Smarter Soiling Management Year-Round with CLEO AI

Effectively managing soiling is especially critical during seasons characterized by high dust levels or low precipitation. Anyone involved in PV projects can use CLEO AI to plan seasonal maintenance, optimize cleaning budgets, and improve overall energy yield.

Seasonal Soiling Dynamics

• Spring Dust and Pollen: In regions with strong spring winds or agricultural activity, dust and pollen levels often spike between March and May, leading to accelerated soiling on panels.

• Summer Dry Spells: During summer months, precipitation typically decreases, reducing natural panel-cleaning events. At the same time, factors such as wildfire smoke (in the western U.S.) can introduce fine particulates (PM2.5) that further increase soiling.

• Fall Harvest and Soil Disruption: Agricultural harvesting in fall can generate significant airborne dust (PM10), increasing soiling rates on nearby solar installations.

How CLEO AI Helps Solar Operators Plan for Dust, Drought, and Harvest

• Annual Soiling Profile Generation: By running an annual simulation for a specific location, CLEO provides a timeline of expected soiling rates and cumulative loss. This profile highlights periods with the highest soiling risk, allowing operators to allocate cleaning resources more effectively .

• Forecast Updates: CLEO creates a Soiling TMY by combining site-specific data from nearby ARES stations and a 3-year average of regional weather conditions. These forecasts reflect broader climatic patterns—such as extended dry periods or increased wildfire activity—allowing operators to proactively adjust cleaning schedules.

• Budget Allocation and Cost Optimization: TMY soiling forecasts from CLEO allow financial planners to estimate cleaning-related expenses for each quarter. Rather than planning uniform cleaning intervals year-round, budgets can be concentrated on high-risk months. For instance:

  • In arid Southwestern states, allocate a higher cleaning budget from May through September.

  • In the Midwest, anticipate increased cleaning during harvest season (September–October).

  • In Northeastern regions, plan for fewer cleanings in winter months due to natural snow clearing but budget for spring and summer months when dry conditions return.

  
  

Optimized Recommendations for Solar Operators Using CLEO

• Integrate CLEO Forecasts into Preventive Maintenance Schedules

  • Use CLEO’s TMY of soiling data to proactively schedule cleanings or inspections during periods of high predicted soiling.

  • Reduce unnecessary maintenance during low-soiling periods, optimizing labor and water use.

• Align CLEO Updates with O&M Budgeting Cycles

  • Review CLEO forecasts during monthly and quarterly O&M budget reviews to allocate resources effectively.

  • Prioritize cleaning at high-performing or revenue-critical sites during forecasted peak soiling periods.

• Compare CLEO Forecast Trends Across Sites

  • Benchmark performance across multiple assets by comparing CLEO soiling projections regionally.

  • Identify patterns in seasonal or regional soiling behavior to inform long-term cleaning contracts and strategies.

• Use CLEO Data to Communicate with Stakeholders

  • Present CLEO-informed forecasts in stakeholder meetings or performance reviews to justify O&M actions or deviations from standard plans.

  • Demonstrate data-driven value in performance risk management.

  
  

Ready to optimize PV performance with CLEO? Learn more or contact us to set up a free trial.