You are probably asking yourself why it is really crucial to clean solar panels. Imagine having your panels up there, enabling you to harness clean energy, and over time they become dirty and covered in debris.
Which is annoying, right? Anyway, don’t worry, this article is here to help you understand why cleaning the solar panel is super important. So here we go with the top five big reasons that a solar panel should be cleaned to get the best out of the production of energy and longevity.
So, let’s get started.
#1. Improved Productivity
Dirty solar panels come in between the sun’s rays and the photovoltaic cells contained in them. If something, be it dirt, dust, or any other obstacle, accumulates on the surface of the panels, sunshine cannot penetrate through them, so the panels do not work at their full capacity and reduce their ability to produce electricity in an effective manner.
Cleaning panels at regular intervals ensures that they can absorb maximum sunlight, thereby optimizing their performance and energy output. In locations with a high rate of soiling, clean panels can increase production by as much as 20%, depending on the local climate.
More production means more savings on your electric bill and a bigger return on your solar investment.
#2. Extended Life
Similar to any other mechanical or electronic device, the solar panel also requires maintenance in order to allow operations within its lifetime. Accumulated dirt, dust, pollen, and bird droppings, among other contaminants, degrade the panels’ effectiveness and may cause corrosion to or damage the surface if left unattended.
Proper cleaning and rinsing remove these contaminants in a way that avoids damage and lengthens the service life of your solar panels.
By dedicating just a bit of time and effort to the cleaning of your panels regularly, you will preserve your investment while ensuring that your solar energy system is operating the same way it is now far into the future.
#3. Safety and Performance:
Apart from interfering with the efficiency and life, dirty solar panels may also act as safety hazards and impair performance. This dirt and debris that may pile on the solar panels can cause hot spots on the face of the panel and in turn overheat and damage the cells.
In addition, if the solar panels are on top of a structure, climbing up to clean them is dangerous, especially when the roof is slippery because of dirt or the growth of algae.
Such periodic cleaning will ensure not only good working performance but also avoid accidents and damage from maintenance works. Thus, safety and system efficiency are ensured.
#4. Environmental Impact:
Major reasons for investments in solar energy are its environmental benefits with respect to greenhouse gas emission reductions and independence from fossil fuels.
Unfortunately, dirty solar panels offset such environmental advantages, however, since a reduction in efficiency led to a demand for more energy in order to still meet the same electricity demand.
This way, you increase the chances of your panels catching the most possible sunlight to generate electricity, decrease the need for energy derived from non-renewable sources, and decrease your carbon footprint. Not only do clean panels give you a clean form of energy, but they also help in ensuring that the impacts of climate change in the future remain reduced.
#5. Financial Benefits:
Clean solar panels have more financial paybacks in residential and commercial use, from lower energy bills to maximum ROI. Regular cleaning will enhance efficiency and maximum production of energy.
This equals huge savings on electricity bills over the life of your solar energy system. On top of everything, clean panels protect your investment from damage and premature wear and tear by reducing the necessity for costly repairs or replacements.
Regardless of whether you want to save money on your energy bill or looking to increase the resale value of your property, investing in regular solar panel cleaning can certainly pay dividends over time in terms of both financial and environmental payoffs.
Final Thoughts
In short, clean solar panels are vital to gain the highest efficiency, a longer service life, ensure safety with minimal environmental impacts, and make financial savings.
This optimizes the energy performance of your solar system and allows you to enjoy even more savings on energy bills, consequently reducing the carbon footprint.
