Solar panel cleaning is important to enhance solar power generation. Without effective solar panel cleaning, there will be a significant reduction in the performance ratio of the solar power plant.
Solar panel cleaning removes the soiling accumulated on the panel surface, which could disrupt the sunlight absorption capacity of the panels. This further reduces the energy conversion rate. Thus, regular cleaning is required to sustain the energy production by the solar panels.
Importance Of Solar Panel Cleaning
Several experiments have noted that solar panel cleaning increases the overall efficiency of the solar plant by 15% at the least. At large commercial sites, the energy efficiency could be increased by 60%.
A 50MW solar plant at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, experienced huge power losses due to the accumulation of cement dust. The severely accumulated dust decreased the efficiency of the panels. Thus, there was an urgent need to clean solar panels using advanced techniques.
In this case, Taypro deployed its Next-Gen Solar Panel Cleaning Robots, ensuring efficient cleaning without water and optimising energy. These solar panel cleaning robots enhance the overall efficiency of the panels by 50%.
Impact of Taypro’s Solar Panel Cleaning Service at the Prayagraj plant:
| 7500000 kWh | Power Generation Increased |
| 5454540 Litres | Water Saved |
| Rs. 909090 | Labour Cost Saved |
| 15013636 Kg | Total Carbon Reduction |
This underscores the necessity of cleaning solar panels. Soiling not only disrupts the light absorption capacity of the solar panels but also leads to financial loss. Solar cleaning maintains the functionality of the panels and reduces the operational cost gradually.
It also helps in the prevention of energy and financial losses. Solar panel cleaning has several monetary, operational, and environmental benefits.
Benefits Of Solar Panel Cleaning
There are various benefits of solar panel cleaning that highlight its importance. Those are mentioned below:
Enhanced Efficiency
High-pollution areas require daily solar cleaning to prevent declining efficiency due to dust accumulation. Uncleaned solar panels decrease the conversion of energy and can cause long-term damage.
Timely solar panel ensures optimum exposure to the sun, enabling maximum light absorption. This results in significant energy output through the solar panels.
Depending on the environmental factors, the increased efficiency of the solar panels after cleaning ranges between 15% – 30% on average. Regular solar panel cleaning prevents energy loss and helps to optimise the power output.
More energy production allows for more savings on electricity and assures returns on investment. So, keeping the panels cleaned increases their lifespan, adding more value to the investment.
High Power Generation
Accumulated dust can increase sunlight reflection, disrupting the light absorption in the panels. This lowers the energy generation from the panels, which further incurs monetary loss.
With consistent solar panel cleaning, the energy conversion capacity rises significantly. The increased conversion rate provides higher energy output and saves electricity.
Regular solar cleaning using an automated solar cleaning system at the 250 MW capacity plant has increased energy generation by 11250000 kWh annually. This not only generates power but also reduces the consumption of non-renewable energy.
Reduced Operational And Maintenance Costs
Regular solar cleaning prevents long-term damage to the solar plants. Soiling causes overheating of the panels, which could lead to micro-cracks and tears. Overheating may also hamper the functions of the battery.
Consistent solar panel cleaning allows early detection of damage or wiring defects. This can be repaired immediately before it escalates into a bigger hazard. Otherwise, the replacement of a damaged solar panel could cost around ₹ 15,000.
Periodic cleaning of solar panels is done at a reasonable cost using manual or automated methods. Scheduling cleaning cycles prevents huge operational costs and the need for major maintenance.
Moreover, the integration of an automated solar cleaning system can save a significant amount of water and labour costs. At the 100 MW solar plant in Soyegaon, Maharashtra, solar panel cleaning increased the energy efficiency by 4500000 kWh and saved over 1 crore litres of water.
High Returns On Investment
An increased efficiency of solar panels leads to high power generation. Optimum power output provides attractive returns on investment.
Though installation of solar panels is costly, daily cleaning and proper maintenance will result in exponential financial gains. It also saves the expenses of electricity while also generating renewable power.
Efficient solar panels allow quick coverage of the capital investment. Optimised energy output helps in recovering the installation costs within a few years.
Moreover, periodic inspection while solar cleaning prevents high maintenance costs and frequent repairs.
