One thing is clear: Companies must also clean their solar panels to maintain efficiency and longevity. But when is the right time for cleaning? How can you tell when solar modules need maintenance, and what’s the best way to clean them? We answer the key questions and break down the expected costs of professional solar panel cleaning.
The short answer: Yes, solar panels need regular cleaning. To efficiently convert sunlight into electricity, PV modules require direct sun exposure—but over time, dirt naturally accumulates.
Rain, wind, and snow help remove loose dirt, but stubborn grime—such as bird droppings and industrial pollutants—often sticks to the surface. As these deposits accumulate, they block sunlight, reducing efficiency.
Over time, secondary contamination worsens, trapping even more dirt and fostering the growth of moss and fungi. This creates a cycle of buildup that can only be broken through proper cleaning. If dirt settles along panel edges and underneath, it becomes even harder to remove.
A real-world example: The Stephansdom in Vienna has steep roof surfaces, yet moss and lichen still accumulate. According to NÖN.at, these plants retain moisture, which can freeze in winter, causing structural damage. Similarly, dirt and organic growth on solar panels can impact their efficiency and longevity, making regular cleaning essential.
Whether a cleaning is worthwhile depends on the energy losses caused by dirt buildup—these losses must be weighed against the cost of cleaning. A loss calculator can help determine the financial impact.
Experience shows that energy losses range between 8% and 30%, depending on location:
When contamination significantly reduces efficiency, regular cleaning becomes an investment rather than an expense, helping maximize solar energy output and long-term returns.
Severe dirt buildup not only reduces efficiency but also increases the risk of hot spots. When individual solar cells are completely shaded by dirt, they no longer generate electrical voltage. Instead, they act as a barrier in the series circuit of the solar module, while the remaining cells continue to produce electricity. If the blocking voltage of the shaded cell is exceeded, the voltage drops, allowing uncontrolled current flow. This can cause the affected cells to overheat significantly, potentially leading to permanent damage or failure of the solar module. Regular cleaning helps prevent hot spots, ensuring consistent energy production and extending the lifespan of the solar panels.
Contrary to popular belief, only very steep solar panel installations naturally shed some debris, such as leaves. However, even on steep surfaces, rain, snow, and wind carry fine dust and pollutants onto the panels, leading to gradual buildup. Commercial solar installations tend to have flatter angles, making them more prone to dirt accumulation and requiring more frequent cleaning. In these cases, robotic cleaning is the most efficient solution, as these installations are often difficult and unsafe to clean manually.
In Europe, dirt accumulation varies greatly depending on location and environmental conditions. Solar panels near industrial or agricultural areas require more frequent cleaning due to higher levels of airborne dust, emissions, and organic debris, compared to urban installations.
Cleaning intervals can range from every six weeks to several years, depending on the level of contamination. Regular monitoring of energy output and visual inspections help determine the right schedule for optimal efficiency and long-term performance.
Cleaning a solar system comes with costs, so it should be weighed against energy losses and the long-term impact of dirt buildup on panel lifespan. However, regular cleaning is essential for businesses to maintain efficiency. At a minimum, solar installations should be visually inspected once a year. If visible contamination—such as dust layers, dirt streaks, bird droppings, or other deposits—is clearly noticeable, a cleaning is overdue. In most cases, annual cleaning is recommended to prevent moss and organic buildup, which can further reduce performance over time.
For professional cleaning companies, the key question is: When can the best results be achieved with minimal effort? In general, solar panels should not be cleaned during extreme heat or frost, as temperature fluctuations can affect both the cleaning process and the panels themselves. To ensure optimal performance, one to two cleanings per year are recommended.
The ideal cleaning schedule:
For stubborn dirt, rain periods help loosen buildup. Scheduling a professional cleaning shortly after heavy rainfall allows the remaining debris to be removed more easily, maximizing cleaning efficiency and output.
Before starting the cleaning process, it’s essential to inspect the solar system to identify any potential issues and ensure safe maintenance.
During cleaning, the choice of cleaning solutions and brushes plays a crucial role. Using soft brushes and non-abrasive cleaning agents helps protect the panels while effectively removing dirt and debris.
There are various methods for cleaning solar systems, but manual systems often pose significant challenges, especially for industrial-scale installations. Manual cleaning typically involves long extension poles operated from the ground or an aerial work platform. However, this approach quickly becomes inefficient and physically demanding, particularly for large installations. Additionally, working at heights increases safety risks for operators. For industrial solar systems, a robotic cleaning system is a far more efficient and safer alternative. Robots can clean large surfaces autonomously, reducing labor intensity and ensuring consistent cleaning results while improving overall safety..
Harsh cleaning agents are not suitable, as they can damage the materials of the system and, if not carefully collected, enter the environment unfiltered. Instead, robotic cleaning is an effective alternative, as the high brush rotation provides strong cleaning power, eliminating the need for chemical agents.
Another advantage of using a cleaning robot is the combination with deionized water cleaning. This method minimizes recontamination. Once the surfaces are thoroughly cleaned with the robot using deionized water, they dry without leaving residues. This prevents lime deposits, which would otherwise accelerate the accumulation of new dirt.
A pressure washer is not suitable for solar panel cleaning, as it applies excessive localized pressure, which can damage the modules. Instead, rotating brushes, as used in solar and PV cleaning robots, gently and effectively remove dirt that adheres to surfaces due to chemical reactions.
With a specialized brush design, controlled rotation, and an optimized water supply, cleaning robots ensure both efficient and effective cleaning without applying excessive pressure to the PV modules. This makes them the perfect alternative to pressure washers.
The solarROBOT pro, with a brush rotation speed of around 400 rpm and long bristles, is designed for solar surfaces of 2,000 m² and larger, while the solarROBOT compact is ideal for smaller installations starting at 150 m².
Robotic cleaning systems offer a significant advantage as they can be operated from an aerial work platform. This eliminates the need for cleaning personnel to walk on delicate solar panels or rooftops, greatly improving workplace safety. Many rooftops are not designed to support human weight for cleaning purposes, as the concentrated pressure could be too high.
For large rooftop solar installations exceeding 150 kWp, robotic cleaning systems are typically far more efficient than traditional manual methods. While manual cleaning systems, depending on the type of brush, cover between 50 and 300 square meters per hour, a robotic system can achieve ten times that amount. Additionally, robots provide consistent cleaning results throughout the entire workday.
The cost of cleaning solar panel systems depends on the cleaning method, system size, and structural characteristics. However, businesses and cleaning service providers can significantly reduce costs by using the right equipment. We offer a range of solar cleaning robots designed for gentle yet effective cleaning with high brush rotation speeds. Whether for east-west installations, south-facing elevated panels, or large, continuous surfaces, our robots adapt flexibly to various requirements and easily access difficult areas. When combined with a reverse osmosis system, these professional-grade cleaning solutions provide an efficient and cost-effective way to maintain large-scale solar installations.
Regular cleaning is essential to maintain optimal energy yields over the long term. It also protects solar panels from stubborn dirt such as lichen, moss, leaves, and dust particles, ensuring that your solar investment remains as efficient as possible for years to come. For the best results, cleaning should be performed on cooler days or during early morning and evening hours. Ideally, it should also take place after extended periods of rain, as moisture helps loosen dirt beforehand. Robotic cleaning systems offer a thorough yet gentle solution while enhancing worker safety during the process.
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