Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is a technology that directly converts light energy into electrical energy using the photovoltaic effect at the semiconductor interface. It mainly consists of three parts: solar panels (modules), a controller, and an inverter, with key components made of electronic parts. Solar cells are connected in series and then encapsulated for protection to form large-area solar cell modules; when combined with components such as a power controller, a PV power generation system is formed.
Currently, China ranks first in the world in terms of cumulative PV installed capacity, and its PV power generation volume is also constantly increasing—making important contributions to the country’s energy structure transformation.
However, after the installation of PV modules, subsequent maintenance is crucial, as it exerts a significant impact on PV power generation. Dust removal, in particular, is essential: most PV modules are installed in sparsely populated areas, and after long-term use, dust accumulates on their surfaces, seriously affecting power generation efficiency.
There are four main methods, as outlined below:
- Dry Cleaning Method: This involves wiping the surface of the modules with tools such as mops or rags to remove surface dust, thereby improving the modules’ power generation capacity.
- Direct Tap Water Cleaning: Tap water is used to clean the modules, which achieves a relatively thorough cleaning effect. However, this method consumes a large amount of tap water.
- Spray Equipment Cleaning: When installing PV modules, high-pressure spray equipment is installed at fixed positions. Meanwhile, the spacing between each spray device is carefully calculated to ensure that every corner of the modules is cleaned to the maximum extent.
- Cleaning Robot Dust Removal: Cleaning robots are operated to clean the modules; these robots clean the module surfaces according to preset programs. This method delivers a good and thorough cleaning effect while saving water. However, cleaning robots are relatively expensive, resulting in high initial investment costs, so they have not yet been widely adopted.
Additionally, the surface of PV panels has a self-cleaning function due to their special material properties. Irregular rainfall (caused by weather conditions) also washes away dust on the panel surfaces, so the light-receiving function of PV modules will not be significantly affected.
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