Pollen On Solar Panels

Does dirt dust and pollen affect solar energy production.

Pollen on solar panels.

There are many benefits to solar power. Fortunately it s quite easy. 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. 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.

Google conducted a groundbreaking experiment at their 1 6 mw solar farm in mountain view california. After all anything that accumulates dirt on them for example dust or pollen will get washed off the next time it rains. There are some times it might make sense to clean your solar panels though. Why should i clean my solar panels.

Pollen accumulates on your solar panels hampering their performance. Even a mild rain rinses off most of the obstructing dirt pollen etc which led them to conclude. If the panels are dirty they absorb less sunlight and generate less electricity. That s kind of the same logic for solar panels too.

Often homeowners see a reduction in energy of about 25 percent. 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. Good quality module glass combined with the angle of most rooftops assists with the cleaning process along with rain. Specializing in complete rv solar battery installs pullen solar is for when you need a professional and safe installation on your rv or homestead.

Dirty solar panels do mean power loss. Most panels eventually experience a build up of dirt and pollen that can block sun from being absorbed by solar cells. A frequent storm will actually wash the panels of any buildup and help them. We know that dust dirt pollen bird droppings and other debris can negatively affect solar panel efficiency.

Most solar panel installations will be self cleaning. How much electricity you lose depends on how dirty your solar panels are. In most cases you won t need to clean your solar panels often if at all. I generally tell customers that regular rain showers in new england keep solar panels clear of dust and pollen.

Guest post by roy van cleef new england clean energy technical sales.