SOLAR FARMS - CLEANING
Solar panels accumulate dirt, dust, pollen, bird droppings and pollution over time. This build up reduces their efficiency and energy output. Using drones to clean solar panels offers several benefits, including cost savings, low environmental impact, speeds and overall panel performance.
THE BENEFITS OF USING DRONES
Below are the benefits that drones offer for the cleaning and restoration of panels:
INCREASED PANEL EFFICIENCY & PERFORMANCE
The key target is improving the solar panel efficiency, which can be by up to 30%, through removing the build-up of dirt, dust and bird droppings.
The return on investment of utilising a cleaning service is easily measured against the improvement in the amount energy produced.
PRECISION APPLICATION
After equipment, the largest cost is water and, where used, cleaning solution. AI-driven drones optimise consumption by following aerial flight maps, spraying only where needed and eliminating overspray waste.
All settings are fully adjustable for each application and job requirement, ensuring eco-friendly cleaning with minimal product use and no waste.
REDUCTION OF ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT & MAN HOURS
Our cleaning services eliminate the need for expensive equipment like cranes, cherry pickers or scaffolding to be brought on to site, along with additional work and organisation this involves.
Our service is self-operated, so does not require additional staff to assist; taking them away from other important duties. The low involvement and high speed of the service ensures the whole process is completed in a day (circa 20 hectares), rather than several days or longer with alternative methods.
SPEED & SCALABILITY
Drones can rapidly clean large-scale solar farms, covering thousands of panels in a fraction of the time a manual team or ground based machine can. Autonomous flying minimises downtime and enhances productivity.
With speeds of up to 31 mph, our drones can efficiently clean large areas on a regular basis. This helps to prevent buildup and eliminates the need for slower, costly, intensive deep cleans.
ENHANCED SAFETY
Eliminates the need for employees to physically have contact with panels or invest in costly safety equipment. Reducing employee requirements also helps prevent Health and Safety breaches by minimising risks associated with overreaching or using additional platforms and unfamiliar equipment.
PANEL SAFE CLEANING
The zero-contact application method eliminates the risk of damage from coarse bristles or brushes, preventing scratches that could impact long-term performance. This also helps preserve the manufacturer’s warranty on the panel surface.