How to clean a PV panel?

Consequently, specific cleaning techniques are required to mitigate the accumulated dust and restore the plant's efficiency. The most popular PV panel cleaning techniques include natural, manual, automatic, and electrostatic cleaning. Each cleaning technique is associated with both positive and negative impacts.

Which cleaning technique is best for solar PV panels?

The TOPSIS method is employed to compare the cleaning techniques and rank them from most favored to least favored. Manual cleaning of the PV panels is the highest ranked cleaning technique according to the TOPSIS ranking. The efficiency and power output of photovoltaic (PV) panels are vital to the solar PV plant.

Why do PV panels need to be cleaned manually?

However, traditional manual cleaning of the panels is an energy and time consuming process. Moreover, manual cleaning can also create cracks on the PV panel surface due to harsh brushing which will further deteriorate PV performance. In addition, very small particles cannot be removed effectively by manual cleaning process.

How can solar panel cleaning be more efficient?

Technologies such as automated cleaning systems, anti-soiling coatings, and water-efficient cleaning methods are being studied to make solar panel cleaning more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. In the current literature, the issue of solar panel cleaning has garnered increasing interest.

How to self-clean PV panel?

Hence, researchers have provided several methods to self-clean the PV panel i.e., mechanical method, electrostatic method and coating method. With these methods, PV panel can be cleaned with low cost and low energy consumption. Different methods of PV glass cleaning are given in Fig. 2as below. Download: Download high-res image (195KB)

Should solar panel surfaces be cleaned?

The cleaning of solar panel surfaces becomes problematic without labor-free and water-saving approaches. Engineers have been exploring surface self-cleaning methods other than traditional cleaning to mitigate surface soiling and improve PV module efficiency.