Can a waterless cleaning method remove dust from solar panels?

Dust that accumulates on solar panels is a major problem, but washing the panels uses huge amounts of water. MIT engineers have now developed a waterless cleaning method to remove dust on solar installations in water-limited regions, improving overall efficiency. Image courtesy of the researchers.

How to clean solar panels?

The water used for cleaning these solar panels using pressurized water jets has to be trucked in from a distance, and it has to be very pure to avoid leaving behind deposits on the surfaces. Dry scrubbing is sometimes used but is less effective at cleaning the surfaces and can cause permanent scratching that also reduces light transmission.

Can a waterless system clean solar panels?

But waterless cleaning methods are less effective and labor-intensive and tend to scratch the panels, which also reduces their efficiency. Now, MIT researchers have devised a waterless, no-contact system to automatically clean solar panels or the mirrors of solar thermal plants.

Do solar panels need to be cleaned?

But the accumulation of dust on solar panels or mirrors can reduce the output of photovoltaic panels by as much as 30% in just one month. The regular cleaning that solar panels require currently is estimated to use about 10 billion gallons of water per year—enough to supply drinking water for up to 2 million people.

Can data science be used to clean solar panels?

The implementation of data science and machine learning in a solar PV panel cleaning system could be a remarkable advancement in the field of renewable energy. A solar photovoltaic system is subjected to natural soiling phenomena, which in turn degrades the performance in cumulative fashion. The essence of cleaning the solar pla...

How often should solar panels be cleaned?

A recent study found that up to 5 grams of dust and pollution can pile on solar panels in dusty regions in just two weeks. If panels are cleaned every other month, the dust can cause energy losses of up to 35%. The problem often requires owners of solar panels to clean them regularly, in what can be a delicate, time-consuming chore.