Rain’s ability to clean dirt off solar panels is not as strong as once thought, which could affect power generation.
What’s going on?
Research by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has found that rain alone is not enough to clean dust from solar arrays.
While it makes some difference, it’s not nearly enough to allow solar panels to operate at their peak capabilities.
The study, summarized by CleanTechnica, took data from five utility-scale solar sites in North Carolina. He looked at the effect of pollution, which causes dust, dirt, pollen and other wind-blown particles to stick to solar panels and block light from entering the technology’s cells.
At the height of the pollen season, solar performance can be reduced by up to 15% due to sediment and dust from soil, trees and plants settling on the panels.
In contrast, after washing with a mechanical brush, the panels saw an increase in performance of 5% to 11%.
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER Good news, green hacks and the latest in cool clean tech – straight to your inbox every week!
“Much work remains to be done to fully understand the risks and consequences of pollen and bio-pollution in the southeastern United States, but this work has made it clear that regular rainfall is not enough to assume that solar plants are fully cleaned in certain environments.” PV Performance at NREL and Reliability team research engineer Matthew Muller told CleanTechnica.
Why does this matter?
Research shows that both small and large-scale solar arrays need to be cleaned regularly to maintain peak performance.
While this may not be much of an issue for users using the money-saving technology at home, it is a concern for sites with larger solar arrays, as it will require additional labor to ensure the panels are clean and able to produce a lot of output. power as possible.
Annual production losses could be as high as 10%, the study continued, so more work is needed if solar is to have much of an impact in terms of reducing reliance on polluting coal-fired power plants to generate electricity.
What can be done to prevent contamination?
Pollution levels depend on location and climate, so dusty environments and areas with extensive plant life may have more problems with solar energy.
But while pollution cannot be prevented, cleaning your solar panels regularly will allow you to produce cleaner energy that produces zero planet-warming emissions.
Writing for Forbes, Emily Glover recommended dish soap and a cleaning solution made of one part vinegar to eight parts water or water.
Glover also noted that there are cleaners available specifically for solar panels, but it’s recommended to avoid products with strong chemicals that can harm native plant life. Meanwhile, Glover said coarse scrubbing brushes and bleach should not be used.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the hottest news improve our lives and to save our planet.
