The cleaning and maintenance of photovoltaic panels are crucial for their power generation efficiency, and whether relying solely on rainwater cleaning is sufficient needs to be analyzed in conjunction with multiple factors:
1. The effectiveness and limitations of rainwater cleaning
Rainwater can wash away loose dust and light pollutants on the surface, especially in rainy seasons or areas with abundant rainfall, which can reduce daily maintenance needs. But there are also limitations
Incomplete cleaning: Adhesive stains (such as bird droppings and oil stains) or small dust may remain, which can accumulate over time and affect power generation efficiency (studies have shown that dirt may cause a 5% -25% decrease in efficiency).
Dependent on climatic conditions: Insufficient rainfall and easy accumulation of dirt in arid or windy areas; Acid rain areas may corrode the surface of photovoltaic panels. Installation angle impact: If the inclination angle of the photovoltaic panel is too small (generally recommended to be above 15 °), the rainwater flushing effect will be weakened, and it is easy to form water stains or dust accumulation.
2. Impact of environment and usage scenarios
Dusty/industrial areas: There are more particulate matter in the air, making it difficult to completely remove rainwater and requiring more frequent manual cleaning.
Areas with dense vegetation: Organic pollutants such as leaves and pollen may adhere, and the effect of rainwater erosion is limited.
Areas with frequent bird activity: If bird droppings are not cleaned up in a timely manner, they may form local hot spots and damage the battery cells.
3. Alternative or auxiliary cleaning solutions
Manual cleaning: Regularly clean with a soft brush and clean water (frequency depends on the environment, usually every 3-6 months), which is costly but effective.
Automatic cleaning system: Install spray devices or robots, suitable for large photovoltaic power plants, with large initial investment but long-term labor savings.
Hydrophobic/self-cleaning coating: Nano coating can reduce dirt adhesion, enhance rainwater flushing effect, and reduce maintenance frequency.
4. Balance between economy and efficiency
Cost comparison: Rainwater cleaning has zero cost, but efficiency loss may offset savings; Manual or automatic cleaning increases expenses, but can ensure power generation revenue. Research has shown that regular cleaning can increase annual average power generation by 10% -15%, and even higher in dusty areas.
5. Suggested plan
Assessing local climate: Rainy areas can reduce human intervention, but regular checks for stubborn stains are still necessary.
Optimize installation design: Ensure sufficient tilt angle (such as 20 ° -35 °) and smooth surface to promote self-cleaning of rainwater.
Combining technological means: using self-cleaning coatings or quarterly manual maintenance to balance cost and efficiency.
Therefore, relying solely on rainwater cleaning may be sufficient under specific conditions (such as sufficient rainfall and light pollution), but in most cases, it needs to be supplemented by regular manual or automatic cleaning to maintain optimal power generation efficiency. Suggest developing personalized maintenance plans based on local environment, pollution level, and economic costs.
In the field of photovoltaic cleaning, Multifit Solar has its own research and development team, which designs, produces, and sells professional photovoltaic cleaning equipment, including manual equipment, semi-automatic equipment, and fully automatic equipment. Multifit Solar can provide you with cleaning solutions for multiple scenarios.
Post time: Mar-07-2025