The World Renewable Energy Congress tell us that dust
accumulation on solar panels can contribute to daily energy losses up to
4.4%, and losses above 15% in the summer months during times without rain.
Rain usually does the job when it comes to keeping your panels
clean and running efficiently. However, recently a customer asked us to examine
why their systems production, which we installed in 2011, had fallen off. We
found that dust, pollen, and other droppings had built up on a few panels and
was causing a decline in their systems production.
Please keep an eye on your systems production and do let us know
if it is not performing at its highest potential. Depending on if you live in a
wooded area or in clear surroundings, you can best judge how often you need to
visually inspect and monitor your system.
For those who need to clean your panels, follow these helpful
guidelines:
1. You will need liquid soap, a brush, and a wiper. A soft
brush with a squeegee is sufficient, but you can also use the items you use to
wash your car. A simple water hose can also do the job just fine in most cases
without any soap mixture. If you have a large solar array, use a brush with an
extension to reach the panels in the middle.
SAFETY NOTE: Do not access your roof if you
don't have the appropriate equipment to do so. Try to clean your panels from
the ground if possible by using a brush with a long extension.
2. Plan to wash your panels early in the morning or in the
evenings. The sun can dry the water too quickly causing dry spots that can
potentially decrease panel efficiency.
3. Mix the soap with water in a large bucket. Follow
the directions on your liquid soap for the correct mixing ratio.
4. Dip your brush in the soap mixture and gently rub it over
your solar panels similar to how you wash your car.
5. Wipe the panels with the washer while they are still wet.
Do not let the soap mixture dry on the panels. To avoid the soap
mixture drying too quickly, wash and dry one panel at a time.
If you're unable to clean your panels, give us a call! We
are more than happy to come out and do it for you.
Check out the study Google conducted
on cleaning their systems panels and see how it helped them!
