One of the points that determine the efficiency of solar power panels is to maintain its clean and timely cleaning of dust.
This is especially true of solar panels located in the very dry areas (in the desert they settle a large number of fine particles). To solve this problem, the Israeli company has developed intelligent Eccopia robot that can automatically clean the panel.
Hundreds of centrally controlled robots E4 was installed on photovoltaic solar power panels Israeli Ketura Sun, located in the Negev desert – hot southern region plagued by sand storms and drought. This commercial solar power plant produces 9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year – a record for Israel. It covers an area of 8 hectares.
By the way, for cleaning panels require no water. Instead, every night (cleaning, usually occurs in the first hours after dark) robots go to work, carefully and gently scraping the surface of solar panels with a rotating brush, covered with a soft microfiber cloth multilayered and controlled airflow.
Robots, in fact, use gravity to move the dust from the panel back to the ground. They move on a rigid aluminum frame with wheels covered with polyurethane without touching the surface of the solar cells themselves. The movement can be carried out in all directions, except the diagonal.
When the robot rest, they are based on the station: at the time of solar cells, in which they work, will continue to generate energy. Robots can be controlled via the dashboard or mobile app.
According to the representatives of Eccopia, robots E4 remove 99% dirt from the surfaces of solar panels. This increases the power output of solar power plants by 35%.
Before Ketura Sun was transferred to the robotic cleaning process, solar station cleaned only about 9 times a year. It was a difficult and time-consuming process that takes up to five days. The operating personnel in this period was inactive, and the station is idle.
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