I am seriously thinking about installing PhotoVoltais Solar panels (that generate electricity) on my roof. Besides the usual (cost, ROI, etc.), I was researching for the maintenance of these panels. We have tall trees around the house and needles and leaves fall on our roof all the time... not to mention the dirt and grime that collects over time.Do these decrease the capacity of the panels? Do the panels require a regular maintenance?Thanks!
New solar panels are clean and shiny and they look cool. Then they get dirty with dust and debris caught on the wind and residues left behind by rain and birds. Solar panels must be regularly cleaned and maintained in order to keep them operating efficiently and maximize the amount of sunlight they convert into electricity. Unlike windows your solar system needs to have a clean and clear surface to ensure they are working at their maximum efficiency. If they are not at their optimum performance it means they are not producing the amount of electricity that they could be. Solar panels will attract dirt, dust, soot, pollen, tree sap and salt crystals in coastal regions creating a fine layer of grime. This layer reduces the amount of light reaching the silicon cells under the glass surface and reduces the panel's effectiveness. A solar panel that has never been cleaned could be producing almost a third less power than it otherwise could be. Some have reported a ten to fifteen percent loss of solar output due to dirty panels. From the ground the panels may appear to be clean, just like your windows. Up close however you can see the grime that has built up from the dirt and pollution in the air. A more noticeable deposit that can be left on panels is bird droppings. These tend to completely block the light from areas of the photovoltaic panel and can considerable reduce its effectiveness. See much more about solar panels maintenance below link
I don't know if the guy is right about cells burning out if they are covered. You should look on the Internet for insolation tables for your area to see the effective hours of sunlight. Then guesstimate the percentage of time the panels will be shaded. Those trees may make the solar thing a poor idea. He is right about the trees reducing you efficiency. If a panel is shaded about 0 percent, its output drops to close to zero. My panels are five years old, and I have washed them twice. There as been no noticeable dropoff in output.
panels need full sun. any shade reduces out put. leaves left on them will cause the individual cells burn out. they nneed adjusting every season, an washed with a soft cloth once a year.
