Oleic acid anti‑soiling coating for solar modules
Researchers in Türkiye have developed a passive anti-soiling coating for PV panels using oleic acid–modified aluminum oxide nanoparticles applied via spray coating. Laboratory and field tests showed the coating reduced dust accumulation and initially boosted daily energy output, though performance declined under prolonged environmental stressors.
Chemitek offers solution for drone-based cleaning of agrivoltaics
The Portuguese company said its new Drone AgroPV Cleaning Agent is scheduled for release in June. It has a safe formulation for crops and soil.
The impact of microclimate effects on floating PV plants
French researchers have developed a high-resolution computational framework to model microclimate effects of large floating solar PV systems, enabling accurate predictions of heat transfer, ambient temperatures, and water evaporation based on panel configuration and wind conditions. The model can inform thermal performance, environmental impacts, and optimize designs for utility-scale floating PV, as well as ground-mounted and agrivoltaic installations.
French startup launches cleaning robots for solar PV shade structures
Solar panel cleaning equipment company Objectif Drone has launched a new 7 kg dual-brush cleaning robot with a speed of 5 km/h made for small and medium-sized PV installations.
The impact of dust on PV systems in arid coastal environments
A Saudi–Egyptian research team investigated the effects of four types of dust on photovoltaic panels in arid coastal environments, finding that power losses can reach up to 48%.
Novel swapping technique for partially shaded PV systems
Researchers in India have developed an algorithm for quadrant swapping in PV arrays, enabling the creation of new quadrants containing either shaded or unshaded modules. The method was tested across ten shading scenarios with varying irradiation levels and demonstrated “superior” performance compared to conventional approaches.
Low-cost, inverter-based dust monitoring method for rooftop solar
Researchers in China have developed a dust monitoring technique that relies solely on the existing hardware resources of inverters, without requiring extra sensors or meteorological data. Tests on real rooftop PV arrays demonstrated an accuracy exceeding 96%.”
Solarcleano launches panel cleaning robot for large PV installations, trackers
The Luxembourg startup’s newest product is a portable, dry and wet cleaning system with 2.45 m wide brushes, designed to be operated by a single person.
Solar panel cleaning drones for rooftop, ground-mounted PV systems
French uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) manufacturer Objectif Drone has developed a drone-based solar panel spray cleaning system for solar plant maintenance teams. It can be used on either rooftop PV or ground-mounted systems.
New object detection algorithm for solar cleaning robots
A Chinese research team at Tarim University have developed a lightweight object detection and pose recognition solution for solar panel cleaning robots.