Small-scale solar installations can save around 10% – 20% annually on electricity expenses. Whereas, at the large-scale commercial solar plants, the savings on energy could be between ₹10 – ₹15 lakhs annually.
Prolonged Lifespan Of Solar Panels
Constant dust accumulation and environmental debris can cause damage to the panels. Solar cleaning rinses off this dirt and keeps the panel surface intact for light absorption.
Soiling causes thermal stress, impacting the efficacy of the solar panels. Regular cleaning of solar panels ensures quick inspection of any pertaining issues. This highlights any minor cracks or abrasions on the panel surface.
While cleaning solar panels, one can detect issues at the initial stage, preventing their escalation into major damage. Early inspection of damage leads to quick redressal and longevity of the solar panels.
With proper cleaning, the solar panels can be sustained for many years without any disruptions.
Methods of Solar Panel Cleaning
Some of the best and commonly used techniques of solar panel cleaning are as mentioned below:
Manual Solar Panel Cleaning
The manual solar panel cleaning method uses sponges, soft brushes and water hoses for cleaning the panels. It involves manual labour and incurs labour costs. This is a labour-intensive technique and requires generous water for cleaning.
Dry Manual Solar Cleaning – This method uses soft-bristled brushes or air pressure to clean the dirt from the panels.
Water-based Manual Solar Cleaning – This method involves soft brushes and sponges with water for rinsing the solar panels. This is the most common method but only feasible for small-scale installation.
Automated Solar Cleaning Robots
The large-scale solar plant requires automated solar panel cleaning techniques. Automated robots are mounted on the panel surface. This technique uses microfibre cloth for cleaning the panels.
Taypro’s advanced dual-pass cleaning technology utilises air pressure and microfibre cloth to prevent abrasion and save water. This waterless solar cleaning method is useful in arid regions with scant water.
PV panel cleaning robot requires a higher cost during installation, however, it results in deliberate savings on operational and maintenance costs.
Nanoparticle Coatings
Nanoparticle coating is a dirt repellent solar cleaning method and is primarily useful in dry regions. A thin and transparent coating of silica is placed on the panel surface.
Its anti-static properties prevent dust and moisture accumulation. The self-cleaning system ensures maximum sunlight absorption and power generation.
Nanoparticle coatings require less frequent manual cleaning as the dirt and water easily flow down. A 100 MW solar plant saves lakhs of litres of water and increases overall efficiency by 10% – 15%.
Pipe and Nozzles Module System
PVC or stainless steel pipes are mounted on the panel roof with water nozzles. The advanced pumps sprinkle water evenly over the panels and rinse off the dirt.
The tilted placement of solar panels allows the dirt and water to slip off easily. This prevents any staining or water residue. It saves labour cost and enables efficient use of water.
FAQs
| How can soiling affect the efficiency of solar panels? Soiling increases sun reflection and reduces the panels’ capacity for light absorption. It can reduce the energy efficiency by 3% – 4%. |
| What are the benefits of solar panel cleaning? Regular solar cleaning has several benefits, such as increased energy efficiency, high power generation, higher returns on investment, enhanced lifespan of panels, reduced operational and maintenance costs, etc. |
| Why is it necessary to clean solar panels consistently? Accumulation of dust on solar panels reduces the energy absorption and decreases the output. It can also cause thermal pressure, which further results in increased operational costs and financial losses. |
| How does solar panel cleaning impact the efficiency of solar panels? Proper cleaning and maintenance of solar panels can increase the overall efficiency by 15% – 30%. |
| How can solar panel cleaning increase the energy output of the solar plant? Solar panel cleaning enables optimum light absorption, which further translates into maximum energy output. A 250 MW capacity plant has increased energy generation by 11250000 kWh annually. |
| Which is the most ideal method of solar panel cleaning? An automated robot is the most beneficial and advanced technique of solar panel cleaning without any wastage of water and labour costs. |
| Can solar panel cleaning increase the lifespan of the solar panels? Solar panel cleaning maintains the efficiency of the panel and helps to detect any issue at the early stage. This prevents major damage and the need for huge maintenance. All these factors ensure the maximum longevity of the solar panels. |
