HOME WHY CLEANING WHY SOLCLEANER HOW TO CLEAN FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Why do I need to clean my solar modules? Your solar system represent a significant investment of capital. Allowing your solar modules to get soiled due to airborne particles, bird droppings, leaves etc. can greatly reduce your electricity output. Additionally, by not cleaning your solar system at all, you may not only risk losing a significant amount of electricity output, but you may risk losing your modules too. Indeed, certain airborne particles may be quite abrasive and scratch the surface of the solar modules, causing permanent damage when they are not removed. Other organic deposits (e.g. windborne dirt, bird and other animal droppings, urban pollution (e.g. soot from burning coal or diesel), as well as decomposing organic plant matter from leaves, pollen, etc., can become wet and cause potential corrosion. Allowing dirt to build up, can also lead to local overheating inside the solar modules, so called hot spots. Hot spot heating occurs when a single cell in a series string generates less current than the module, because the cell is shaded (as a result of dirt build up) or otherwise damaged. Hot spots are parts of your solar modules where heat is produced instead of electrical power. These hot spots not only decrease the energy efficiency of your solar modules but they can also reduce the their life time significantly. It is clear that the economic benefit of increased production and preserving the lifetime of the panels greatly outweighs the cost of periodic maintenance of the PV modules surface. What kind of soiling are solar modules subject to? Soiling of solar module surfaces is a complex phenomenon varying by climate, environment and location. A surface in a dry desert-like location will be subject to electrostatically attracted inorganic materials, a surface in a coastal area will be subject to salts and rain driven dirt, and a surface in an industrial and cooler location will be subject to organic windblown dirt, deposits from evaporated rain and atmospheric pollutants from fossil fuels. Generally, soiling of an exposed outdoor surface (such as a solar module) will be a mix of organic and inorganic solids. Some of these solids will be windborne whilst others will be deposited from evaporated liquid (rain water, dew, fog). In very dry and desert like environments, most of the module soiling may be inorganic windborne solids (dust and dirt particles) that are electrostatically attracted to the solar module’s glass surface as a result of dry winds. Additionally, some of this dust may consist of abrasive inorganic minerals (e.g. silica) which may scratch and damage the surface of the modules. In more cooler and wet environments, most of the module soiling may be organic deposits including windborne dirt, bird and other animal droppings, pollution (soot from burning coal or diesel), as well as decomposing organic plant matter from leaves, pollen, etc. When these materials become wet, they may be spread over the panel surface and further bond to it, causing potential corrosion and leaching of irons. In coastal areas, there may be salt deposits on the panel’s surfaces resulting from water spray and rain driven dirt. How many times per year do I have to clean my solar modules? The frequency by which solar modules should be cleaned is of course dependent on the location and environment in which they are placed. However, the presence of heavy industry nearby, coastal areas and heavy bird populations may warrant more frequent cleaning to assure optimal output and maintenance of your solar modules. For solar modules placed in more dry and desert like environments (subject to more dust) it is recommended to have the solar panels cleaned on a more periodic basis (e.g. on a monthly basis). Isn’t rain alone sufficient to clean my solar modules? Rainfall alone does not suffice to properly clean and maintain your solar modules. Rain can remove some dust and dirt off the solar modules as a result of their smooth surface and tilted position. However, rain cannot deal with all dust and dirt and it is not an effective means to remove the contamination from bird droppings, chemicals, acid rain and other air pollution. Additionally, rain may itself leave mineral deposits on the solar modules after evaporation. Consequently it is highly recommended to use a proper and specifically designed cleaning product like Solcleaner, which provides an all-in-one solution for all kinds of contamination. What is the scientific effect of dirt build up on solar module performance? Although PV systems and their output have been well studied and statistically measured over the last 25 years, the effects of module soiling on performance have only recently been the subject of scientific analysis. It is a scientific fact that any object or element preventing photovoltaic cells from being exposed fully to the sunlight will decrease their output. International scientific research shows that the yield of solar panels is reduced by 3% to up to 15% on an annual basis as a consequence of soiling! A study of the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has showed a decrease in energy production of 4,4% to up to 7,7% in 1 year caused solely by pollution. A 12 year lasting scientific research study by Mr. H. Haberlin proved a similar result. According to the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), photovoltaic electricity output will decline approximately 10% due to accumulation of dirt, dust, and other residues. Further research by the US based Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) indicates that PV electricity generation will decline 15-20% in areas where bird droppings, urban pollution or dust from farming operations are common. Individual dealers have even reported losses as high as 25% from some customers who neglected to ever clean their solar modules. How reliable is Solcleaner? Solcleaner is the result of years of research and extensive testing. Solcleaner is produced by PDM, a Belgian company that is market leader for professional and industrial cleaning products for twenty years and that has acquired an extensive expertise in the sector. Can I use a high-pressure wash system to clean solar modules? This type of system can damage your solar modules, requires lots of water and is generally ineffective in removing all dirt and dust from solar modules. Hence, it is not recommended for cleaning the surfaces of solar modules. Can I use Solcleaner in an automatic solar module cleaning system? Solcleaner can be used in all types of automatic cleaning installations of PV solar installations. What makes Solcleaner that much more efficient than osmosis water? Osmosis water, or demineralized water, avoids mineral deposits after evaporation but it has as such no cleaning function. In other words, cleaning solar modules with osmosis water does little more than the effects of an ordinary rain shower. Solcleaner has been specifically formulated by a chemical company to thoroughly clean PV modules without leaving any residue. Additionally, Solcleaner is designed to create a smooth surface that repels dirt and dust. How ecological is Solcleaner and does it have any negative impact on the environment? Solcleaner is composed exclusively of ecologically responsible components, it is bio-degradable and it does not contain any phosphates. Solcleaner is not hazardous for human beings, animals and the environment. Are there any other benefits to cleaning my solar modules? A cleaning session does not only maximise the performance of your solar panels, it necessarily comes with a visual inspection of your solar system. Periodic cleaning of your solar modules allows you to spot minor problems or technical failures (e.g. deterioration of the coating, defects, entry of water, tightness of connections etc.) before they permanently damage the solar modules. SHOPPING CART Your shopping cart is empty Visit the shop NEWS Recommendation: Remarkably effective! - See more at: solcleaner/faq-2/#sthash.J3s1erKS.dpuf
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 08:56:41 +0000
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