Solar panels are a big industry. As the world moves towards solar power, India has also invested heavily in solar panels, and India’s solar production has surged in recent years. But there are some things need to be kept in mind for solar panels, and one of the biggest issues is cleaning them.
Pollution, bird droppings, and dust are things you need to be concerned about if you have a solar system powering your home or business. These impurities tend to accumulate and reduce the efficiency of your solar panels by up to 40 percent, which can end up costing you a lot of money. Hence, you need a well-thought solar panel cleaning regime that will keep them running optimally throughout the year and last longer as well.
As you read on, you will become well-versed in exactly how you should go about ridding your solar panel of unwanted substances.
How often should you clean solar panels?
This largely depends on where your solar panels are installed. Your panels may require cleaning every week if they are situated in windy/dusty areas. Otherwise, your panel may just need to be cleaned once every other month. But no matter what you do, make sure you consult the manufacturer’s specifications.
Solar panel cleaning solutions for high efficiency
Here is what you should know to make sure that your solar panels are devoid of polluting agents.
Solar panel cleaning
Cleaning your solar panels may be time-consuming, but it is well worth the effort. This is because proper cleaning of the solar panel will ensure that maximum sunlight reaches it. If you only have dust accumulating on your solar panels, you can use a hosepipe.
If there is any other kind of impurity, such as bird droppings, you can clean your panels with a washrag/soft piece of cloth and biodegradable soap. However, before you proceed with the cleaning, you need to remove any large debris that may be on the panels and also get rid of tree branches that may be blocking the sunlight or may have shed leaves onto the panel.
Also, always ensure that there are no scratches on the panel and that all the connections are intact before you begin cleaning.
Sample cleaning solution
You can wash the solar panels as often as you feel is necessary depending on the dirt that has covered them.
To make sure that your washing is not harming the panels, you need to use a non-toxic solution. The following mixture is a great example:
- 1/2 teaspoon of a liquid detergent/ non-abrasive soap
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2 cups of water
Mix all of this in a spray bottle and use it to clean your solar panels.If you are in an area where water is scarce, you can even use an air hose.
What to do after the wash
Dry the panels with a nonabrasive sponge. To dry off the panel’s edges, make use of a lint-free piece of cloth. You must avoid the build-up of hard water minerals. To do this, scrub off the remaining water after cleaning with a high-quality squeegee/ scrubber.
Keep a close watch on your solar system’s performance
A great way to know when to clean is by keeping a close watch on your solar panel’s performance throughout the day. If the performance seems to dip and you do not have any extra appliances running, it is quite likely that the panel is littered with unwanted substances.
Use solar monitoring systems
There is a variety of solar monitoring systems available in the market today, which you can use if you find it tedious to manually track your solar panel’s performance. You can have a panel with the readings at your home or even access the data through your smartphone.
Leverage automation
If you have the budget, you can opt for self-cleaning solar technology or cleaning robots. Generally, this is reserved for solar panels that are placed in hard-to-reach areas, such as dry, dangerous, or remote locations. Once you install them, they work like windshield wipers, removing dust from the solar panels with a mechanical arm and a spray hose.
Conclusion
Since solar panel price in India is low and you now know how to maintain them properly, you can rest assured that they are a great investment for your home or business. In the long-run, you will see that putting in the effort to clean your solar panels regularly will save you lots of money and provide you with uninterrupted power.