Pollen On Solar Panel

Why should i clean my solar panels.

Pollen on solar panel.

Dirt pollen and debris reduce the solar panels ability to perform at full capacity. I have micro inverters so i can monitor the production of each individual panel in my 18 panel array. Most solar panel installations will be self cleaning. Solar panel pollen metrics in kathmandu a possible outlier.

We know that dust dirt pollen bird droppings and other debris can negatively affect solar panel efficiency. Dirty solar panels do mean power loss. But after a recent particularly heavy accumulation of pollen on every exposed outdoor surface i was curious as to the specific effect of the pollen on my daily solar production. Cleaning your solar panels.

University of san diego researchers looked into this question and concluded that with some exceptions since less than 0 05 percent of energy could be lost per day due to dirt it was not worth the effort or the expense to clean solar panels. Using the example of canberra during the month of september the nation s capital has 9 days with rain on average and an average of 50mm of rainfall for the month so any pollen buildup that may occur should be washed. In the public solar discussion group on facebook grant asks how to clean pollen off the solar panels on his home in lakeside florida. There are many benefits to solar power.

That is an extreme scenario due to its very dry winters and high air pollution. Pollen accumulates on your solar panels hampering their performance. Fortunately it s quite easy. In addition most solar panels are tilted to a high enough degree that most buildup will run right off the panel instead of sticking to the top of it.

If the panels are dirty they absorb less sunlight and generate less electricity. Rain can wash away pollen but if it hasn t rained for a while you ll have to clean your solar panels on your own. Kathmandu was ranked the third most polluted city in the world in pollution index 2016. Even with tilted panels you might have some slight buildup on the lowest panel because the runoff collects at the bottom but the decrease in output based on this alone is so minuscule it s not something worth worrying about.

Not only do consumers and business get tax relief and or reduce their energy expenses but well maintained systems also produce energy without creating excessive amounts of emissions and waste. However that experiment took place in the city of kathmandu. Even a mild rain rinses off most of the obstructing dirt pollen etc which led them to conclude. Good quality module glass combined with the angle of most rooftops assists with the cleaning process along with rain.