could lower production. Dust adhesion on solar panels is a major challenge to energy harvesting through photovoltaic cells and solar thermal collectors.

After that it is all down hill. Special coatings for glass to repel dust and reduce. Attempt to spray off the first layer of loose dirt dust and debris with a regular garden hose. Because you don t want to scratch the panels in any way it s best to use just water and a non abrasive sponge to apply soapy water.

Clean your solar panelson an overcast day early in the morning or in the evening. However unless you live somewhere with high amounts of smog dust dirt or sand blowing around solar panel cleaning is generally not necessary. The day your solar panels are installed is the day you will get the best performance out of them. If a lot of dust and dirt has accumulated you might need to clean more thoroughly.

Solar panel wash modifies the surface tension of the water so instead of water beading up it will form a continuous film across the solar panels to lift dirt and debris. Essentially in the same manner you would wash your car at home. If the sun is beating down on the panels any water used can quickly evaporate and dirt will become smeared. Cole said solar panel wash is especially helpful in arid locations where dust is high and water is scarce because the wash allows for less water to be used in cleaning.

The task of solar panels cleaning is not worth your life. Some of the sunniest places also don t get much rain which does a good job cleaning panels. Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge. Most snow will melt fairly quickly as the dark solar panels attract heat and sunlight.

The most effective way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water. One of the reasons for this is dirt. Read more about solar and snow here. As soon as your panels are out in the open in the clean air or not so clean air dust.

Fill a bucket or spray bottle with warm water and soap no other special equipment is needed. While there are still diy services and professional solutions to eliminate any soiling on your array industry innovations are also paving the way for easier upkeep. You do not have to clean the wiring underneath.