Dust On Solar Panels

The self dusting solar panels are based on technology developed for another dry and dusty environment mars.

Dust on solar panels.

If a dust storm has covered your panels in dirt or pelicans have had a poop party on your roof then it s a pretty good idea. Dust is a thin layer that covers the surface of the solar array and the typical dust particles are less than 10 µm in diameter but this depends on the location and its environment. A new whitepaperby solar measurement company kipp zonen explores the issue of dirty panels in terms of economic geographic and technical factors. Your solar panels need to be exposed to sunlight in order to produce power.

The technology involves placing a transparent electrically sensitive material. Meanwhile air pollution is also a culprit. And that s just when they re dirty. Dust is generated from many sources such as pollution by wind pedestrian volcanic eruptions and vehicular movements among many others.

Dust adhesion on solar panels is a major challenge to energy harvesting through photovoltaic cells and solar thermal collectors. According to experts environmental pollution could reduce the amount of light that gets absorbed by your solar panels even if the system is relatively new. New solutions are necessary to maintain maximum collection. Research demonstrated a decrease in energy collected and produced when panels were blocked by dirt dust and debris as much as 25 difference in some cases.

Flat tilt array designs also trap more dust. Now before you decide that you should go through dust on your panels i need to mention a couple of details. In most climates if there is dust or debris on the panels and their energy output is registered 5 less than other times the next rain will wash away the debris and the solar panels will return to their optimal efficiency. On average when your solar panels get dirty expect a 5 or less change in output.

Anything that blocks out the sun will reduce the amount of energy your panels produce bushfire smoke and dust storms can cause elevated particle levels in the atmosphere. For instance dirt is worse in desert areas like the american southwest where the air is dry and dusty. But most of the time solar panel cleaning is not worth it.