As the hours of sunlight become more abundant in the summer months, ensuring the efficiency of your solar panels becomes crucial in helping to maximise their impact. Solar panels, while a sustainable solution for clean and renewable energy, require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance.
Is solar panel cleaning worth it?
Summer brings a great opportunity to harness the sun’s energy when it’s at its most powerful, with up to 16 hours of daylight expected to fall on the UK’s 14.6GW of residential, commercial, and industrial rooftop solar capacity per day from June to August. However, build-up on solar panels of matter such as dust, dirt, debris, and bird droppings, can impact solar panel efficiency.
Research indicates that energy generation could be cut by up to half over the summer due to dust and pollen coating the panels. It is not only the efficiency of sunlight absorption of solar panels that is affected by this build-up, as it can also lead to costly repairs or replacements if solar panels are not cleaned.
How often do solar panels need to be cleaned?
With hotter, drier springs and summers becoming more common in the UK, leading to increased dust and pollen deposits, solar panels should ideally be cleaned every few months. Regular inspections of panels are recommended as factors such as their exact location, and the local climate will determine the frequency of cleaning required. .
The impact of bird droppings on solar panels
Bird droppings can have a significant impact on the efficacy of solar panels, and also threaten their productive lifespan by corroding the panel surface. It is also worth noting that bird droppings, particularly those of pigeons, gulls, and sparrows, can harbour diseases such as cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, and psittacosis. This means that proper cleanup and disinfection are necessary to mitigate health risks.
How to clean solar panels
Professional cleaning and bird-proofing services, such as those offered by our experts, will ensure that your solar panels operate at optimal capacity, maximising energy production and longevity. Our Solar Panel Cleaning Services use specialised equipment and techniques to safely remove any built-up matter, without compromising panel integrity. This meticulous cleaning process guarantees optimal panel performance while preserving their longevity.
Our experts utilise advanced techniques and eco-friendly solutions to remove the build-up of bird droppings and any additional dirt and debris to ensure optimal energy generation.
Contact us for thorough and reliable solar panel cleaning services.