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One of the most common ways to clean dust off solar panels is to spray them with water.
But that’s a huge waste of water, especially in desert settings, where there are a lot of solar
farms. The MIT scientists note in their new study, which is published in Science Advances:

At a global PV capacity above 500 GW, we estimate on the basis of reports that up to 10
billion gallons of water are being consumed every year worldwide for solar panel cleaning
purposes, which can otherwise satisfy the annual water needs of up to two million people in
developing and underdeveloped countries. 

Further, dry scrubbing damages solar panels.

According to the researchers, static electricity can keep dust off solar panels, and is a much
more sustainable solution. And that’s important, because as the researchers note, for
example, “Dust accumulation of 5 mg/cm2 corresponds to almost 50% loss in power
output.”
Effect of dust accumulation on solar panel power output. Source: Science Advances

The researchers achieved this by using “adsorbed moisture-assisted charge induction.”

Adsorption is when moisture in the air attaches to a dust particle’s
surface. Cosmos concisely explains how it works:

The new technique works by passing a simple electrode – a conductor of electricity, which
could be a simple metal bar – just above the surface of the solar panel. The electric field
produced by the electrode causes the dust particles to become electrically charged as well.

The same charge the dust holds is then applied to the solar panel’s surface through a
conductive layer a few nanometers thick. The researchers have calculated the voltage range
to apply to overcome the pull of gravity and adhesion forces, so the dust particles are pushed
from the surface until they fall off.

In real-world scale and practice, the authors suggest that every solar panel could be fitted
with railings on each side, with an electrode spanning across the panel. A small electric
motor, perhaps even using electricity output from the panel itself, could then drive a belt
system to move the electrode back and forth.
This method works in environments where the ambient humidity is at 30% or greater, and
most deserts can achieve humidity of around 30%.

What do you think about this proposed solar panel cleaning method? Let us know in the
comments below.

Read more: These light, thin, flexible solar panels ‘peel and stick’ to roofs

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