Morning fog does not help remove dust from solar panels; in fact, the moisture from fog can worsen dust accumulation by causing a "cementation" process where dust adheres strongly to the panel surface. This makes the dust more difficult to remove later, even with strong rain or a hose.
Why Morning Fog is a Problem for Solar Panels
Cementation: As PV panels cool overnight, they attract morning dew or fog moisture. This water interacts with mineral dust on the surface, and as it dries, it can "cement" the soiling onto the glass.
Adhesion Force: High humidity and condensed water droplets increase the adhesion force between dust particles and the panel surface through capillary action, making the dirt harder to clean compared to dry dust.
Reduced Efficiency: While the fog is present, it diffuses sunlight, which immediately reduces the solar panel's power output (often operating around 50% efficiency).
Effective Dust Removal Methods
Since fog is not a reliable cleaning agent, especially in dry climates, more active cleaning methods are necessary to maintain efficiency (dust accumulation can cause significant power loss).
Manual Cleaning: For residential systems, the most common and effective method is using water with a soft brush or squeegee, ideally in the early morning or late evening to avoid thermal stress on the panels.
Natural Cleaning: Heavy, consistent rainfall can act as a natural cleaning agent, effectively washing away loose dust. Light rain, however, can have the same negative cementing effect as fog.
Automated/Advanced Methods: For large-scale solar farms or areas with severe dust problems, specialized solutions are used, including:
Robotic cleaning systems.
Self-cleaning hydrophobic coatings that reduce dust adhesion.
Electrostatic cleaning methods that repel dust particles using an electric field, often without requiring water.
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