Google did a study on the need to clean solar panels.
Why clean solar panels.
Your solar panels need to be exposed to sunlight in order to produce power.
California based solar installer and maintenance provider bland company never uses a cleaning agent on solar panels instead relying on deionized water and a rotating brush system to wash solar panels.
Google conducted a groundbreaking experiment at their 1 6 mw solar farm in mountain view california.
They found that cleaning the solar was the number one way to maximize the energy they produce.
Airborne dust particles sticky tree and plant sap lichen soot and bird droppings are just a few of the things that can contribute to a build up of dirt on your panels.
Soaps can leave a film or residue that not only shades panels like the dirt that was just washed off but it can also encourage dirt to stick and build up faster said daniel green bland.
They found that tilted panels don t require cleaning as much as flat panels.
However unless you live somewhere with high amounts of smog dust dirt or sand blowing around solar panel cleaning is generally not necessary 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.
Grime and bird poop doesn t need to cover an entire panel to have an effect.
We know that dust dirt pollen bird droppings and other debris can negatively affect solar panel efficiency.
Accumulation creates shading and will prevent sunlight reaching the cells.
This is where cleaning solar panels may have to be done.
It s a good idea to keep track of your energy output before and after a cleaning because that alone can be enough motivation to get your panels cleaned.
Why clean solar panels.
We ll get to the best way to clean your solar panels in a minute.
Solar panels are generally self cleaning but in particularly dry areas or where panel tilt is minimal dust and other substances such as bird droppings can build up over time and impact on the amount electricity generated by a module.
Solar panels are prone to accumulating dirt.
But first let s look at when and why you might need to invest in solar panel cleaning equipment or hire a professional cleaning service.
The most effective way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water.
Why is solar panel cleaning important.
The best way to clean solar panels is through professional help as of may 31 2020 australia now has more than 2 43 million solar power systems installed across rooftops.
According to the clean energy council 2018 also saw a 45 per cent growth in commercial solar power systems.
Some manufacturers and solar panel users report a jump in efficiency of 30 percent or more after a cleaning.
Check with your solar installers and providers to determine if there is any information about solar panel cleaning recommendations and dos or don ts when it comes to cleaning your system.
Why should i clean my solar panels.
