Cleaning Solar Panels for Maximum Efficiency

The how-to-guide for cleaning solar panels.

Many households are opting for solar installations. To maintain the efficiency of these panels, regular cleaning can be important. Just as with any piece of technology, proper maintenance can ensure longevity and optimal performance.

*Note: At New England Clean Energy we do not recommended cleaning solar panels yourself. It can be dangerous, and using the wrong cleaning agents or methods can damage the panels. It’s best to leave cleaning to professionals who have the right equipment and expertise to do it safely.

Cleaning Residential Solar Panels:

• Frequency: Depending on your location and the local environment, cleaning frequency can vary. If you live in a relatively dust-free area with occasional rain, the rain might do most of the cleaning for you. However, in dustier areas or places with high pollen counts, more frequent cleaning, perhaps every 6 months, is beneficial.
• DIY Cleaning: Start by using a garden hose to wash off any loose dirt or debris. For more stubborn grime, use warm water with a bit of mild detergent and a soft sponge or cloth. Remember always to handle the panels gently to avoid any damage.
• Safety First: If your panels are on the ground, they’re relatively easy to access. However, roof-mounted panels can pose a safety risk. Always use a stable ladder and consider using harnesses or hiring professionals if the panels are hard to reach.

Mega Solar Projects: How The Big Players Do It:

Large solar farms, which sprawl across acres, face a unique challenge when it comes to cleaning. Human labor is expensive and often just not feasible. Here’s how they manage:

• Robotic Cleaners: Many large solar installations use automated cleaning robots. These devices move across the panels, brushing and cleaning as they go, and can cover vast areas in a short time.
• Waterless Cleaning: Considering the scale of solar farms, using water for cleaning isn’t always sustainable. Innovative dry cleaning solutions, which use microfiber brushes and air blowers, are becoming increasingly popular.
• Night Cleaning: To avoid disrupting the energy generation process, some solar farms opt to clean their panels at night.

The Future of Residential Solar Panel Cleaning:

While many of the large-scale cleaning solutions aren’t applicable for home installations, there are innovations in the pipeline that residential solar users can look forward to:

• Self-Cleaning Coatings: Scientists are working on hydrophobic coatings that can be applied to panels. When water hits these coatings, it beads up and rolls off, taking dirt and debris with it.
• Electrostatic Cleaning: This technology uses the principle of electrostatic attraction to push dirt off the panels. It’s still in the developmental stages but holds great promise for efficient, water-free cleaning in the future.
• Drones: Some companies are exploring the use of drones equipped with soft brushes and blowers. These drones can fly over residential panels, cleaning them without the need for ladders or other equipment.

As solar energy continues its rise in popularity, the methods and technologies to maintain these installations also evolve. From DIY cleaning methods to futuristic tech solutions, ensuring our solar panels shine bright is an integral step in our sustainable energy journey.

The Impact of Dirt

While the sleek, shining surfaces of solar panels are designed to capture the sun’s rays and convert them into energy, their efficiency can be hampered when dirt, dust, and other debris come into play. Here’s a deeper dive into how dirty solar panels can impact their performance:

1. Efficiency Reduction: Dirt and dust can create a layer on the surface of solar panels, acting as a barrier between the sunlight and the photovoltaic cells within the panel. While a thin layer of dust might not seem like much, even minimal shading can significantly affect a solar panel’s performance. Some studies have shown that dirty solar panels can experience efficiency losses of 15-25%. In areas with high levels of pollution, airborne particles can further exacerbate this loss.

2. Hot Spots and Potential Damage: When certain sections of a solar panel are shaded or blocked by debris, those areas don’t produce electricity as effectively. The energy that would typically be generated in those sections gets redirected, causing other parts of the panel to overproduce. This imbalance can lead to “hot spots” – areas of the panel that overheat. Over time, these hot spots can cause damage, reducing the lifespan of the solar panel.

3. Uneven Energy Production: Consider larger debris, such as fallen leaves or bird droppings. They can shade significant portions of a panel. This shading means that while some parts of the panel might be operating at near full capacity, other sections might be barely generating any electricity. Such inconsistencies can lead to uneven wear and tear on the panel, potentially leading to earlier-than-expected replacement needs.

A Matter of Economics: Beyond the pure functionality, there’s also an economic impact. Reduced efficiency means less electricity generation. For homeowners or businesses that rely on solar panels to offset electricity costs or even to sell back excess power to the grid, dirty panels can translate to a tangible loss of money.

Have Questions about How You Can Benefit From Solar Savings?
New England Clean Energy is all about making it easy for you to get started and we offer several different ways to find out what types of savings might be available for you! 

You can talk to Our Experts at 877-886-8867 or Get a Ballpark Estimate using our AI-driven estimation tool.