Solar panel cleaning

Qatari researchers have looked at the degree to which cleaning robots could threaten the physical integrity of solar panels. They found that cleaning machines have a very minimal impact and that modules of similar sizes tend to exhibit roughly the same amount of vibration.

The Lotus A4000 cleaning robot, built with automotive-grade components, is a reliable and hassle-free solution to daily clean and maintain solar plants operating in harsh and arid regions.

India-based Solavio has developed Eco Bot portable and shareable robotic cleaning solution that is compatible with both ground-mount and rooftop PV installations.

Indian developer Avaada Group has selected Israeli robotic cleaning specialist Airtouch Solar for the maintenance of PV modules at its solar farms in Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The robotic cleaning contract between the two companies is pegged at around $2 million.

When choosing a solar power plant, individuals and businesses pay the most attention to its power – after all, this will determine how much electricity will be produced. Other equipment, systems and sensors that allow monitoring and analysis of the operation of the power plant are often underestimated. But they shouldn’t be: the solar power plant will be used for several decades, so various failures and poor-quality monitoring can have a significant impact on the efficiency of electricity production.

Bihar-based Husk Power Systems will use $6 million of newly acquired funds to build solar hybrid microgrids in 80 communities in rural India. The renewables services provider already owns and operates more than 120 microgrids in India.

Israel-based Airtouch Solar has signed a $940,000 contract with Indian developer Hero Future Energies, three weeks after securing a $440,000 project with another developer in India. 

Mumbai-based Cleo Tech has developed a battery-powered, handheld tool for scratch-free, dry cleaning of solar panels. The tool’s cleaning brush clings end-to-end on the aluminum frames of the panels, avoiding direct contact of the moving parts with the cells, other than the soft nylon bristles.

Swiss Clean Battery is set to start commercial production of its pure solid state batteries in Switzerland. The batteries are based on a protected electrolyte made of a solid ion conductor, which helps to maintain internal resistance and capacity. The fixed ion conductor is formed in the battery cell itself, similar to a multi-component adhesive.

Tamil Nadu based Next Automation has come up with a tractor-mounted hydraulically operated arm as a fast, accurate, cost-effective, and water-efficient cleaning solution for panels in solar farms.