Commercial Solar Panel Cleaning 101: Everything You Need to Know

The 21st century has seen a widespread shift towards renewable energy, resulting in an increasing number of businesses investing in solar panels – 2023 saw over 17,000 commercial spaces adopt the technology. These solar installations help to reduce carbon footprints and offer substantial savings on energy bills, however, without proper solar panel cleaning, efficiency and longevity can fall by the wayside. We’ve put together this blog to expand on the benefits and processes of professional solar panel cleaning, focusing primarily on commercial rooftop installations. This will dig into the need for experience, health and safety processes, necessary equipment, and more.

Why Is Solar Panel Cleaning Essential?

Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into energy in a process that sidesteps the need for fossil fuels. However, dirt, dust, bird droppings, and other debris can accumulate, significantly impacting the efficiency of conversion. Some studies suggest that dirty solar panels can lose up to 80% of their energy output, which can result in substantial financial losses in commercial settings.

Cleaning solar panels regularly is a way for businesses to ensure that their systems operate at optimal efficiency, maximising their return on investment. Clean solar panels also have a longer lifespan, which translates into fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs over time.

The Need for Expertise in Commercial Rooftop Solar Panel Cleaning

Commercial rooftop solar panel installations come with their unique challenges, with proper cleaning being a highly specific task to handle. A strong team of professional solar panel cleaners must be trained to handle a wide range of commercial sites, from office buildings to large-scale industrial facilities. Whenever choosing a solar panel cleaning business partner, seek out companies with extensive experience working on rooftops, as these teams will provide efficient and effective cleaning solutions tailored to each client's needs.

The best businesses utilise state-of-the-art solar panel cleaning equipment to ensure that every panel is cleaned thoroughly and safely. The right solar panel cleaning equipment should include water-fed poles with soft brush heads that gently remove dirt and grime without scratching the surface of the panels, mechanical rotary brushes which work wonders at removing very stubborn soiling, like seagull guano for example. Finally, the very best and most experienced solar panel cleaners will also have several robotic options for cleaning large commercial solar panel installations. The process can also be enhanced by the use of purified water, which is free of minerals and impurities, to prevent streaks and water spots from forming. These touches of expertise and attention to detail ensure that solar panels are left spotless, allowing them to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

Different Cleaning Techniques and Processes

It’s worth noting that solar panel cleaning services can take various forms to suit different installations and levels of soiling. The best cleaning processes are both effective and environmentally friendly, ensuring no negative impact on the surrounding area.

• Manual Cleaning: For heavily soiled panels, hard to reach or excessively pitched panels, a manual cleaning is often the most effective method. Trained technicians use soft brushes and purified water fed pole systems to remove stubborn dirt and debris for a thorough cleaning that reaches every corner of the panel.

• Automated Cleaning Systems: For larger installations, some recommend automated cleaning systems that use motorised rotating brushes and jets of water to clean the panels efficiently. Automated systems are ideal for large commercial sites, as they can cover a significant area in a short amount of time and are excellent for heavily soiled sites.

• Robotic Cleaning: In some cases, robotic cleaners can be employed to tackle hard-to-reach areas or installations with high panel counts. These robots are equipped with sensors and to navigate around the panels for a consistent and thorough solar panel clean.

Different jobs require different approaches, each becoming more widely applied as the UK industry grows in turnover and adoption.

The Vital Emphasis on Health & Safety

Safety is a top priority at any commercial solar module cleaning business worth its salt. Working on rooftops presents inherent risks, and with this in mind, companies must take every precaution to protect team members, clients and the general public whilst undertaking these specialist solar panel cleaning works.

Solar panel cleaners should conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to identify potential hazards before setting things up with safety harnesses, guardrails, and other protective equipment to ensure that technicians can work safely at height. Team members should also be trained in first aid, with emergency procedures in place to handle any unforeseen incidents.

The Importance of Training and Experience

Solar panel cleaners generally go through rigorous training to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to perform their duties safely and effectively. Any in-house training needs to stay up to date with the latest industry standards and advancements in working safely at height wo clean solar panels so that the service provided to clients is completely effective and doesn’t put anyone in danger.

Choose Solar Panel Cleaning Services Ltd for Your Commercial Needs

At Solar Panel Cleaning Services Ltd, we are committed to helping businesses maximise the efficiency and lifespan of their solar panel installations, providing tailored cleanings specific to each and every client we serve. Our expertise in commercial rooftop solar panel cleaning, our emphasis on health and safety, and our time-honored training system make us the preferred choice for companies seeking professional solar panel cleaning services.

Whether you work from a smaller office building or operate within a large industrial complex, we have the skills, equipment, and committed team to handle your cleaning needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you keep your solar panels clean and efficient. Keep an eye out for our blog for more insights into what we do and the wider solar panel industry.