Will Nanotechnology keep solar panels clean?
Will Nanotechnology keep solar panels clean?
Apr 01, 2013
In short, yes it could help in the future but we are not there quite yet. We have come a long way in nanotechnology but still have a little way to go before it is used cost effectively to clean solar panels.
What is nanotechnology?
It is the manipulation of matter on a molecular scale. Why would you want to do that? Well, you can make almost any surface super hydrophobic. This means that it is not only water repellent but the water will shoot off the surface. This applies to water but mud, oil, and other contaminants.
How would this help solar panels stay clean?
This would not magically repel the dust off the panels like it does liquid but it would make cleaning them a lot easier. All you would need to do is spray water on the panels and the water would suck up the dirt and the dirty water would shoot off. This would eliminate the need for scrubbing the panels and would cut the cleaning time by 2/3. Because the water shoots off the glass you would not need to use purified water. If regular tap water is used to clean untreated panels it will leave the hard water spots on the panels, which permanently damages them.
Waterless cleaning?
Another reason why this technology would work well is it could eliminate the need for water in the cleaning process. As the dust and other contaminants are repelled by the hydrophobic layer it would be easier to be blown off with compressed air. This is especially useful in dessert areas like Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage where water is scarce.
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