As the world adopts solar energy, solar panel cleaning needs grow in parallel. Cleaning with water and brushes is the standard approach yet the application of ceramic coatings on solar panels is often a better solution for multiple reasons. However there are many types of ceramic coatings for solar panels and knowing how to choose the right one is critical if you want to be successful.

 

Ceramic Coating Types

There are 3 main types of coatings and each one has a different value.

• Protective Coatings
• Easy Cleaning Coatings
• PV Self Cleaning Coatings

They 3 types work in a similar way but they provide different values. Glass may look smooth to the human eye but in actuality it is porous. Dirt and other particles known as "soiling" get trapped in these microscopic spaces and over time the glass looks "dull" and "old". Ceramic coatings fill in these microscopic porous spaces and reduce the soiling levels and they also protect the anti-reflective coatings which come with about 97% of solar panels. However the coating molecular composition creates different values. 

Protective Coatings

Protective coatings are generally used in places where solar panels may be subject to hail or other objects that might damage the glass. These coatings protect the glass from shattering, protect anti-reflective coatings and facilitate cleaning. These coatings are typically hydrophobic vs hydrophilic or super hydrophilic. 

Here is an example of solar panels that have been damaged by hail. If the solar installer had applied the protective coatings, then this damage could have been avoided. 

 

Easy To Clean Coatings

These coatings facilite cleaning and protect the anti-reflective coatings by filling in the porous glass surface with hydrophobic properties. These coatings are not self cleaning but they are "easy cleaning".  Basically, with less effort you can clean the solar panels. These coatings are ideal where there is sap, bird dropping, bee pollen and other soiling types that adhere to the panels. Easy cleaning coatings reduce the cementation forces and allow a cleaner to use a less abrasive brush or perhaps only water to solve the problem. These coatings are typically hydrophobic vs hydrophilic or super hydrophilic. 

 

PV Self Cleaning Coatings

PV Self Cleaning Coatings like Elioxx.com provide a "self-cleaning" value. They protect the anti-reflective coatings and they improve the glass porous surface through a photocatalytic reaction that basically reduces the cementation process between the soiling and the glass surface so much that dew accumulation and gravity are enough to remove the PV soiling hence the term "PV Self Cleaning".

Since cementation between the soiling and the glass surface is basically reduced to zero, the forces of gravity and dew accumulation or humidity are enough to slide the soiling off the solar panel. These coatings work in the areas painted in grey below. These areas all have dew accumulation in the morning and some level of humidity. 

 

Understanding the different kinds of coatings and the value of each is critical in solving the problem you are looking to solve. At Elioxx, we protect the anti-reflective coatings and reduce PV soiling levels with our solution.