Solar Panel cleaning Newcastle and the North East

North East Commercial & Industrial Cleaning will professionally clean your solar panels with ease and efficiency. We use an array of specialised equipment ensuring that your solar panels are left dust and grime free, maximising the light and In return maximise efficiency and output, thus ultimately resulting in considerable savings for you.

We offer this service to both domestic and commercial customers, expert advice given whilst at the same time providing highly competitive quotations and a fast friendly reliable service.

Discounts arranged for Multi-site work.

Solar Panel or Solar Module: Solar cells are wired in series and placed into a frame. The size of the frame can vary with manufacturers … as a result of the technology used. A protective coating on the top covers and protects (and sometimes increases the output) of the solar cells. Any number of cells can be connected in series and most commercial modules sold today incorporate 72 cells. .

How much Electricity do Dirty Solar Panels Lose?

Pollution, traffic dust, leaves and even bird droppings contribute to preventing sunlight from reaching the solar cells in your solar panels.

The more dirt – the lower amount of electricity they will produce. While many factors affect how much electricity your solar panels will produce – dirty solar panels can be one of the biggest, and easiest to fix.

Dirty solar panels don't produce as much power as clean panels. That loss may range as high as 25% in some areas according to the National Renewable Energy laboratory. Individual dealers have reported losses as high as 30% for some customers who failed to ever clean their panels.

Also Due to the upwards angle of your solar panels; they are more prone to bird droppings and a build-up of general dust and dirt.

Two Ways to see if your panels need cleaning

1. Physical Inspection: Inspect the solar panels on a periodic basis (frequency depends on location or the manufacturer's specifications) to remove any debris and dirt If possible and ensure all connections are tight. Generally, speaking dusty areas typically require more frequent inspection.

2. Use a Monitoring Service: Another way to make sure you’re getting the most solar potential out of your PV system is through a monitoring systems and service. For a monthly fee or a flat up front cost, you can monitor how your system is performing.

Your system is expected to produce a certain amount of power during each month. A solar monitoring system can tell you if your system is off line or if it’s not performing as expected and run diagnostic programs.

Monitoring systems are usually an extra expense, whether as a monthly service or purchased up front. While not essential, they do make troubleshooting and system performance easier to see.

Cleaning is recommended every 6 – 8 months

Solar Panel Cleaning --- How we do it!

Solar panel cleaning is a relatively simple and straight forward task in itself; however the common difficulty is gaining access or reaching the panels In order to facilitate a thorough clean.

A system we use for this particular type of cleaning is our Thermo Pure, “Reach & Wash” or otherwise referred to as a water-fed pole system.

The system works using de-ionised water which we filter and purify at our depot prior to arriving at your location. The water is purified to a TDS (Total Dissolved Fluids) reading of 4 or below, this is extremely pure bearing in mind that a normal glass of tap water will have a TDS reading of 25-30 depending on which part of the country you live. This is achieved using a system called Reverse osmosis that ensures that the water we use is nearly 100% pure resulting in a streak free finish and thorough cleaning of the panels.

                                                             

Pure water is then pumped from a large water tank located in the rear of our vehicle through a length of specially designed hose and finally to a Brush head at the end of an extendible pole capable of reaching heights of up to 65 Feet, all this is done safely from the ground eliminating the use of ladders or any other type of access equipment, thus reducing the risk of a personal Injury or even death resulting in falling from a height.

The Panels are cleaned using the brush, removing all dust, debris and bird droppings, ultimately resulting in up to a 35% improved efficiency

                           

Should your solar panels be higher than 65 Feet, we have at our disposal a number of other options available, Including the Use of Cherry pickers and Booms, all operated by IPAF licence holders.

 

All our operators are fully trained in the use of mobile access equipment, including the operating of cherry pickers, booms etc. Accessing the roof area is another option; again with health and safety at the forefront of every job we undertake, all cleaning operatives are issued with fall arrest jackets and other potential lifesaving equipment.

We may also opt to use mini-towers on occasions to access to the panels, all towers erected by qualified professionals.

Frequently asked questions:

How often do my panels need cleaning?

It is recommended that they are cleaned every 6 -8 months

Will rain water clean my panels naturally?

Rain water contains airborne dust particles which will in time settle and stick to the panels, just like it does when you don’t get your windows cleaned.

What can I expect in terms of Improved Output?

You can expect Up to 30% Improved Efficiency

Can I use a high-pressure wash system to clean solar modules?

This type of system will damage your solar modules, requires lots of water and is generally ineffective in removing all dirt and dust from solar modules. Hence, it is not recommended for cleaning the surfaces of solar modules.

Are there any other benefits to cleaning my solar modules?

A cleaning session does not only maximise the performance of your solar panels, it necessarily comes with a visual inspection of your solar system. Periodic cleaning of your solar modules allows you to spot minor problems or technical failures (e.g. deterioration of the coating, defects, entry of water, tightness of connections etc.) before they permanently damage the solar modules.

How much is it going to cost?

Solar panel cleaning prices start from as little as £40 - £50, this would be for a typical 2 storey house with 6 – 8 panels , Larger projects would depend the number of panels, size of the building, Accessibility and the possible hire charges Incurred for Industrial access equipment.

How do I go about getting a quotation for the cleaning of my solar panels?

There is a number of ways of doing this, use our Freephone number to contact us, we will ask you for a postcode and house number and by using Google earth 2013 edition we will be able to view your property and the panels in need of cleaning and provide you with a price for doing the work.

We also welcome photographs sent to us via email at info@northeastcleaning.co.uk and for the larger more intricate or difficult jobs we will visit your home or business and carry out a detailed survey, then provide you with a quote for the required work.

Contact us now to arrange a free no obligation quotation