Questions You Should Know about Solar Module Cleaning Robot

24 Feb.,2025

 

Solar Panel Cleaning Robots - List of questions to ask

As solar panel cleaners race to buy their first robot, they often overlook what an important decision this is. These guidelines were created for cleaners who are shopping for a solar panel cleaning robot.

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Important Parameters

Are most solar panel cleaning robotic systems cobot systems?

Yes, they are'.so what is a cobot solar panel cleaning system?

What is a cobot?
Cobots are the latest technology in robotics and have changed the world of automation significantly. The name cobot is a derivative of 'collaborative robot'. These robots are collaborative because they can safely work together with people. They can do this because they are equipped with sensitive sensors that give the robot a 'feel'. If the robot is interrupted in its work, it will shoot into a safety mode. Traditional robots would simply continue their way, potentially injuring people.

Here are some important statistics to take into account when deciding what robot to purchase

  • Less than 1% of installations are floating in the USA. Floating installations will grow but at a very small rate in the USA due to the fact that land is cheap and abundant. Floating installations are successful in places where land is expensive and scarce such as the Netherlands, Japan, etc.
  • Commercial solar installations are estimated to grow at 8% annually in the USA or more. The passing of the IRA and other local legislation is catapulting commercial solar installation growth. Large companies like Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc have all made NetZero pledges. Large rooftop solar installations create 90% of the energy they consume.
  • 1.1 Billion solar panels will be going up in the USA in the next 8 years just for the commercial, industrial and utility-scale segments.
  • Cleaning frequency varies across the USA but the minimum is 1 cleaning per year. In places like the southwest, it makes sense to clean 3 ' 12 times a year.
  • Solar Panel Cleaning improves performance, reliability, asset life, and compliance

Overview of Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment Nomenclature

Because the solar panel cleaning equipment industry is so young, the nomenclature varies significantly. Different people have different definitions of the term 'solar panel cleaning robot'. The term robot implies 'full automation'. Some important facts to know to understand the categories within solar panel cleaning equipment. Dry Cleaning should only be done in areas where humidity levels are nonexistent. Dry cleaning solar panel cleaning equipment can be fully automated through a system called a fixed slider or the PV Dry Rumba. Wet cleaning equipment has not been fully automated to date and you will not find a cost-effective wet cleaning system that is fully automated in the marketplace. The application of dry cleaning systems in areas where there is humidity increases PV abrasion levels. Humidity causes the cementation of soiling particles on solar panels.

Wet Cleaning Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment Nomenclature

Since the majority of the world will have to use wet cleaning systems, it is important to understand the main buckets

Residential Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment

  • Water-Fed Pole ' Manual Systems
  • Powered water-fed pole ' Semi-Automated Systems

Commercial Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment

  • A powered water-fed pole also known as a rotary brush
  • Solar panel Cleaning robots ' Semi-Automated systems

Utility-Scale Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment

  • A powered water-fed pole also known as a rotary brush
  • Solar panel Cleaning robots ' Semi-Automated systems
  • Tractor-Brush Systems
  • Powered Lift and Shift Systems
  • Innovations in progress.
  • Here is an example of a completely automated dry cleaning machine.

Innovation

Solar panel cleaning robotics is an innovative segment and a young segment. The oldest solar panel cleaning equipment company is 7 years old. While the industry matures, it will evolve and get better with time.

If you are interested in learning about solar panel cleaning robotics, please reach out to us.

Frequently asked questions - SolarCleano

Why cleaning solar panels?

Regular cleaning maintains your photovoltaic installation and can help it regain performance. The sunlight re'ection diminishes with dirt and reduces the absorption of solar energy on photovoltaic cells.

What is the solar panel cleaning cost?

The average cleaning price varies greatly depending on the market. When calculating the price, you need to consider several factors that will influence the final cost:

1. the level of dirtiness of the installation (the dirtier the installation, the higher the price).
2. the accessibility of the installation (the more difficult the installation is to access, the higher the cost).
3. access to water (if there is no access to water, a water tank is needed, which means a higher cost; it is not a problem in the case of waterless cleaning).
4. the size of the solar installation (the larger the installation, the lower the cost per panel).
5. the type of solar installation (floating installations are more complex to clean than normal rooftops, therefore, the cost will be higher).

However, solar panels without cleaning can lose up to 2/3 of production potency. Cleaning solar panels actually helps to increase the value of power plants. As a result, cleaning solar panels is very lucrative for the cleaners.

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What is the difference between manual cleaning and cleaning with a solar robot?

Comparing to robotic solar panel cleaning, manual cleaning can imply high labour cost and security issues. It is also a less efficient way in cleaning large-scale solar installations. We have summarised some major differences of cleaning manually vs cleaning with a robot:

Speed: One solar cleaning robot can replace 10 workers cleaning with manual brushes.

Security: Cleaners working at height are exposed to elevated security risk. While cleaning with robot, the operator can use remote control from ground level and access the cleaning process and supervise the cleaning robot from a LED screen monitor.

Risk of damaging solar panels: Manual cleaners may have to walk on solar panels to access cleaning surface and this can cause potential damage to solar panels and safety risks to the cleaner.

Inconsistent cleaning quality: Manual cleaning cannot achieve the same precision as robotic cleaning. Weather conditions may influence the performance of manual cleaners as well. Using a solar panel cleaning robot can guarantee a consistent cleaning quality.

Number of cleaning brushes: solar panel cleaning robots can be equipped with two brushes, covering the same area twice and therefore reinforcing the cleaning quality.

Can SolarCleano solar panel cleaning machines damage my panels?

Solar panels manufacturers allow a pressure up to Pa on their panels. Since the SolarCleano robots never press more than Pa on the panels, there is no risk. Thanks to the rubber pads, the robots move smoothly on solar panels without leaving a trace.

Do I need any connection other than water on the work site?

No. The SolarCleano robots are autonomous thanks to their batteries. You need neither a generator nor an electricity outlet.

Can the SolarCleano robot cleaner be used on all types of roofs?

You can use the SolarCleano solar robot cleaning solar panels on all types of roofs up to an inclination of 25° (20° for Solrif panels). Beyond this inclination, we recommend securing the cleaning robot with a safety system. However, when the panel and conditions allow, some of our customers use their robots up to 30°.

How many MW can I clean in one day?

This primarily depends on the type of installation, and the type of SolarCleano robot and cleaning brushes used. As a general guideline:

With the SolarCleano M1 you can clean 0.8MW a day.
With the SolarCleano F1 you can clean 1.5MW a day.
With the SolarCleano B1 you can clean 15MW a day.

How long is the battery life?

The standard autonomy for the SolarCleano F1 and M1 varies between 2 hours and a half and 4 hours depending on the battery used. The SolarCleano B1 can have an autonomy up to 8 hours.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Solar Module Cleaning Robot.