Do solar panels need cleaning?

• • #17006 Reply
    
    John Blair

    Guest

    A guy said was that his panels didn’t need cleaning as the dirt just slid off ( just telling you what he said!). Somewhere I think my wife has got it that your’s need hosed annually (not a deal breaker but just curious).

  • #17022 Reply
    
    Stuart

    Guest

    Solar panels don’t essentially need cleaning. Over their 30+ year lifespan, you will get a film of dirt and if you can get them periodically cleaned, it will keep the performance at optimum – but not essential for operation.

    Taking the situation to the extreme. The Mars solar-powered rovers are still working fine (except dodgy wheels). What makes photovoltaic so great are no moving parts in the system. The Martian dust-covered panels are working fine, well after their expected 90 day operational period.