How To Clean Solar Panels
Why Is Cleaning Solar Panels Important?
Solar panels work by converting photovoltaic energy – radiation produced by the sun which travels to Earth – into electricity. Photovoltaic converters can only produce as much energy as is proportionate to the surface area able to absorb sunlight. This means that when the surface area of a photovoltaic converter gets covered up by dirt, grime or other detritus from the environment its capacity to convert sunlight into electricity is reduced. Keeping your solar panels clean is therefore important to maximising the electricity which your panels produce for your household.
Why Do Solar Panels Get Dirty?
Floating particles can become attracted to the static electricity produced by a solar panel and settle on the surface of the photovoltaic converters. Dust and other pollutants can form a film on the surface of a solar panel which lessens its ability to power the home. Bird excrement is another source of woe solar panel owners have to worry about. So is detritus dropped by overhanging trees. Regardless of the source of grime, maintaining bright and shiny solar panels is important to producing enough energy to meet your needs.
How To Clean Solar Panels
When you notice your energy production dip, it is time to clean your solar panels. There are several methods which can be used to clean your solar panels:
- With a ground-level hose: unless your solar panels are completely flat, using a hose from the ground level can work wonders when cleaning solar panels.
- Use isopropyl alcohol: when there are particularly tough-to-remove stains on your solar panels, a strong isopropyl alcohol solution applied with a cloth can produce good results.
- Brushes made specifically for cleaning solar panels can make light work of a sometimes lengthy task. Just be sure to utilise purpose-made brushes instead of a substitute.
- Finish with a squeegee: use a squeegee to remove any streaks which are remnant of your cleaning routine.
At no time during cleaning should you step on or lean on your solar panels. This could cause them to break. Similarly, do not use soap or detergent to clean your solar panels as it leaves behind residual material that can attract particles and create more mess.
Contact Solar Proofing Sydney Today
Keeping your solar panels clean can produce as much as 5-10% more electricity than when they are dirty. If you have recently installed solar panels at your site and want to protect them for the long-term, call Solar Proofing Sydney to set up bird-repellent guards on the perimeter of your panels. We also perform solar panel cleaning duties which we recommend twice per year. Call us on 0468 433 829 to chat about how we can make sure your solar benefits you to the greatest extent possible.