09/20/2023
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
In order for sunlight to be optimally used by PV modules, they must be cleaned regularly. But caution is needed when doing so, as the Fraunhofer Institute has now discovered.
Chemical cleaning additives can "bring with them a high potential for damage," is the finding of Fraunhofer researchers. They have developed a test method to investigate the material compatibility of such cleaning agents and effects on the functionality of modules.
In addition to dust and pollen, emissions from industry, traffic and agriculture also sometimes cause persistent soiling of solar modules. These deposits can cause less sunlight to be absorbed and thus affect energy production. Regular cleaning is therefore important for increasing efficiency.
In order to increase cleaning efficiency, chemical cleaners and cleaning additives that have an acidic or alkaline effect are increasingly being used. And the Fraunhofer scientists have now taken a close look at these. "The damage potential of commercial photovoltaic cleaners is high, especially for the anti-reflective layer on the front glass of the solar modules. Many users are not aware of this and the associated energy yield losses," explained Dr. Marko Turek, deputy group leader "Diagnostics and Metrology Solar Cells" at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP.
In the newly developed test method, material samples from PV systems were subjected to an aging test in the cleaning solution, making it possible to make statements about pitting and surface corrosion, for example. "The previous studies show that many commercially available cleaners damage the PV module components even in the recommended application concentration," said Turek.
According to Fraunhofer, the new test method had been used in a cooperative project with the manufacturer Bremer & Leguil GmbH to provide recommendations for the number of cleaning cycles, the exposure time and the ideal application concentration.
Author: Günter Drewnitzky
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