Say you’ve invested in solar panels and are neatly tracking performance via your app or inverter. Then you suddenly notice a drop in output, even though the sun is shining brightly. The cause? Chances are there is sahara sand on your solar panels. This fine desert dust can travel thousands of miles through the air and settle on your panels like a brown haze. In this blog, you’ll read what exactly sahara sand does and how much it affects efficiency. We also tell you how to handle sahara sand on your solar panels wisely.
What exactly is sahara sand on solar panels?
Sahara sand consists of microscopic dust particles originating in the Sahara Desert. During sandstorms, the sand is blown kilometers into the air. Via wind currents, it regularly reaches southern and western Europe. When it coincides with precipitation, it descends on everything outside: cars, garden furniture and, consequently, solar panels. In the Netherlands, this phenomenon occurs more often than you might think. Especially in spring or after a dry period, there is a good chance that an orange-brown veil will become visible on smooth surfaces. And although the sand is hardly visible from the ground, it does have an impact on your solar energy production.
How does sahara sand affect your solar panels?
Solar panels are designed to optimally capture sunlight. A thin layer of dust, such as sahara sand, can interfere with that process. How much influence this has depends on several factors. It has to do with the amount of sand, the angle of inclination of your solar panels and the combination with other pollution. Think of pollen or bird droppings. In general, sahara sand on solar panels leads to a yield loss of 2 to 5%. And in extreme cases, for example when the sand remains on the roof after several dry days, this can even amount to 10%. On flat roofs or with panels with a low pitch, the sand also stays on longer, intensifying the effect.
Should you clean solar panels with sahara sand right away?
You may be thinking that you should immediately clean the solar panels with sahara sand or perhaps even remove them and put them back. However, this is not always necessary. In many cases, the sand will wash away on its own with the next rain. Dutch weather conditions usually ensure that the dust does not remain for long. It is therefore wise to wait for the weather forecast before getting started yourself. However, it is advisable to keep a close eye on your app. Do you see an unexplained drop in yield? And does it remain dry for an extended period of time? Then a cleaning may be necessary.
Five solutions to remove sahara sand from your solar panels
Does the sahara sand on your solar panels stubbornly remain or do you want to be on the safe side? Then these five effective solutions may be able to help you:
- Clean yourself with osmosis water and soft brush: osmosis water does not contain lime, so you will not get streaks on the glass. Use a soft brush on a telescopic handle and always work with lukewarm water, preferably on a cloudy day. This will prevent thermal shock to the panels.
- Cleaning with a microfiber cloth: for light soiling, a soft microfiber cloth and some clean water is sufficient. Proceed carefully and avoid abrasive motions. This is especially suitable for panels on a carport or low roof.
- Call in professional window cleaner: many window cleaners have experience with solar panels and sahara sand. They use safe techniques and know how to clean without damage. Ideal if you can’t safely get on the roof yourself.
- Hire solar panel cleaning specialist: there are companies that focus specifically on solar panel cleaning. They work with osmosis water, special brushes and long stems, so you don’t have to do anything yourself.
- Have a self-cleaning coating applied: there are coatings that repel dirt and dust. These make sand and other dirt less likely to adhere to the glass. This investment will pay for itself if you frequently experience contamination such as sahara sand on your solar panels.
Maintenance tips to reduce contamination
In addition to cleaning your solar panels because of sahara sand, proper maintenance is important for continued returns. Some tips:
- Clean your panels at least once a year, preferably in the spring.
- Check the yield via your monitoring app and watch for discrepancies.
- Where possible, remove leaves, bird droppings or other visible debris as soon as you see it.
- Avoid using pressure washers or harsh cleaning agents.
- Provide good accessibility if you want to clean yourself.
So, sahara sand on solar panels is becoming more common, but does not pose a permanent problem if you know how to deal with it. Often it’s enough to wait: a good rain will do the trick. Does the sand still remain and do you notice a loss in yield? Then the solutions above can help. By keeping your solar panels clean, you not only extend their lifespan, but also get the most out of your investment. And that’s a good thing, right?
