Cleaning Solar Panels to maximize performance
solar panel maintenance challenges
Solar panel conversion efficiency, typically in the 20 percent range, is reduced by dust, grime, pollen, and other particulates that accumulate on the solar panel. “A dirty solar panel can reduce its power capabilities by up to 30 percent in high dust/pollen or desert areas,” says Seamus Curran, associate professor of physics at the University of Houston and director of the Institute for NanoEnergy, which specializes in the design, engineering, and assembly of nanostructures. Cleaning dirty panels with commercial detergents can be time-consuming, costly, hazardous to the environment, or even corrode the solar panel frame. Ideally solar panels should be cleaned every few weeks to maintain peak efficiency, which is especially hard to do for large solar-panel arrays.
The EnduroShield Solution
EnduroShield® Is The Solution For How To Maintain Clean Solar Panels. EnduroShield is an invisible non-stick treatment for all glass surfaces. Using state of the art nanotechnology, EnduroShield anti-soiling coating acts as a permanent* shield to seal the porosity of the glass, allowing contaminants to reside on an easy to clean protective coating. At only two molecules thick, EnduroShield is an ideal solution for solar panels as it assists to keep the surface cleaner for longer and allows UV light to pass through without interference, ensuring maximum performance of the panels is maintained.
EnduroShield is an ultra-thin transparent coating that completely adheres to the glass surface and provides protection that will repel both water and oil based stains. Similar to a non-stick fry pan, cleaning is made easier using only water and a mild detergent. No longer is scrubbing with harsh toxic cleaners needed ~ EnduroShield makes cleaning a breeze. *Based on 10 years of simulated normal use and certified by TÜV Rheinland, Germany.
EnduroShield is extremely cost effective and the smart choice for all glass Photovoltaic (PV) Solar panel surfaces providing a permanent, ultra-thin, optically transparent coating. The coating provides a reduction of both the frequency and the time spent cleaning, as well as the amount of water used in the process. Developed with cutting edge nanotechnology, the coating is applied by many of the world’s leading glass companies and is an official partner to Lisec Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of high-tech production lines for the glass industry.
Solar Panel Testing
In-field testing was undertaken on solar panels used to power a wireless mesh communication network at a large iron ore mining site. Testing showed the treated panels remained cleaner for longer between cleans compared to untreated solar panels and did not reduce the light transmission passing through the treated glass to the solar cells. EnduroShield treated solar panels have the potential to reduce the cleaning frequency and cleaning time of the solar panels. The easy clean, anti-soiling attributes that the treatment provides means that even in extremely harsh environments the glass panels will resist etching. These results could lead to water, fuel and labor savings which are at a premium on a mining site, and assists in helping to prevent the future need for solar panel replacement.
EnduroShield Application
EnduroShield Is The Solution For How To Maintain Clean Solar Panels. EnduroShield is ideally suited for applying to glass solar panels; the perfect partner for a collective contribution to a greener environment by eliminating the need for harsh chemical cleaners and minimizing water usage. The treatment can be applied in factory to glass solar panels before installation or in-situ by professional certified applicators. The product is a clear liquid that is sprayed on and polished into the glass, creating an ultra long lasting bond that is both water and oil repellent. The invisible coating protects the glass surface from deterioration overtime and reduces both the frequency and time spent cleaning.
