Solar Power Efficiency And Cleaning

With so many homeowners switching over to solar power there is a lot of excitement around the technology and the purchasing of solar power systems. In the midst of their excitement however what many homeowners often overlook is the fact that their solar panels will become dirty and their efficiency slowly but steadily reduces. When a new solar power system is first installed and activated even the most modest of systems typically converts about 20% of the sunlight it receives into usable energy. Over time however its conversion rate can drop dramatically depending on how much maintenance and care homeowners give their solar panels.

In environments where there's a lot of dust, dirt, or pollen solar panels can lose up to 30% of their efficiency in a relatively short amount of time. Add in even small amounts of wind in those types of climates and solar panels can see their efficiency drop to alarming numbers and relatively quickly as well. In addition to desert climates homeowners need to also be aware of the fact that environments with a high precipitation, be it snow or rain, can also negatively affect their solar panels. When precipitation falls and gathers on solar panels they become havens for dirt, mold, and many other types debris that might try and pass by the panels. On solar panels water acts like a low-grade epoxy resin and helps debris of all types stick to their surface.

Fortunately homeowners needn't worry much about the effectiveness of their solar panels as they can be cleaned. Though they can be cleaned homeowners do need to take great care in doing so. The process can also be time-consuming for those homeowners who choose to do it themselves. Homeowners need to take great care when they set out to clean their solar panels because the wrong chemicals/detergents can damage some solar panels and even render them inert. Ideally homeowners should clean or have their solar panels cleaned every few weeks to maintain peak efficiency though those homeowners with larger solar panel arrays may find that to be inconvenient.

Homeowners concerned with hiring a professional to clean their solar panels and those with little time to do it themselves can actually breathe a sigh of relief. There is a self-cleaning material for solar panels that can be applied by professionals during installation and periodically throughout the life of a solar power system that reduces the number of times panels must be cleaned. This robust coating is designed to maintain peak efficiency over long periods of time. The technology behind this coating is quite complex but homeowners can think of it as being similar to the no fog technology found on corrective lenses and other types of glass. Unlike some of the spray-on coatings available for solar panels this type of coating actually bonds to individual solar panels and forums a barrier between debris and the panel it protects. This usually allows debris and even precipitation to fall roll off solar panels.

For those homeowners who do want to clean their own solar panels themselves, it behooves them to at the very least have a consultation with a solar power professional. It may be the individual or company that installed their system or maybe somebody else but either way these people can help homeowners determine exactly what type of chemicals/detergents and tools to use. While the degradation of solar panel efficiency might be a nuisance to homeowners the cost of replacing damaged solar panels is much more than a simple nuisance.

SolarGEM specializes in Orange County solar power and solar panel services.