Cleaning Dust From Solar Panels

One of the reasons for this is dirt.

Cleaning dust from solar panels.

Dust adhesion on solar panels is a major challenge to energy harvesting through photovoltaic cells and solar thermal collectors. Attempt to spray off the first layer of loose dirt dust and debris with a regular garden hose. The task of solar panels cleaning is not worth your life. Special coatings for glass to repel dust and reduce.

Essentially in the same manner you would wash your car at home. Fill a bucket or spray bottle with warm water and soap no other special equipment is needed. Some of the sunniest places also don t get much rain which does a good job cleaning panels. New solutions are necessary to maintain maximum collection.

The day your solar panels are installed is the day you will get the best performance out of them. Most snow will melt fairly quickly as the dark solar panels attract heat and sunlight. 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. After that it is all down hill.

Clean your solar panelson an overcast day early in the morning or in the evening. You do not have to clean the wiring underneath. Remember that solar panels can become extremely hot in the sun so schedule your maintenance session in the early morning at dusk if possible or on a cloudy day. 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.

Early morning can be a particularly good time for cleaning as dew that has settled on the panels overnight will likely have softened grime. 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. As soon as your panels are out in the open in the clean air or not so clean air dust. 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.

If the sun is beating down on the panels any water used can quickly evaporate and dirt will become smeared. 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. Read more about solar and snow here. If a lot of dust and dirt has accumulated you might need to clean more thoroughly.

The most effective way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water. And snow actually cleans your panels as it melts taking any dust and dirt with it as it slides off the slick module surface. Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge.