Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Solar's Dirty Little Secret

We have the Solution to Solar’s Dirty Little Secret
Solar PV is often hyped as requiring virtually no maintenance, when in fact, PV intstallaions need regular cleanings to maintain optimal performance. The accumulation of dirt on solar panels has a signficant, detrimental impact on the performance of sloar power systems. Dirt, however, is only part of the problem. PV system operators must also compete with the build-up of dust, tree debris, moss, sap, bugs, dird droppings, water spots, mold and more. It has been documented that even a light layer of contiamination can decrease efficiency and shorten the payback for solar power ROI.

If your panels are treated with NOC on Glassfor Solar, an Energy Efficient Maintenace System by Clarke Clean, your PV system performance will be optimized through sustainable module clarity. While many factors impact solar power production in solar panels, experts agree that you will lose power when your panels experience soiling. That loss may range as high as 25% in some areas according to the National Renewable Energy laboratory. Individual dealers have reported losses as high as 30% for some customers who failed to never clean or maintain their panels.

NOC on Glassfor Solar is a special nanotechnology product created for PV module substrates with a long-term hydrophobic effect on glass surfaces. This is not a sealer that forms a film but rather is a modification of the surface on a molecular level to provide a virtually self-cleaning. The hydrophobic product works by repelling water- and prevents adhesion of foreign matter on the surface (creating the easy to clean/self-cleaning effect).  An ultra-thin and invisible coating appears to the glass surface. Because of the hydrophobic treatment effect; dirt particles cannot penetrate the matrix of the surface.  When rain water runs off easily from the treated surface all dirt and grime particles are washed away with it.  Alternatively, a hose can be used to clean the glass when there is little or no rainfall.   
Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: "As much as 10 percent of the light that hits the cells is scattered because of dust and dirt of the surface. If you can keep the cells clean, in principle you can increase the efficiency. Even if you only improve this by a few percent, that could make a big difference."

Clarke Clean: "Can you live with that?"

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