In some areas, without adequate solar panel cleaning, photovoltaic (PV) performance can degrade as much as 25% according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This can increase a solar arrays pay back time by three to five years!
To maintain optimal energy production, solar arrays require periodic solar panel cleanings especially in those areas of that are prone to high airborne particulates such as pollen, exhaust, dust, industrial processes, coastal salts, organic debris, and in certain regions in the winter — snow.
To understand why solar panels need to be kept clear of airborne debris, it’s important to know a bit about how a solar array works. A solar array contains several solar modules wired together. Each solar module, also know as a solar panel, consists of solar cells mounted collectively in a frame and covered by a protective glass coating. Solar cells are made of semiconductor materials like silicon. One side of a solar cell is positive and the other is negative. When sunlight hits a solar cell, it excites the electrons in the semiconductor material. This energy is captured as electricity. Pollution, dust from traffic, bird droppings and leaves or other organic debris prevents sunlight from reaching the solar cells in the solar panels thereby reducing the amount of energy generated.
Solar panel cleaning is so important to ensure maximum energy production from a solar array that some solar panel manufacturers are now even making panel cleaning a condition of their warranty.
