The Hidden Cost of Solar Soiling: How Much Energy Are You Losing Each Year?

Craig Skipsey
Mar 14
2 min read

Introduction

Did you know that dust, dirt, and other debris accumulating on your solar panels can lead to significant energy losses—up to 76.5% efficiency loss over time? This issue, known as solar soiling, can drastically reduce the return on your solar investment.

In this article, we’ll explore the true cost of solar soiling, how much power you could be losing annually, and the best solutions to maintain peak efficiency.

How Much Energy Are You Losing?

According to a recent study by a team of researchers from University of Science and Technology of China, solar soiling causes an average efficiency loss of 7.84% per week in Asia. That translates to over 50% per year if panels are not cleaned regularly! Here’s how much annual efficiency loss different regions face due to dust accumulation:

Asia: 50.5% per year
Africa: 19.8% per year
Oceania: 15.6% per year
South America: 12.3% per year
North America: 8.6% per year
Europe: 7.9% per year

These are average values from the study, individual solar farm locations can be much higher due to local environmental effects.

The Financial Cost of Solar Soiling

For a 10 MW solar system producing 15,000 MWh per year, the 3-year losses from soiling can be shocking:

Asia: 22,725 MWh lost (~$3.2M in lost savings at $0.14/kWh)
Africa: 8,910 MWh lost (~$1.24M lost)
North America: 3,760 MWh lost (~$600,000 lost)

Preventing Soiling: Best Practices

Regular Cleaning – In high-soiling regions, cleaning at least monthly (preferably weekly) is essential.
Self-Cleaning Coatings – Hydrophilic coatings help rain and water wash away dust more efficiently.
Tilted Panel Installation – Helps natural rainwater clean the panels.
Automated Cleaning Systems – Water-based robotic cleaning systems can reduce labor costs over time.

Combining superhydrophilic coatings with automated water spray and water recirculation may be a very effective long term fully automated solution.

Conclusion

Neglecting solar panel cleaning can cost homeowners and businesses hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually. Investing in regular maintenance ensures maximum energy production and long-term savings.

Our superhydrophilic coatings can be a very effective addition to your current O&M process, based on current research. Get in touch to find out more.