A Low Carbon Life|Post 8 2016|Cleaning Our Solar Panels

Every three months I telephone my favourite handyman and arrange for him to come and do a day’s work around the property.  Over the preceding months I collect a list of the things that need repairing or replacing or servicing.  I really enjoy the result when all those annoying little problems disappear; I even feel virtuous despite having done nothing beyond making a telephone call and communicating a list of problems.  Whatever floats your boat I guess!

Just recently, on one of those maintenance days, I asked for our solar panels to be cleaned.  With due regard to safety (I have to say that), the panels on our 33° pitched roof were cleaned.  I didn’t think they would be very dirty because we have had very heavy, regular rain recently but the cleaning clothes that were given to me for laundering were quite dirty.  I was surprised at the amount of grime and pleased to think we would now generate more electricity.  But would we really generate more electricity?

Cleaning solar panels came up recently when I was involved in brainstorming new business ideas with some colleagues. Cleaning solar panels seemed like a possibility given that, back in 2013, there were already one million Australian homes  with rooftop solar. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to learn that it is not clear whether or not solar panels should be cleaned.  A US study found that it was not worth doing unless the panels had a lot of bird dirt on them but a UK critique of the study argued that the circumstances of the US study were very particular and in fact panels should be cleaned. The Australian view is if it isn’t broken don’t fix it meaning don’t worry about cleaning your panels unless your electricity generation has got noticeably lower or the panels are obviously really, really dirty or they are incredibly easy to clean.  I think I added an unnecessary job to the maintenance list but I still feel better about our panels!

Until next time, Jane