In recent years, the demand for renewable energy, especially solar energy, has increased exponentially. A key factor in the optimal performance of solar panels is their regular cleaning to remove dirt, dust and other debris that can reduce efficiency. Traditional cleaning methods are often time-consuming, costly and difficult to carry out in hard-to-reach areas.
"Today's drones are revolutionizing this process, as they can be used efficiently to remove dirt from solar panels. Specially developed cleaning media are sprayed onto the affected areas by drone. These cleaning media must be environmentally friendly, biodegradable and specially formulated to achieve maximum cleaning power without damaging the sensitive surfaces of the solar panels," explains Markus Geßner, Head of Marketing and Sales at Emil Otto GmbH. Emil Otto has developed the Solar Module Cleaner range. These are cleaning media that have been specially developed for use on solar cells.
Depending on the soiling, alkaline, acidic or neutral cleaners can be used. These are generally VOC-free and dissolve even the most stubborn dirt, from salt stains such as limescale and lime compounds, deposits to lichen, moss and algae. "Solar parks are often located near highways or other traffic junctions, where people are reluctant to create living space. This means that we are often dealing with solar panels that are contaminated by soot, exhaust fumes, dust, kerosene or other pollutants," continues Geßner. The optimum efficiency of the solar module is restored through cleaning. Emil Otto's cleaners leave no greasy residues that can stick together and harden under UV radiation. They are gentle on the system and other materials used and are also non-aggressive towards electronic components.
"The use of drones in combination with our efficient cleaning media results in significant added value," says Geßner. Drones can cover large areas in a short space of time and clean hard-to-reach areas that are difficult for conventional cleaning teams to access. In such cases in particular, it is important that the cleaning media do not leave any residue on the panel, so that manual or mechanical "re-cleaning" is not necessary. Furthermore, the use of drone technology minimizes work and downtime, which leads to considerable cost savings. It is also important to note that Emil Otto's specialized cleaning media are environmentally friendly and contribute to the sustainable care of solar panels.
"Our innovative cleaning media for solar panels is a significant step forward for the solar industry," says Geßner. "We are proud to offer a solution that not only improves the efficiency and service life of solar panels, but also reduces operating costs while protecting the environment."