Cleaning solar modules properly – How to keep your PV system efficient
A solar energy system can become dirty for many reasons, such as dust, pollen, leaves, bird droppings or other substances. For steep roofs, this is not a problem for the efficiency of the system, as the next downpour washes most of the dirt off again. On flat roofs with a pitch of 5° to 15°, this only happens to a limited extent. As study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts shows, dirt quickly affects the performance of the system. Depending on the degree of soiling, it may therefore be advisable to clean the solar system or have it cleaned.
Regular cleaning is important to ensure that your photovoltaic system continues to perform at a high level. However, not every method is suitable for sensitive solar glass. The wrong cleaning agents or hard brushes can leave scratches and impair the long-term performance of the modules.
For PV systems that are particularly difficult to access or heavily soiled, it may even be advisable to hire a specialist company.
Do's
- Distilled water to avoid limescale stains
- Soft plastic sponge
- Plastic chamois leather
- Plastic squeegee
- Clean modules using a telescopic pole
Dont's
- Use aggressive cleaning agents
- Rough cloths and sharp objects that could scratch the glass surface
- Cleaning materials containing silicone
- Do not enter the solar modules
Megaclean: gentle care for your solar modules
For gentle cleaning of solar modules, we recommend the specially developed Megaclean special cleaning agent from Megasol. It was developed specifically for sensitive solar glass and reliably removes dirt deposits without damaging the surface. For optimal results, the cleaning fluid should be applied with a professional disposable cleaning cloth. This is tear-resistant, lint-free and silicone-free, so it does not affect the sensitive surfaces of the solar modules. Megaclean is available directly from your contact person at Megasol.
