Water Requirements For Solar Panel Cleaning

Module manufacturers recommend the use of distilled or de ionized water to clean solar panels.

Water requirements for solar panel cleaning.

This translates to more than 40 times more water consumed when panels are cleaned with water alone. In comparison when both soaking and rinse water were sprayed on to the panel only 230 ml of water spw mixture was used. Mineral rich water may leave deposits of particles over time and its chemistry is not recommended for the glass of modules. The gses guidelines of water quality to be used for the cleaning of solar panels restricts particulate matter content to 200 ppm or less.

In general all solar power technologies use a modest amount of water approximately 20 gallons per megawatt hour or gal mwh for cleaning solar collection and reflection surfaces like mirrors heliostats and photovoltaic pv panels. Before you start you should consult your owner s manual but below are a few rules that apply to most solar collectors. This is in accordance with the regulations laid out by the national institute of solar energy nise which functions as an autonomous body under the ministry of new and renewable energy mnre. In 1 kw solar system if you are using 250 watt solar panel than 4 panels are required and simultaneously if you are using 335.

This mostly applies to flat panel style solar collectors but the advice is relevant for evacuated tube collectors too. We ll get to the best way to clean your solar panels in a minute. Google did a study on the need to clean solar panels. The quantity of solar panel depends upon its capacity and size.

Rainwater will keep the panels clean for the most part but from time to time and in particular during a hot and dusty dry spell you will need to do this yourself. They found that tilted panels don t require cleaning as much as flat panels.