Solar panels that were cleaned professionally had a 12 higher output of electricity compared to those cleaned by rain.
How to clean solar panels on roof in australia.
I also wrote it doesn t make a lot of sense to clean them yourself.
The same study also found that rain is not a satisfying way of cleaning solar panels.
We ll get to the best way to clean your solar panels in a minute.
However unless you live somewhere with high amounts of smog dust dirt or sand blowing around solar panel cleaning is generally not necessary in most cases occasional rain will be enough to naturally and safely keep your solar panels clean and free of debris that could lower production.
Google did a study on the need to clean solar panels.
Cleaning solar panels that had been in operation for 15 months doubled their output of electricity.
The best way to clean solar panels is through professional help as of may 31 2020 australia now has more than 2 43 million solar power systems installed across rooftops.
Solar panels are generally self cleaning but in particularly dry areas or where panel tilt is minimal dust and other substances such as bird droppings can build up over time and impact on the amount electricity generated by a module.
According to the clean energy council 2018 also saw a 45 per cent growth in commercial solar power systems.
I have already written about why it doesn t make sense to pay people to clean your solar panels.
Grime and bird poop doesn t need to cover an entire panel to have an effect.
Once you add in the value of your time the chance of falling off the roof and killing yourself and how cleaning panels usually only adds a couple of percent to their average output it is not really worth it.
But first let s look at when and why you might need to invest in solar panel cleaning equipment or hire a professional cleaning service.
As this activity is dangerous it is essential that you engage an accredited clean energy council technician to carry it out.
This is where cleaning solar panels may have to be done.
However if your solar panels are only tilted minimally or you live in a high traffic dry or dusty area or even by the sea then you re going to need to clean your solar panels in order for them to continue generating maximum output of power.
Your solar panels need to be exposed to sunlight in order to produce power.