We offer
- A Northwest of England service for solar panel cleaning
- Fully equipped, providing our own purified water
- Risk Assesments and method Statements-RAMS
- Manual solar panel cleaning technique
- IPAF licenced for working at heights
- Site surveys
- A Fully Insured service
- Visual inspection of panels included
- Consultancy advice on frequency of clean
- All work undertaken by ourselves, NO sub-contracting
- Out of hours service
How Often?
Every solar array is unique and depending upon different environmental factors, the recommended frequency of each clean will vary. Special attention should be given to pv arrays situated in dustier areas, for example; next to a main road, on or near farmland etc. These pv systems will require more frequent cleaning as the dust build up will be considerably more and the larger the array, the bigger the loss of return is for the asset owner. The FiT (feed in tariff) rate should also be taken into consideration when deciding upon the solar clean frequency.
Our personal experience is that residential solar pv arrays require an annual clean, however agricultural solar pv arrays are by far the dirtiest. This is mostly due to factors such as milling machines for feed, straw sprayed into barns for bedding, ventilation on the roofs of chicken sheds and large amounts of everyday dust thrown up by the heavy use of tractors and plant.
Without a regular clean by a specialist solar panel cleaner, your panels will not perform as well as they could.
We also regularly undertake the professional cleaning of solar panels for O&M providers throughout the UK. With the ability to meet target times and provide a leading service within the solar industry, we have quickly built-up an outstanding reputation.
By ensuring all solar panel cleaning is completed by ourselves it allows us to maintain consistent, excellent cleaning techniques along with a high quality service to all of our clients within this specialist industry
WHY CLEAN SOLAR PANELS?
Airborne dust particles, sticky tree and plant sap, lichen, soot and bird droppings are just a few of the things that can contribute to a build up of dirt on your panels. This accumulation creates shading on the modules and therefore will prevent sunlight reaching the cells, resulting in poor system perfomance, loss of efficiency and a loss of financial return for the owner and investor of solar energy.
Dirty Solar Panels
- Lose efficiency and affects lifespan of the cells
- Reduces overall system performance
- May leave permanent staining on the modules
- See a loss of return (R.O.I)
- May affect your warranty
Regular cleaning
- Ensures a maximum output
- May maintain your warranty
- Saves you money
- Extends the life of your investment
- Gives you peace of mind
My panels are self cleaning and maintenance free
This is a myth! When a panel is called self cleaning and maintenance free, it tends to mean that the surface is hydrophobic; meaning water droplets cannot stick to the surface. In essence, these surfaces aren’t exactly self-cleaning and maintenance free. They reduce mineral residue that can block the sun reaching the cells, however, in a dusty environment a single solar cell can become inefficient and this will affect the performance of the rest of the cells within the panel. This is because they are wired in series, thus if one cell is shaded then the output of the entire panel is lower as a result.
Rain alone is not enough to ensure the solar module is free from a build-up of dirt throughout one year let alone the modules lifetime.
How Often?
Every solar array is unique and depending upon different environmental factors and the pitch at which the panels are mounted, will then determine the frequency of each clean.
Special attention should be given to pv arrays situated in dustier areas, for example; near farmland or next to a main road. These pv systems have far more dust and dirt to contend with and will require a more frequent clean. The larger the array, the bigger the loss of return on investment (ROI) will be.
What the experts say
Manufacturers state that dirty solar panels will result in a loss of output and may also affect your warranty.
Trina Solar, one of the worlds leading manufacturers of solar panels, include the following in a maintenance and care manual… ” The amount of electricity generated by a solar module is proportional to the amount of light falling on it. A module with shaded cells will produce less energy and therefore it is important to keep the module clean.”
Panasonic, Renowned global corporation and manufacturers of solar photovoltaics advise in their frequently asked questions, What maintenance is required for my solar panels? “Wash dust and dirt off your solar panels twice per year”. Some of Panasonics limited warranty exclusions are; “Inadaquate maintenance”, “damage or corrosion resulting from environmental pollution such as soot and mold”.
8.33 Solar, serving the European solar industry since 2006 say, ” Over time, dirt and dust can accumulate on the glass surface of the module, reducing its power output. Solar 8.33 recommends periodic cleaning of PV modules to ensure maximum power output.”
Canadian Solar, leading manufacturers in solar pv modules say, “Clean the panels if a significant amount of material builds up on the panels” They also recommend “water with a low mineral content and near neutral PH is best”.
First Solar say ” In locations with heavy soiling, properly timed module cleaning can improve energy yields.” They also say “RO water provides the best results.”
Solar panel cleaning is a specialist service that is offered for all solar pv arrays.
HOW WE CLEAN SOLAR PANELS
We confidently clean roof and ground mounted solar arrays with ease. When necessary an on-site survey may be carried out by one of our trained assesment team. This is to establish if access to the panels is safe and possible from the ground, or if a cherry picker is required to complete the clean safely (this will be discussed directly with you) We are then able to offer a provisional quote.
An individual risk assesment and method statement (RAMS) is tailored to each job and completed upon acceptance of any quote.
WHY CHOOSE US?
We are one of the UK’s first specialist solar panel cleaners to identify the necessity of regularly cleaning solar pv arrays. Meanwhile, many installers were mis-selling modules as maintenance free. It has quickly become apparent that despite solar panels not having any moving parts, the modules, as recommended by manufacturers from the start, do in fact require cleaning and are therefore not entirely maintenance free.
Our team is fully trained, experienced and insured to clean solar panels. We take health and safety very seriously and aim to clean safely from the ground wherever and whenever possible utilising relevant PPE (proper protective equipment) We are of course trained and experienced in working safely at heights and are also carriers of the IPAF licence. This allows us to offer you complete peace of mind when choosing Solar Panel Cleaning Services Ltd to deliver to you, a safe and professional cleaning service.
PURIFIED WATER
Manufacturers DO NOT recommend the use of harmful chemicals or detergents to clean solar modules. However, they do advise solar panels to be cleaned regularly using purified water, especially before the onset of summer and winter. Manufacturers also state that regular cleaning will preserve their limited warranty and help to maintain the optimum output performance of the solar modules.
The harshness of untreated water will leave marks behind containing mineral deposits, especially in hard water areas. Untreated water marks can actually attract dirt as well as being an inefficient cleaning process.
We use a purified water-fed pole system to clean all our solar panels. This essentially means that all minerals have been removed from the water using two processes. Firstly reverse osmosis, this is then followed by de-ionisation, leaving 100% purified water.
We provide all of the water needed on site for the job in hand. If large quantities of water are needed, we will advise you on this during the site visit.
We have NO need for harmful and abrasive chemicals or detergents, therefore offer an eco-friendly cleaning process. This is delivered to you both safely and efficiently with excellent results, that ensures you are getting the most out of your solar pv system.
CAN I CLEAN THEM MYSELF?
NEVER attempt to clean solar panels yourself.
There is always a risk of damage and inefficient cleaning, but most importantly, a risk of electric shock.
It is advisable to use a professional solar panel cleaner to clean your PV array as they will be fully trained, have the correct equipment and be insured.