How to maintain solar panels

Solar panels play a significant role for generating electricity. Solar panels generate electricity when exposed to the sunlight. The efficiency of solar panels and generating electricity is strongly influenced when sun exposure to the solar cell is reduced. Dust, dry areas and building up other particles like droppings of birds have significant impact on the amount of generating electricity by solar panels. Cleaning solar panels regularly can significantly increase the overall efficiency of solar panels. Typically, solar panels are self-cleaning. Insufficient care for solar panels can decrease the efficiency of solar panels. Therefore, it is very important to maintain solar panels very carefully.

How to clean solar panel glass
  • Before starting cleaning, you have to shut down your entire system as per instructions or guidelines of your manual provided by your solar panels manufacturer.
  • Cleaning solar panels from the ground is safe. In order to stay on the ground safely, you need a good quality squeegee with a plastic blade and soft brush on one end and a cloth covered sponge on the other coupled having a long extension. For reaching water stream to panels, you should use a hose with a suitable nozzle. If it is not possible to clean panels from the ground, never attempt to access your rooftop unless you have necessary training and relevant safety equipment. If you don’t have any training, you should complete the cleaning process by a suitably qualified professional.
  • You should clean your solar panels early morning or in the evening and on an overcast day. Using water while beating down the sun on solar panels can quickly evaporate which causes smearing dirt. Falling dew on solar panels overnight makes dirt soften which helps you to clean panels using less water and energy. So, typically it is ideal time to clean panels early morning.
  • For removing slab on materials, never use harsh abrasive products or metal objects. Scratching the glass on a solar panel spreads shadow which decreases the performance of a solar panel. Don't use corrosive powder as it risks scratching the panels. Using detergents may smear the glass of a solar panel. So, it should be avoided.
  • If your solar panels are dry, you should dismantle all loose materials before approaching panels with water. It will help you to clean quickly and easily.
  • In some installation scenarios, oily splash may occur. For example, if you live adjacent to and downwind of a major roadway wherein vehicles like trucks move most frequently or you live near an airport.  If you notice appearing oily splash on your panels, then you should use isopropanol as a spot-cleaning element.
  • You can easily remove the most persistent dirt exists on the glass of a good quality solar panel by washing gently with a soft brush or plastic cleanser or a prickly cloth covered sponge using clean water.
  • Use rainwater and mineral-rich water as a final rinse, after then you should compress dry. If your available water is hard or mineral-rich, you must compress well, because mineral-rich water can form deposits on glass as it dries.
If you want to obtain the highest efficiency possible, then  you need to install a special ‘PID (Potential Induced Degradation) coating’ on the glass of your solar panels. This may be in the form of a spray or by mixing it with the water for the maintenance of your solar panels. In this way a filter exists on the panels, so that the electric charge quickly ends up in your installation. It should be noted here that the PID coating works properly only when a PID box is installed appropriately.

Prasun Barua

Prasun Barua is an Engineer (Electrical & Electronic) and Member of the European Energy Centre (EEC). His first published book Green Planet is all about green technologies and science. His other published books are Solar PV System Design and Technology, Electricity from Renewable Energy, Tech Know Solar PV System, C Coding Practice, AI and Robotics Overview, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Know How Solar PV System, Know The Product, Solar PV Technology Overview, Home Appliances Overview, Tech Know Solar PV System, C Programming Practice, etc. These books are available at Google Books, Google Play, Amazon and other platforms.

13 Comments

  1. Should street lights be cleaned?

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    1. Yes, street light powered by solar photovoltaic system should be maintained and cleaned appropriately for smooth operation.

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  5. Yes, you are right that cleaning solar panels regularly can significantly increase the overall efficiency of solar panels. One of the biggest benefits of having a solar energy system is they require minimal care. Property Solutions maintain these solar panel systems and provide our clients with a better and healthier alternative for utility electric power.

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