Solar Panel Cleaning
Cleaning roof-top solar panels regularly is essential to optimise their efficiency. How often do you look at your paths, roof, gutters, and even your car and think it needs a wash? The same dust and dirt can be building up on your solar panels, but because you may not see it, you probably don’t think about it.
Moss, dust, dirt, bird and bat droppings, and debris from trees accumulates on solar panels, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the PV cells, and reducing their ability to generate electricity. While rain helps wash away some of the dirt, it may not be sufficient, especially during low-rainfall periods.
Regular cleaning ensures solar panels operate at optimal efficiency
- A light layer of dust could reduce solar panel efficiency by around 5-10%.
- Moderate to heavy accumulation of dirt, leaves, or bird droppings can cause a reduction in efficiency by 10-20%.
- After long periods without cleaning or rain, or following a dust storm, heavy dust and dirt buildup can result in efficiency losses of 20% or more!
Cleaning solar panels increases their performance and longevity
Clean solar panels absorb more sunlight, leading to optimal electricity production. Dirty panels can block sunlight, reducing their electricity generation efficiency. By ensuring that your solar panels are operating at peak efficiency, you will maximise the return on your investment in solar by generating more electricity. This lets you take full advantage of feed-in tariffs and reduces your energy bills.
Regular cleaning prevents the buildup of material that can damage your solar panels over time, helping to extend the lifespan of the panels, not to mention looking well-maintained on your roof as well.
Clean solar panels can also ensure the accuracy of system monitoring tools, providing more accurate data on the health and performance of your solar energy system.
Cleaning can prevent damage to solar panels
One of the main reasons to regularly clean your solar panels is to prevent “hot spots” from forming. A hot spot can form when sunlight is distributed unevenly across the solar panel.
Moss, debris and dirt can prevent light from reaching some PV cells while others next to them are receiving full sunlight, causing overheating, uneven aging, and damage to cells. This can shorten the overall lifespan of the panel, and in some cases, the overheated PV cells may damage adjacent electrical components..
Regular cleaning may be part of your solar panel maintenance agreement
Some solar panel manufacturers or installation companies may regular cleaning to remain in compliance with their maintenance and warranty terms, and may even void your warranty or contract if they’re not maintained to specified standards.