And the answer is… not as much as you might expect.
Solar panel systems have no moving parts so fortunately, there is little maintenance required for your solar panel system. In Australia, we don’t face the problem of dust and soot reaching our solar panels, whereas in countries like Asia, this is much more of a problem. In Victoria, there is just the right amount of rainfall to give our panels a wash every once in a while. However some installations might require a little more elbow grease.
For example, solar panels for home use require next to no maintenance at all. The rainfall will wash the solar panels and providing the panels aren’t faced with constant soot and dirt, the panels will be ok. The homeowner might decide that they want to hose them down and give them a thorough clean time to time. On the other hand, commercial solar installations might require some cleaning if the commercial property is producing dirt, dust or pollution. For example, being next to a factory or agricultural field may generate enough dirt to warrant having the panels professionally cleaned.
The majority of our work at Energis, is for commercial properties and we offer to our customers a regular cleaning service. Whenever you report your panels to be dirty on your commercial system, Energis will come and give the panels a wash.
This is an example of what your panels shouldn’t look like!
There are only really two main risks with a residential solar installation. A build up of leaves on the panels in Autumn and of course, bird droppings! Leaves should be wiped away from the panels, so that they don’t block the sun’s rays and bird droppings will have a similar affect and unfortunately, not always wash away in the rain. It is safe to hose down your solar panels as aggressively as you wish.
Dirty solar panels can reduce output up to 70% but this is only if the panels are significantly dirty. The best quality solar panels are incredibly efficient and will not lose efficiency due to only small amounts of dirt and dust on the panels. Judge the cleanliness of your panels wisely and don’t waste time and money having them cleaned where in most cases, it probably isn’t necessary.
For more information on Solar Power Systems, give Energis a call on 1300 782 217 and one of our energy experts will gladly give you all the information you need.
