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.
Trinabot offers installation robots for large PV projects
The China-based technology and solar infrastructure company has launched Buildex, a line of solar panel installation robots. A built-in forklift, a robotic arm and advanced automation software support its ability to carry, pick and place panels in a variety of terrains.
Different dust, different impact on PV module performance
Scientists in Germany have collected dust from Qatar, Morocco and Thailand to analyze the impact on the performance of uncoated solar glass and uncoated PV mini-modules. Their analysis has shown that dust coverage could range from 4% to 60%.
PV module cleaning should be included in green building standards
Scientists in Sudan have called for the inclusion of PV module cleaning operations in green building standards to address a key maintenance gap in renewable energy systems. It would target improved system performance in environments where dust and soiling pose persistent challenges.
