One of the challenges for solar panel kits is that they require regular cleaning. Depending on the size of your solar panel array and the height of your home, this can be a daunting task. A recent announcement of new technology for solar panels could make it easier for solar powered homes to stay efficient without as much maintenance.
The new technology comes by way of a specially designed coating. This “superhydrophobic” coating is inexpensive, and it allows the panels to essentially clean themselves. Panels are able to repel water, which means that dirt and dust would roll off of the panels with water droplets that form. Since dirt can impact the amount of sunlight that solar panels are able to attract, the coating allows the panels to become more efficient without regular cleaning. For areas that experience regular snowfall or cold temperatures, the coating makes it easier for snow and ice to slide off. This means that homeowners in colder climates now have a more compelling reason to invest in solar panels.
The study on this coating was conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the team of researchers is confident that their creation is the best option for creating a truly self-cleaning solar panel. The coating is designed to increase the efficiency of panels up to 50 percent in as little as 14 days after being applied to solar panel kits.
Self-cleaning solar panels make it easier to choose this renewable type of energy. With less maintenance, the savings homeowners can realize from solar panels increases, as does the efficiency of the panels themselves. This revolutionary new coating could be the wave of the future for the world of solar power.