This is how you keep your solar panels in optimal condition
Solar panels are designed to generate sustainable energy for many years. However, like other parts of your energy system, they benefit from regular inspection and maintenance to keep functioning well.
Over time, dust, pollen, leaves, bird droppings, air pollution and Sahara dust can accumulate on solar panels. Depending on the location of your installation and weather conditions, this soiling can cause less sunlight to reach the solar cells. This can affect energy yield.
Cleaning and maintaining solar panels can therefore help keep your installation in good condition, identify potential problems in time and support the long-term performance of your system.
At NOVECTRA, we help private individuals and businesses with professional cleaning and maintenance of solar panels. That way you do not have to go onto your roof yourself and do not have to worry about the correct and safe cleaning method.
Why is it important to clean solar panels?
Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. A small amount of dust usually has only a limited effect on yield, but stubborn soiling can accumulate over time.
Rain washes away some dirt automatically, but does not always remove everything. Bird droppings, leaves, pollen and Sahara dust, for example, can remain on the surface of solar panels after a rain shower.
When dirt covers part of a solar panel, less sunlight can reach the solar cells. Depending on the amount and type of soiling, this can contribute to lower energy yield.
Cleaning solar panels can therefore be an important part of maintaining a solar panel system, especially when the panels are visibly soiled or when yield seems lower than expected.
NOVECTRA can professionally clean your solar panels and help keep your installation in good condition.
What causes solar panels to get dirty?
Zonnepanelen zijn het hele jaar door blootgesteld aan weer en wind. De hoeveelheid en het soort vervuiling hangen sterk af van de locatie van uw installatie en de omgeving.
Common causes of pollution include:
- Sahara dust that remains on the panels after rain;
- air pollution from traffic and industrial activities;
- pollen and other floating particles in the air, especially in spring;
- leaves and organic matter in autumn;
- bird droppings;
- dust and general dirt that accumulates throughout the year.
Solar panels in urban areas, near industrial sites or under trees may need inspection and cleaning more often than panels in an open location with few sources of pollution.
NOVECTRA can assess the condition of your solar panel system and advise whether cleaning or maintenance is appropriate.
What is checked during solar panel maintenance?
Solar panel maintenance goes beyond just cleaning the glass surface.
Een zonnepanelensysteem bestaat uit verschillende onderdelen, waaronder de zonnepanelen, het montagesysteem, bekabeling en elektrische componenten.
During a professional inspection, the general condition of the installation can be assessed. Depending on the scope of the maintenance work, this may include checking:
- visible damage to solar panels;
- signs of wear;
- the condition of cables and connections;
- mounting materials and fixings;
- pollution and dirt buildup;
- other visible issues that may affect the installation.
Regelmatige inspectie kan helpen om mogelijke problemen in een vroeg stadium te signaleren, voordat ze uitgroeien tot grotere storingen of schade.
Professional cleaning and maintenance of solar panels by NOVECTRA
Houd uw zonnepanelen in goede conditie met NOVECTRA. Wij verzorgen professionele reiniging en onderhoud van zonnepanelensystemen voor particulieren en bedrijven.
Our approach goes beyond simply removing dirt. During maintenance, we can also assess the general condition of the installation and identify visible signs of wear, damage or other points of attention.
Regelmatige reiniging en onderhoud kunnen helpen om uw installatie in goede conditie te houden en optimaal gebruik te blijven maken van uw investering in zonne-energie.
Whether your solar panels are soiled by dust, pollen, leaves, bird droppings or Sahara dust: professional cleaning helps keep the surface of the panels clean and maintain your installation properly.
Looking for a professional service to clean and maintain solar panels?
Contact NOVECTRA via 0115-553000 or send an email to info@novectra.nl to discuss your solar panel system and maintenance needs.
Would you also like to reduce your energy costs? Request a quote and discover what NOVECTRA can mean for you.
