Cleaning Solar Panels with Minimal Water
Q. How to clean installed solar panels using minimum amounts of water.
A. For field cleaning of solar modules I recommend using Liquinox detergent. This is a concentrate that would be used at a 1% solution (1.25 oz/gal, or 10 mL/L). Liquinox is not harmful to discharge onto the ground in an agricultural setting.
Cleaner for Solar Wash System
Q. We are working on a new system designed to clean large solar arrays. We would like to develop a cleaner for our particular use in our solar wash system that produces an easy to maintain surface to keep module output at a maximum.
A. Installed solar arrays and panels operate at peak efficiency when they are clean. Dirt, grime, bird droppings and dust can degrade the performance of solar panels. To remove residues, use a 0.5 – 1% solution of Liquinox neutral range detergent (5 -10 ml/L or 0.65 – 1.25 oz/gallon).