Boost Your Solar Efficiency: Say Goodbye to Soiling!
With the dry summer heat in full swing, we’re here with a reminder to keep your panels clean! In California’s dry, arid climate, soiling can be a large factor in causing drastic decreases in energy conversion efficiency. Here are some key points on soiling and how you can keep your system running at peak performance:
What Soiling is & Why it Matters:
Soiling is the grime that coats your panels – dirt, dust, pollen, and other debris.
It acts as a barrier that inhibits sunlight absorption, causes low power output, and makes modules function below their capacity. Essentially, it’s an efficiency killer.
The tilt angle of your panels directly affects the amount of soiling that occurs – a higher tilt angle will help remove dust naturally, but the flatter your panels are, the more soiling occurs.
Severe soiling can cause up to a 40% loss in panel efficiency. Typically, losses during peak summer season are in the 10-15% range if panels have not been washed since winter*.
In dry, dusty regions, soiling can lead to an additional annual energy loss of 5-10%*.
Can Rain Rescue Your Panels?
Is relying on occasional rain enough to keep soiling from affecting your system efficiency? Short answer: While rain can help to rinse your panels, it’s not enough to substitute for regular cleaning & maintenance.
The cleaning effect from rain largely depends on the intensity and duration of the rainfall. A light/moderate rain can help to rinse the surface of the panel, but it’s not going to scrub them clean. Studies show that rainfall must be more than ½ inch to have an actual effect on your panels*.
Maximize Your Panel Power:
There are a few simple ways to ensure that you’re keeping your system performing in pristine condition year-round:
Regular Cleaning Schedule: Set a schedule to ensure panels are cleaned on a regular basis – we recommend washing your panels three to four times per year under normal conditions.
Watch the Dust: Keep an eye on dust levels and adjust your cleaning accordingly (ex: you may need to increase your cleaning efforts during harvest season).
Monitor Weather: Let the weather guide your cleaning schedule. Dry seasons with little to no wind may call for increased cleaning.
Automation: Consider the use of robotic cleaners or automated cleaning systems. Give us a call at (559) 936-2245 and we can recommend a great cleaning company.
Don’t just read this and continue with the day wondering if your system is performing at its best – take a few minutes to go inspect your panels. Are they as clean as they should be? Don’t wait for the effects of soiling to show up on your bottom line, start cleaning today.
We’re here to help you Be Brighter Off!
*M.L. Adekanbi et al. (2024). Soiling loss in solar systems: A review of its effect on solar energy efficiency and mitigation techniques. Cleaner Energy Systems 7. https://www.elsevier.com/locate/cles