Summer’s Coming — Is Your Site Ready to Perform?

For the Northern Hemisphere, summer is just around the corner. With it comes longer days, more sunlight, and higher expectations for solar output. This season is crucial for your solar panels, as they should be operating at peak performance. However, there's one issue that could hold your energy production back: soiling.

Dust, pollen, and debris build up quickly during the dry season. When your panels become dirty, more sunlight doesn't automatically result in more energy production.

Ares Soiling Station covered in dust.

More Sun, More Power? Not Always.

It's tempting to think that summer guarantees a spike in production. However, soiled solar panels are significantly less efficient. Soiling can quietly reduce performance, sometimes by double-digit percentages. This often goes unnoticed until your energy yield and revenue take a hit.

The Effects of Soiling on Solar Efficiency

Soiling affects solar panels in many ways. Dust accumulation can block sunlight, lowering the amount of energy your system can harness. When sunlight penetration is reduced, your panels generate less electricity.

Moreover, this is not just a one-time issue. Dust and debris can accumulate rapidly, leading to ongoing performance degradation. As a result, keeping your panels clean is essential for maintaining efficiency.

How Are You Scheduling Cleanings Right Now?

The real challenge isn't just cleaning the panels; it's knowing when to clean them. Many solar sites rely on:

• Pre-set maintenance cycles

• Visual inspections

• Decreases in energy yield

  
  

However, relying on guesswork, lagging indicators, or rigid schedules can prove costly. If you clean too soon, you're wasting water, time, and labor costs. If you clean too late, you're losing energy production and, consequently, revenue.

The Importance of Timely Cleaning

Timely cleaning is vital for solar panel efficiency. Regular inspections and strategic cleaning schedules can prevent performance loss. The goal is to optimize cleaning times to ensure you're not sacrificing energy production.

How Can You Improve Your Cleaning Strategy?

Consider adopting a more proactive approach. Keep an eye on weather patterns and seasonal changes. Dust storms and pollen are likely to be more prevalent during specific times of the year. Adjust your cleaning schedules accordingly to combat these seasonal impacts.

Summer Is the Time to Optimize

This is where the ARES Soiling Station comes in. As solar output ramps up, your site deserves smarter tools—not just to measure soiling loss but to help predict the most financially optimal cleaning times. With our portal, you can access real-time data that supports informed, data-driven decisions about the optimal timing and frequency of cleaning each year.

For large-scale operators, the results speak for themselves:

• Up to 20% boost in annual energy production

• Net-zero cleaning costs through financially optimal scheduling

• Better ROI, and less manual guesswork

  
  

Boost Your Solar Production This Summer

With the right strategy, summer can be your most profitable season yet! Boost your solar production by prioritizing timely cleaning and optimization.

Make this your most profitable summer yet! Book a demo with our team today!