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Protect Your Solar Investment
make them Self-Cleaning
Rustys Solar Panel Self-Cleaning Coating
The Importance of Self-Cleaning Solar Panels
Self-Cleaning Coating
The cost of cleaning commercial solar panel farms can vary significantly based on several factors, including the size of the installation, location, accessibility, and frequency of cleaning required.
Rusty's Solar Protective Coating offer numerous benefits that enhance both the efficiency and longevity of solar energy systems. Our advanced coating is designed to repel dirt, dust, and water, ensuring that the panels remain clean with minimal maintenance.
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Although glass looks smooth to the eye, it is actually a porous surface with microscopic spaces where dirt and other contaminates get trapped. Over the course of time the glass will begin to look dull. Rusty's Solar Protective Coating fills the tiny spaces creating a flat surface which reduces the soiling level and protects the anti-reflecting coating installed by the solar panel manufacturers.
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In addition to protecting the surface of your panels, Rusty's Solar Protective Coating provides a "self-cleaning" effect by creating a hydrophilic film on the surface. Through the photo-catalytic process, the panel surface is cleaned by the presence of sunlight. How is this possible? Dew, I tell you! Dew and natural moisture in the air condensate then run off the surface when surface tension and condensed water is reduced above the air-water value. Since dirt, pollution, bird droppings, pollen, etc are not sitting on the surface of the solar panel, but rather on the microscopic protective layer provided by Rusty's Solar Protective Coating; they run off with the condensation like a ball rolling down a slide!
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During the times of rain, Rusty's Solar Protective Coating rappels the water droplets causing them to "bead" and run off completely taking the soiling with them.
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One study shows that panels protected with our coating increase their energy production by over 9% compared to uncoated panels. Another study shows that panels coated show overall efficiency of the system increased by more than 15% when compared to uncoated dirty panels and 5% more than uncoated panels that were cleaned daily. This same study showed that the panel temperature was reduced by about 10% when compared to uncoated dirty panels and 5% cooler more than uncoated panels that were cleaned daily.
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A large supermarket chain coated one measurable section of a rooftop system. After their winter season visual inspection of their whole rooftop system revealed the the coated panels were visibly cleaner than the uncoated sections. Most notable was the accumulation of dirt, mud and grime that collected at the bottom edges of the uncoated panels. This was undesirable as it causes deterioration of the panels and gives additional soiling the ability to "build up" and prevents run off during rain. They have elected to coat all panels at all of their supermarket locations across the country.
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A private firm elected to coat a section of panels that they could measure and compare to the rest of their uncoated panel sections. The system as a whole was cleaned, the test section coated and the entire system was left for 90 days of normal weather, use, etc. At the end of the three months, the uncoated sections production reduced by 28% due to soiling. On the contrary, the coated panels section was only reduced by 4% due to soiling. They did a regular cleaning after the measurements, the coated panels took just minutes to clean with the quick wipe of a wet cloth whereas the uncoated panels required soap and "scrubbing" and took substantially longer to clean. They have coated the balance of their system and save significantly on labor, time, materials as well as water every month!
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Self-Cleaning technology offered by Rusty's Solar Protective Coating significantly reduces the need for manual cleaning, lowering maintenance costs and minimizing downtime. Our self-cleaning coating helps maintain optimal energy production by ensuring that the maximum amount of sunlight reaches the photovoltaic cells. This results in a more consistent and reliable energy output, ultimately improving the return on investment for your solar panel installations. Furthermore, the reduced need for water and cleaning agents in maintenance aligns with environmentally sustainable practices, making self-cleaning coatings a smart choice for eco-conscious energy solutions.
Rusty's Solar Coating is applied once;
the self-cleaning properties last up to 6 years
How Glare Effects Solar Panels
Glare from solar panels, while often considered a nuisance, can actually be indicative of inefficiencies in energy capture.
Glare occurs when sunlight reflects off the surface of the panels rather than being absorbed, which means that some of the potential energy is lost. High levels of glare not only reduce the efficiency of the panels but can also create visibility issues for nearby residents or pilots, leading to safety concerns. Addressing glare not only improves the safety and comfort of the surrounding environment but also boosts the overall performance and energy yield of the solar panel system.
Rusty's Solar Protective Coating has anti-glare properties to mitigate glare and enhance energy absorption.