subject: Are Self-cleaning Solar Panels In Our Near Future? [print this page] If you have solar panels then you already know that they require very little clean up and maintenance. Still, if you did not have to occasionally make it to the roof to wash them off it would be nice, wouldn't it? Well, Phoenix solar companies are excited about some new technology that may be used to develop self-cleaning solar panels.
Desert states like Arizona are well known for having an abundance of sunlight and for having nearly year round sunny skies. Solar panels are a great asset to add to homes in the desert because of this, according to Arizona solar companies. While there is an abundance of sunlight to take advantage of, there can also be a lot of dust in the desert.
Phoenix solar authorities state that, no matter where solar panels are installed, the owner typically has to clean the panels by him or herself. In the desert dust can settle on solar panels and cause them to work less efficiently because it partially blocks out the sunlight. Soon, Phoenix solar officials believe that this could be a problem of the past.
The technology that would be used to create self-cleaning solar panels was actually developed to be used in future rover missions to Mars. Rovers on the moon and Mars have occasionally been stifled by dust that accumulated on solar panels. The dust blocked sunlight and often caused the rovers to be immobile.
The new technology uses an electrostatic charge which forces dust to the edge of solar panels. Most dust has an electric charge of its own so an electric field can be used to repel the dust. Phoenix solar experts state that this new technology is also great for conscientious homeowners who want to make a positive impact on their environment because it means that no water needs to be wasted to clean their solar panels. The technology also uses very little energy and only needs to be used for a few minutes at a time to work.
