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Solar Panel Cleaning Safety Guidelines

Regular cleaning of solar panels is important to maximize energy production. When Google cleaned solar panels that had been operating for 15 months, it almost doubled their electricity output. Periodic cleaning is necessary because dust and other materials deposited on panels over time reduce the amount of light hitting the panel and lowers output. Cleaning increases the amount of direct sunlight on panels, potentially increasing power output by up to 30%. Solar panel cleaning should follow guidelines to ensure safety of personnel and prevent damage to panels. Proper cleaning time, water quality, cleaning agents, and techniques such as water pressure are outlined. Rainwater alone does not sufficiently clean panels as dust particles remain when water evaporates.

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Logesh Kumar
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1K views3 pages

Solar Panel Cleaning Safety Guidelines

Regular cleaning of solar panels is important to maximize energy production. When Google cleaned solar panels that had been operating for 15 months, it almost doubled their electricity output. Periodic cleaning is necessary because dust and other materials deposited on panels over time reduce the amount of light hitting the panel and lowers output. Cleaning increases the amount of direct sunlight on panels, potentially increasing power output by up to 30%. Solar panel cleaning should follow guidelines to ensure safety of personnel and prevent damage to panels. Proper cleaning time, water quality, cleaning agents, and techniques such as water pressure are outlined. Rainwater alone does not sufficiently clean panels as dust particles remain when water evaporates.

Uploaded by

Logesh Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Solar Panel Cleaning Guidelines: An introductory section discussing the significance of maintaining solar panel efficiency through regular cleaning.
  • Why Rainwater Will Not Clean Your Solar Panels: Explains why relying on rainwater for cleaning solar panels is ineffective, detailing scientific principles behind the need for manual cleaning.

Solar Panel Cleaning Guidelines

Solar Power plants are essentially maintenance free as they do not consist of any moving parts.
However, panel cleaning is one aspect of solar panel maintenance that should not be taken lightly.
When Google conducted a groundbreaking experiment at their 1.6 MW solar farm in Mountain
View, California, it was found that solar panel cleaning was “the number one way to maximize the
energy they produce.” Cleaning solar panels that had been in operation for 15 months almost
doubled their output of electricity.

Why periodic solar panel cleaning is necessary ?


Improve Efficiency

Solar panels work by converting sun-light that falls onto solar panels into electricity. The
more light that hits a panel, the more power it will generate. During the course of time, when
dust and other materials deposit on the solar panel surface, it essentially reduces the amount
of light hitting the panel and so reduces its output.

When Solar panels are cleaned, direct sun rays falling on the solar panels increases and it
corresponds to increase in units of electricity produced by panels. According to an estimate, regular
cleaning of solar panels has potential to increase power output by as much as 30%.

How to clean solar Panels ?

Solar Panel Cleaning Guidelines:

While cleaning solar panel is no rocket science and can be equated with regular washing of
your car. There are certain things that need to be remember to guarantee elongated service
life and efficiency of the system. Wrong cleaning practices, bad quality water and use of
inappropriate cleaning agent may damage modules and other array components and lower
system performance as well. It is also essential to train the cleaning personnel on proper
cleaning methods and use of appropriate cleaning tools.

Safety of personnel:

 Solar modules are connected in series and it generates upto 800V DC. Cracks in modules or
damaged cable or joints in a string are extremely dangerous for cleaning person particularly
when the modules are wet. Even during low level of sunlight the array will generate lethal
voltage and current. Therefore, it is important to inspect modules thoroughly for cracks,
damage, and loose connections before cleaning. Cleaning personnel shall wear appropriate
electrically insulating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during cleaning.

Cleaning time:

 The recommended time for cleaning modules is during low light conditions when production
is lowest. However, when sun shines during the day, the panels also get heated up and
cleaning solar panels with cold water in evening may result in thermal shock for panel which
can permanently damage them. Hence, the best time to clean Solar Panels is early mornings,
when the plant is not in operation, risk of electrical shock hazard is minimum and also
temperature of solar panels is not high.

Quality of water:

 De-ionized water should be used to clean the modules. If de-ionized water is not available,
rainwater or tap water can be used. Tap water must be of low mineral content with total
hardness less than 75ppm. Water must be free from grit and physical contaminants that
could damage the panel surface.

Use of cleaning agent:

 A mild, non-abrasive, non-caustic detergent with deionized water may be used. Abrasive
cleaners, Acid or alkali detergent must not be used.
 Don’t use metal objects or harsh abrasive products for removing caked on materials –
scratching the glass on a solar panel can affect its performance as scratches will cast
shadows.

Removing stubborn marks:

 To remove stubborn dirt such as birds dropping, dead insects, tar etc., use a soft sponge,
micro-fiber cloth. Rinse the module immediately with plenty of water.

Water pressure:

 Water pressure should not exceed 35 bar at the nozzle. Use of high pressure hoses for
cleaning may exert excess pressure and damage the modules.

Water temperature:

 Temperature of water used for cleaning should be same as ambient temperature at the time
of cleaning. Cleaning should be carried out when the modules are cool to avoid thermal
shock which can potentially cause cracks on the modules.

Why Rainwater Will Not Clean Your Solar Panels

A good way to illustrate that why rainwater will not clean solar panels is by considering
example of your car windscreen. If you leave the car in rain for cleaning, does it really get
cleaned. The answer is “NO” why? . Because, rain water contains airborne dust particles that
settle and attach to the surface after the rainwater evaporates. Hence, you see small round dirt
circles when the car windscreen dries after rain. Same principle applies in Solar Panels.

When Solar Panels are washed by rain water, though it does clean the solar panel to some
extent, however, when panel gets dried, the water evaporates leaving small circles of dirt on
the solar panels.

Solar Panel Cleaning Guidelines Solar Power plants (https://www.yellowhaze.in/re/solar/power/)are essentially maintenance f
when the modules are wet. Even during low level of sunlight the array will generate lethal voltage and current. Therefore, i
cleaned. The answer is “NO” why? . Because, rain water contains airborne dust particles that settle and attach to the surfa

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