New research led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reveals that rainfall isn't enough to clean solar panels affected by pollen. The study, published in the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, studied five solar plants in North Carolina and found a performance drop of up to 15% during peak pollen seasons. Even after rain, the panels didn't return to their original efficiency.

The research challenges the assumption that frequent rainfall would eliminate soiling impacts, especially during peak pollen seasons from trees like cypress, juniper, pine, and oak. It suggests potential production losses of up to 10% without regular cleaning.

NREL emphasizes the need to carefully consider soiling in rainy regions and plans to investigate this further with Solar Unsoiled. The study found performance increases of 5% to 11% after mechanical wet brush cleaning, highlighting the necessity for proactive cleaning strategies.

Matthew Muller, an NREL engineer, stressed the importance of understanding pollen's impact on solar panels, highlighting that relying solely on rainfall for cleaning isn't sufficient.

Soiling, caused by elements obstructing light to solar cells, poses a continuous challenge affecting performance and revenue for solar operators. Previous studies focused on arid areas, neglecting the impact of rain and pollen, notably in regions like the southeastern United States.

The paper's authors include experts from NREL, the University of Jaen, Duke University, Sapienza University of Rome, and Solar Unsoiled, shedding light on the pressing issue of pollen-induced soiling on solar panels.

Based on: https://www.renewableenergyworld.com