AmpT Up Energy

Over time, dust, pollen, sap, animal excrement, airborne grease and oil particulate matter, and other contaminants foul the surface of solar panels, reducing the rate of renewable power production. Proper cleaning removes these contaminants and improves solar system efficiency.

Rinsing panels with the hose will remove the surface layer of contaminants, but it will not remove sap, oil/grease, and other particulate matter that tends to stick to the panel surface. Furthermore, minerals in the municipal water supply will collect on the glass as the water evaporates, resulting in “water spots” which reduce system efficiency. Rain will help partially clean the panels; however, without mechanical brushing, the panels will not be fully cleaned – the result is similar to why rain is not as effective as a car wash. These issues are resolved by using de-ionized water and a mechanical brushing system designed to clean solar panels.

Published data reports cleaning a solar PV system will typically result in a power generation efficiency increase of anywhere from 5-20% or more, depending on the amount of contamination prior to cleaning; AmpT Up Energy’s internal data is 9-23%.

Cleaning costs vary depending on the number of panels, configuration, accessibility, and other factors. A rough guide is anywhere from $5.00-15.00/panel for small (~10-25 panels) systems, down to $1.50-4.00/panel for large (600+ panels) systems.

The amount of water used depends on the contamination level of the panels, but most systems require between 0.1 – 0.25 gallons per panel. To put this in perspective, a typical 10-minute shower with a low-flow shower head will utilize the same amount of water as is required to clean a 180-panel system. AmpT Up Energy does not use caustic chemicals or hazardous products when cleaning solar panels. Our process uses de-ionized water and special brush equipment to clean the panel surface of all contaminants, which is acceptable for all municipal sewer and reclamation systems. For especially stubborn contaminants, pH-balanced, biodegradable nonionic and anionic surfactants may be utilized.

Solar PV system efficiency is reduced over time as dirt, grime, airborne grease particulates, pollen, bird droppings, and other contaminants stick to solar panel surfaces, resulting in an efficiency impact of up to 20% or more. As renewable energy production decreases, power demand is increasingly supplied by fossil-derived sources, contributing to many negative environmental impacts. Periodic cleaning of solar panels allows solar PV systems to maintain proper levels of renewable energy generation. The financial benefits resulting from periodically cleaning solar panels vary quantitatively and are dependent on several factors, such as system size, utility tariff structure, NEM agreements, etc. Qualitatively, when PV system output operates at its design point, owners will maximize value from the sell-back of any excess renewable energy and will also minimize import of non-renewable energy supplied by the utility.