Is Water Cleaning Really the Best Solution for Solar Panels ?

www.integrag.com

solar panel cleaning solutions since 2012

Solmaks

Designed and Manufactured in Korea

Solmaks SE

Deep cleaning should be wet, Routine cleaning can be dry

One of the most common questions we receive from our overseas partners, customers, and visitors at international exhibitions is :

" Don't solar panels ultimately need to be washed with water to be properly cleaned ? "

Our answer is simple:We agree—partly.

There are certainly situations where water is necessary, depending on the type and severity of contamination. However, not every solar panel cleaning operation requires water.

In fact, many of our overseas customers follow the same maintenance strategy. They perform an initial wet cleaning to remove accumulated contamination and then switch to regular maintenance using dry brushing, with water used only when specific conditions require it.

The real question is not whether to use water, but when and why to use it.

Why Wet Cleaning Is Often Preferred

It is understandable why many people associate cleaning with water.

For cleaning service providers, wet cleaning produces visible results that customers can easily recognize. Just as washing a window with water creates an immediate impression of cleanliness, many people assume solar panels can only be properly cleaned with water.

However, from the perspective of a solar power plant owner or operator, wet cleaning is not always the most practical or economical solution.

A common maintenance approach is:

• Initial wet cleaning to remove long-term accumulated contamination

• Routine maintenance using dry brushing

• Wet cleaning only when specific contaminants require it

This approach often delivers the best balance between cleaning performance and operating efficiency.

The Biggest Challenge : Water Supply

The greatest practical challenge of wet cleaning is not the cleaning itself—it is securing a reliable water source.

Large-scale solar power plants are typically located far from urban infrastructure, often on mountainsides, farmland, or remote open areas where water supply is limited or unavailable.

Once water is introduced into the cleaning process, several additional challenges arise:

• Water tanks, pumps, generators, and support vehicles

• Refilling water during operation

• Water transportation costs

• Limited site accessibility

• Increased setup and cleaning time

As a result, the overall efficiency and operating cost of solar panel cleaning depend not only on the cleaning equipment itself, but also on how water is supplied at the site.

Most Common Contamination Can Be Removed Without Water

Not all contamination requires wet cleaning.

Typical contaminants include:

• Dry accumulated dust

• Yellow dust (Asian dust)

• Soil and loose dirt

• Airborne particulate matter

These contaminants can generally be removed effectively through dry brushing alone.

Our Solmaks FSB crawler can be equipped with different brush specifications depending on site conditions and contamination levels, including:

• Soft brushes for delicate cleaning

• Higher-removal brushes for tougher dirt

• Hybrid brush combinations

By selecting the appropriate brush type and adjusting brush speed and contact pressure, even moderately adhered dust can often be removed without using water.

Some Contamination Does Require Water

Dry cleaning is not the answer for every situation.

Certain contaminants may require water or additional cleaning methods, including:

• Bird droppings

• Oil or grease contamination

• Strongly adhered deposits

• Salt residue

For example, solar plants located near coastal areas are exposed to salt contamination, where water cleaning can be highly effective.

On the other hand, facilities located near cement plants face a different challenge. Cement dust can harden when mixed with water, causing it to bond even more firmly to the panel surface.

This illustrates why cleaning methods should always be selected according to the operating environment and the type of contamination, rather than applying a single cleaning method to every site.

The Role of Water Matters More Than Water Itself

The future of solar panel cleaning should not focus on using more water, but on using only the amount of water that is truly necessary.

Step 1 – Dry Cleaning

• Remove most common dust and dirt

• Minimize water consumption

• Improve work efficiency

• Reduce operational burden

Step 2 – Targeted Wet Cleaning

• Apply water only to heavily contaminated areas

• Use auxiliary brushes or specialized tools when needed

• Utilize low-volume spraying

• Significantly reduce overall water consumption

In this approach, water becomes a supplementary cleaning tool rather than the primary cleaning method.

Crawler Solmaks F series

A Practical Maintenance Strategy

For cleaning service providers, an initial wet cleaning is often the best choice when taking over a new solar power plant, as it removes long-term contamination and delivers immediate customer satisfaction.

Afterward, regular maintenance can be performed using dry brushing, with water applied only to specific problem areas when necessary.

This maintenance strategy reduces:

• Water transportation

• Hose installation and management

• Water refilling

• Overall operational complexity

while improving productivity in the field.

What Solar Plant Operators Really Care About

When evaluating a cleaning system, plant owners typically ask :

• Can it support efficient routine maintenance ?

• How quickly can the work be completed ?

• How many workers are required ?

• What is the cost of supplying water ?

• How easily can the equipment access the site ?

Ultimately, a good solar panel cleaning system is not one that uses the most water, but one that delivers consistent cleaning quality while consuming the fewest possible resources.

This includes:

• Optimized brushing methods

• Multiple brush specifications for different contaminants

• Low-water wet cleaning as a supplementary option

Meeting market expectations while reducing water consumption and eliminating the logistical burden of water supply is becoming increasingly important in the solar panel cleaning industry.

The competitiveness of solar panel cleaning equipment is not determined by how much water it uses.

It is determined by how effectively it restores and maintains solar panel performance while minimizing the use of labor, water, time, and other resources.

The goal is not simply to clean panels—it is to recover power generation efficiency consistently, economically, and sustainably with the minimum resources required.

www.integrag.com

solar panel cleaning solutions since 2012

Solmaks

Designed and Manufactured in Korea