Cleaning Solar Panels is a very important practice, especially if you want to prevent them from losing their energy efficiency; in fact, a dirty surface could obstruct the passage of the sun’s rays. To obtain maximum efficiency from a photovoltaic system it is essential to take care of two aspects: sizing and cleaning.
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How to Clean Photovoltaic Panels?
First of all, we need to learn to understand when it is necessary to intervene. It is therefore necessary to understand if the system is not functioning correctly and if the level of energy produced is decreasing. To do this, it is necessary to check, through the control panel, the amount of energy produced every day: if it begins to progressively decrease, the time has come to clean the photovoltaic systems. The reliability and efficiency of the modules are guaranteed by detailed monitoring of the entire production.
There are two ways to clean the photovoltaic system: the safest and most efficient is to rely on an expert in the sector who is able to proceed with the operation without risks and above all with a profitable result; if, however, you feel confident enough in carrying out the do-it-yourself method, below you can find some tips on useful tools and how to clean the photovoltaic system.
To facilitate cleaning procedures, it is also important to choose a high-quality product. Sorgenia chooses Jinko Solar solar panels to guarantee maximum efficiency for its customers. These are highly innovative solutions, panels tested in extreme conditions such as tropical humidity, desert heat, coastal salt spray, or atmospheres characterized by ammonia typical of agricultural areas. By choosing Sorgenia and its partner Jinko Solar, you are relying on a product capable of lasting longer, guaranteeing the best possible production levels.
Kit for Cleaning Photovoltaic Panels
To clean solar panels yourself, you need to have some easily available objects. On the market, in dedicated stores, or online. In fact, there are numerous cleaning kits, which, although different, generally contain the same tools.
Below are Some Tools Needed for Cleaning:
- Telescopic Pole: it can also be used to clean glass in buildings and in general surfaces positioned at a certain height. Depending on the quality, there are Different Types of Telescopic Poles: aluminum, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. The latter is the least economical solution, but also the most recommended thanks to its qualities of lightness, high manageability, and resistance;
- Corner Adapter and Flexible Tube: together with the telescopic rod, they allow you to easily reach any part of the panel, even those located in areas that are more difficult to clean;
- Water Brushes: allow you to very easily rinse the dirt deposited on the surface of the panel. Even for brushes, it is possible to choose between different types, each with specific qualities and functions;
- Detergent: use a delicate, biodegradable detergent. If you don’t have the appropriate cleaner available, you can use dish soap or any other mild cleaning agent.
Furthermore, to clean the solar panel, it is advisable to use demineralized water and carry out the operation only in periods with little rain: in fact, the solar panel tends to self-clean naturally during the rain. It is recommended to clean on days that are not too hot, possibly in the early hours of the morning when the panel is still cold or it would be ideal to clean the panels in spring.
Detergent for Photovoltaic Panels
Choosing the right detergent for photovoltaic panels is essential: the use of an unsuitable product containing harmful substances can have irreversible consequences on the surface of the panel, which must never have scratches and stains that could compromise the correct absorption of the sun’s rays. As is known, the cost of a solar panel usually represents a fairly large expense; therefore, proceeding with good and careful maintenance is essential.
There are different types of detergent on the market specifically created for cleaning panels, but it is also possible to rely on other types of more traditional cleaning agents, such as dishwashing liquid or delicate and biodegradable substances in general. The use of an antistatic detergent for solar panels is highly recommended, capable of leaving a sort of film on the surface capable of facilitating the sliding of dirt in order to avoid its accumulation.
It will then be enough to dilute the detergent in demineralized water and proceed with cleaning using the appropriate brushes or a soft cloth. Subsequently, it is important to rinse the panel adequately, always with warm demineralized water.
Photovoltaic Brush: How Does it Work?
As with the detergent, the brush for washing photovoltaic panels must also comply with some important criteria in order to avoid corrosion or abrasion of the delicate glass of the panel. Therefore, it is best to use a brush specifically created for this purpose and not improvise with other tools that do not have the right characteristics.
Solar panel brushes, as previously mentioned, have a precise shape: they are composed of an extendable telescopic rod and an angular tube that allows the rod to adapt to the angle of the surface on which the systems are installed. Furthermore, to function properly, most brushes need to be installed on a hollow tube that allows water to pass through.
There are Different Types of Brushes for Photovoltaic Panels on the Market:
- Classic Water Brush: with soft bristles, it is designed for delicate but at the same time effective manual cleaning;
- Hydrokinetic Brush: for use with a pressure washer machine;
- Rotating Brush: very effective for carrying out a first cleaning on particularly dirty panels;
- Single Disc Machine: like the others, it is located on a telescopic rod, but is equipped with automatic movement.
Machines for Cleaning Photovoltaic Panels
In addition to the methods listed above for manual panel cleaning, there is a very efficient motorized solution, which allows you to obtain results that are very close to the intervention of a professional: the photovoltaic panel cleaning machine. It is chosen based on the size of the system you own: for those companies that own a very large number of solar panels, for example, there are even special, very large mechanical arms that must be driven by a specialized operator.
For those who need a do-it-yourself photovoltaic panel cleaning machine, there are some latest generation high-pressure washers on the market that operate with reverse osmosis: they allow you to clean any type of solar panel thanks to the use of pressurized demineralized water, obtained through a filtering system, and reverse osmosis membranes, capable of more easily trapping dirt residues deposited on the surface.