[Cleaning front line] The importance of “cost-effective panel cleaning”
What points should you pay attention to in order to perform panel cleaning that is truly cost-effective? We asked Professor Kensuke Nishioka of the University of Miyazaki, a leading expert on solar power generation, about important points. We will also deliver real voices from three major O&M companies that cleaned panels for the industry's largest company, PV Japan.
Pre- and post-diagnosis is essential
Determine based on data and scientific basis
Continuing to operate solar power generation systems in a long-term and healthy manner is of great significance not only from the perspective of ensuring profitability for businesses but also from the perspective of decarbonization and energy self-sufficiency. Professor Kensuke Nishioka of the Faculty of Engineering Education and Research at the University of Miyazaki is a leading expert in technological research related to semiconductors such as solar cells. Mr. Nishioka says that in order to maintain the health of a solar power generation system, it is important to eliminate complex causes of output decline, such as the surrounding environment, deterioration/failure, and dirt. ``Whether or not panel cleaning is necessary, and if cleaning is required, how often, depends on the installation environment.In cases where the installation environment is good, it may not be easily affected by dirt.Therefore, it is important to check how dirty the panel is. Understanding this and verifying the cost-effectiveness before cleaning is important for improving profitability."
However, in reality, some power generation companies and O&M companies are unable to undertake panel cleaning because they do not know the cost-effectiveness. How can cleaning be done cost-effectively? "Three points to keep in mind are pre-diagnosis, accident-free cleaning using reliable technology, and post-diagnosis. Unless the increase in revenue from cleaning exceeds the cleaning cost, there is no cost-effectiveness. Cleaning should be done with pre-diagnosis. It is important to identify the panel and determine the timing for cleaning. When cleaning, it is essential to ensure work safety. This requires work based on advanced technology and experience. It is also necessary to accurately and quickly assess whether the expected effects are being achieved after cleaning."
On the other hand, he points out that there are also issues such as the lack of official guidelines for panel cleaning and the lack of standardized technology. In order for more businesses to take up cleaning, it is important to establish indicators that allow people to request cleaning with confidence. PV Japan, the largest panel cleaning company, is collaborating with Mr. Nishioka to extensively verify the effectiveness of cleaning based on data and scientific evidence, including performance ratio (PR) values. "By physically and scientifically evaluating power generation data and the impact on panels, we aim to work together to establish safe and secure panel cleaning technology and contribute to the healthy spread of renewable energy," said Nishioka. ing.
PROFILE
University of Miyazaki
Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering Education and Research
Environmental and Energy Engineering Research Center
Center Director Ph.D. (Engineering)
Professor Kensuke Nishioka
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Top runners from major industries speak!
Future expectations for panel cleaning
Before implementing PVJapan's panel cleaning, I had no concrete idea of how much cleaning would improve power generation efficiency. However, when we cleaned the panels at our power plant, we found an improvement in power generation efficiency that exceeded expectations. In our experience, more than 90% of solar power plants that have been in operation for 10 years have experienced a decline in power generation efficiency that is greater than originally planned. We believe it is important to restore power generation efficiency by considering appropriate maintenance such as panel cleaning.
Smart Energy Co., Ltd.
Representative Director and President
Mr. Takuya Ogushi
HP: www.smart-energy.jp
In recent years, we have been receiving more and more inquiries about panel cleaning from customers who are concerned about power generation and PR values. You can trust PV Japan's panel cleaning services, as we provide thorough on-site management, reporting, communication, and consultation. We have received comments from customers who have used the cleaning service, such as ``It's cleaner than I expected'' and ``My PR value has actually increased.'' Power plants that have been in operation for several years are likely to have accumulated dirt, and we believe that cleaning would be more effective. We hope that panel cleaning will become an industry standard in order to improve solar power generation as a measure against climate change.
JUWI Shizen Energy Operation Co., Ltd.
Sales/Marketing Department Manager
Mr. Soushi Kurasawa
HP: juwishizen-om.net
Previously, I thought that since panels are washed by rainfall, active panel cleaning may not be necessary. However, as the years have passed, we have come across some power plants where dirt has become stuck to the panels and power generation efficiency has deteriorated. Therefore, when we performed panel cleaning by PV Japan, we were able to confirm an improvement in the amount of power generation. It is important to carefully understand the status of each power plant and the causes of the decline in power generation efficiency, identify and clean the panels that need cleaning, and remove the causes, such as by pruning trees. Now that the unit price of electricity is decreasing and there is a need to increase the amount of power generated, we would like to actively promote panel cleaning.
Renewable Japan Co., Ltd.
O&M Headquarters O&M Manager
Mr. Takashi Tsuji
HP: www.rn-j.com
