Dust On Solar Panels

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.

Dust on solar panels.

Dust is generated from many sources such as pollution by wind pedestrian volcanic eruptions and vehicular movements among many others. 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. Your solar panels need to be exposed to sunlight in order to produce power. 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.

Meanwhile air pollution is also a culprit. The technology involves placing a transparent electrically sensitive material. But most of the time solar panel cleaning is not worth it. On average when your solar panels get dirty expect a 5 or less change in output.

Solar panels take in sunlight and material on the panels surface converts sunlight to electrons which become electricity greg explains. A new whitepaperby solar measurement company kipp zonen explores the issue of dirty panels in terms of economic geographic and technical factors. However unless you live somewhere with high amounts of smog dust dirt or sand blowing around solar panel cleaning is generally not necessary. Dust adhesion on solar panels is a major challenge to energy harvesting through photovoltaic cells and solar thermal collectors.

The self dusting solar panels are based on technology developed for another dry and dusty environment mars. New solutions are necessary to maintain maximum collection. For instance dirt is worse in desert areas like the american southwest where the air is dry and dusty. 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.

And that s just when they re dirty. 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. Now before you decide that you should go through dust on your panels i need to mention a couple of details.