Frequently asked questions
There is no fixed frequency that applies to every solar panel system. How often solar panels need to be cleaned depends, among other things, on the location, the environment and how quickly dirt accumulates.
For many installations, periodic inspection is a good approach. When the panels are visibly soiled, professional cleaning may be advisable.
NOVECTRA can take care of the cleaning for you, even when the solar panels are difficult or unsafe to reach.
The best time to clean solar panels depends on the circumstances.
In many situations, it can be useful to have the panels cleaned before spring. That way they are clean before the period when solar yield usually increases.
Other circumstances can also be a reason to clean solar panels. For example, a period with a lot of Sahara dust or when there is a lot of bird droppings on the panels.
It is therefore wiser to focus on the condition of the solar panels rather than sticking to a fixed annual cleaning date.
Professional cleaning can be worthwhile when solar panels are heavily soiled or difficult and unsafe to reach.
A professional can also visually inspect the installation during cleaning and identify potential issues.
Regen kan een deel van stof en los vuil van zonnepanelen verwijderen. Hardnekkige vervuiling zoals vogelpoep, bladeren en Saharastof blijft echter vaak gedeeltelijk achter.
When there is visible dirt on the panels, additional cleaning may therefore be necessary.
Solar panels must be cleaned using suitable, non-abrasive materials and methods.
Vermijd hogedrukreinigers, schurende materialen en agressieve schoonmaakmiddelen. Bij zonnepanelen op een hoog of steil dak is professionele reiniging aan te raden.
Yes. Heavy soiling can cause less sunlight to reach the solar cells and thereby contribute to lower energy yield.
However, lower yield can also have other causes. When your solar panels unexpectedly produce significantly less electricity, it may therefore be wise to have the entire installation checked.
Het kan nuttig zijn om zonnepanelen vóór de maanden met een hogere zonne-opbrengst te reinigen, zeker wanneer zich in de herfst en winter veel vuil heeft opgehoopt.
De conditie van de zonnepanelen is echter belangrijker dan de tijd van het jaar. Als de panelen schoon zijn, is een reiniging uitsluitend omdat de zomer begint niet per se nodig.
Technically, you can clean solar panels yourself. However, there are several important points to consider.
Solar panels are often located on sloping or high roofs. Accessing a roof therefore involves safety risks, especially when you do not have suitable fall protection and professional equipment.
There is also a risk of damaging the solar panels or other parts of the installation when using the wrong cleaning method or wrong materials. Scratches, aggressive cleaning agents or excessive water pressure can damage the surface or components of the installation.
Professional solar panel cleaning is therefore often the safest and most practical choice. NOVECTRA has the necessary equipment and expertise to clean solar panels carefully and safely.
- When cleaning solar panels, keep the following points in mind:
- Never access a roof without the proper safety measures.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions before carrying out any work.
- Never stand or sit on solar panels.
- Do not use a pressure washer; high water pressure can damage components.
- Use a soft sponge or suitable cloth instead of hard brushes or abrasive materials.
- Preferably use purified or demineralised water to reduce the risk of limescale and mineral deposits.
- Avoid aggressive cleaning agents that can damage the surface or coating of solar panels.
- Wear suitable protective gloves.
- Do not clean solar panels that are hard to reach or on a steep roof.
- Have the work carried out by a qualified professional if you are unsure whether you can perform the work safely.
Cleaning solar panels is not worth putting yourself at risk. If the panels are difficult to reach or specialist equipment is required, professional cleaning by NOVECTRA is the safer choice.
Onderhoud van zonnepanelen kan bestaan uit het reinigen en visueel inspecteren van de panelen, bekabeling, montagematerialen en andere toegankelijke onderdelen van de installatie.
The exact work depends on the chosen maintenance service and the specific installation.
NOVECTRA provides professional cleaning and maintenance of solar panels.
Our approach focuses not only on removing dirt, but also on identifying visible issues that may affect the condition and performance of your installation.
This is how we help you maintain your solar panel system properly and get the most out of your investment in solar energy.
