One thing we learned during the coronavirus pandemic was the effectiveness of soap and water: washing our hands regularly was our best defense. Although solar panels are washed regularly to avoid reduced production and efficiency, soap is not the solution here.
Courtesy of Premier Solar Cleaning
As an installer and provider of solar services in California, the Bland Company never uses detergents for solar modules, but instead uses deionized water and a rotating brush system to wash the solar modules.
"Soaps can leave a film or residue that will not only shade plates like washed dirt, but also encourage dirt to stick and accumulate faster," said Daniel Green, director of Bland Marketing. "We use deionized water that is applied through our rotating brush system. This is the best way to leave the solar modules with a flawless brightness that is as beautiful as the first day of their installation. ""
Instead of risking the safety of Bland employees and possible damage to the solar cells being cleaned, the company deals with clean brush single-tecs from 2018. A roller brush attached to the wheels that glides over the solar panels, which requires thorough cleaning with almost no hands enables. Bland also circulates the customer's water through a demineralization and ionization system.
Courtesy of Premier Solar Cleaning
"[Sola-Tecs] is the only cleaning system we use. We have found that, combined with our water treatment, is the best way to clean solar panels, "said Green." It requires less water, fewer passages, and no harsh chemicals or detergents. "
Premier Solar Cleaning (PSC) in Southern California also notes that the use of deionized water by water powered rods and brushes is very useful for cleaning solar projects.
"If you've ever smelled your hands after washing them with soap, you can smell the remaining soap, even if you don't see any soap afterwards," said Adam Fuller, co-founder of PSC. "If we cleaned the panels with soap, the very small soap molecules would leave something on which dust and dirt could rest."
PSC offers a complete maintenance package that includes infrared inspections to find damaged panels that require more than a good wash. Fuller is also busy throwing pigeons, cleaning under the panels, and installing creature keepers to keep birds and other animals away all year round. It prides itself on giving its customers honest answers and showing how production will increase after the panels are cleaned.
Courtesy of Premier Solar Cleaning
"Smog or oil spills accumulate in the houses and factories closest to the airport and the streets that resist the river during normal rain," said Fuller. "At first glance, these show some of the old blue and black plates. Dirt on the surface reflects the light away from the panels. A clean panel stays cooler and makes moving the electron flow easier. ""
SunSystem Technology, a national provider of operating and maintenance services for homes and businesses, also stays away from soap and uses filtered water and a rotating brush to clean the panels. However, Jeff Struhm, chief marketing officer, said the company uses a mixture of dilute vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and debris.
"When it rains, soil collects at the bottom of the solar module, clogs the bottom row of photovoltaic cells and affects production efficiency," said Struhm. "It's like a watered car: you should always rub it or use a mixture that releases the ground to avoid rubbing."
Sometimes water is not enough, but everyone agrees that soap should never be used. For this reason, the lubricant manufacturer has Polywater before five years its solar panel washing on the brought market . The highly concentrated additive is not a dirty soap; Instead, it improves the water's ability to clean solar panels, said Charlie Cole, international vice president of Polywater.
Polywater Waterless solar panel washing
"We give water the ability to lift the bottom off the plate rather than a solvent that basically surrounds and removes the dirt particles from the plate," said Cole. "[Solar Panel Wash] is safer for panel components. This does not affect anti-reflective films. This will not attack the aluminum rails. It's biodegradable, which means it's not persistent, which makes it ecological. The groundwater is not affected. ""
Washing the solar panels changes the surface tension of the water. Instead of forming water drops, the solar panels form a continuous film to remove dirt and debris. According to Cole, washing solar panels is particularly useful in dry places where dust is high and water is scarce, as less water can be used for cleaning when washing.
"Many of these facilities are located in desert regions where the availability of water is really a problem. If we can reduce water consumption, it is an environmental benefit," said Cole.
Courtesy of Polywater.
Polywater works with plate makers to approve your laundry so the warranties are not voided. Canadian Solar and other global brands have confirmed that using Solar Panel Wash on their modules is safe. It can be purchased through the worldwide network of Polywater and Amazon retailers in North America.
O&M solar energy providers are pleased that the industry is aware of the need to wash the panels regularly.
"First, the panel managers said, 'Use only rainwater.' People took this seriously and three years after installing the panel, they saw a significant drop in productivity. " Cole said: "If the efficiency of a large plant drops by 50%, the economic justification that was originally made will diminish."
Courtesy of Polywater.
Even in residential projects, homeowners particularly benefit from cleaning their few solar panels.
"We often hear customers say that the rain cleans their panels very well, and while the rain washes the dirt away, it doesn't really clean the panels. If the panels are already dirty, the rain only worsens the situation by turning the dust into thick layers of mud, "said Bland's Green." The perfect analogy is to consider your car. If your car hasn't been in six months washed, does it improve or worsen the dirt if you leave it in the rain? The same applies to solar panels. ""
Just don't use soap - a little elbow grease and water work well.
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