CleanRight, Smart optimization of utility-scale PV plant cleaning programmes

Regular cleaning of PV panels is essential, especially in areas with a dry climate. But exactly how often should the panels be cleaned? Most PV plant operators take a somewhat intuitive approach to defining the cleaning programme. But they have no clue whether they are cleaning too much (leading to more water consumption and higher cleaning costs than is necessary) or too little (leading to excessive losses in PV performance). CleanRight is Laborelec’s answer to this. 

The sophisticated CleanRight optimization algorithm calculates the best cleaning schedule for a given plant, taking into account plant performance, soiling rates across the plant, weather conditions, electricity prices, and the cost of water consumed during cleaning operations. The tool can also be used to calculate energy losses due to soiling. 

Approach validated at Sol de Insurgentes, Mexico

In 2022, CleanRight was successfully deployed at the 32.2 MWp Sol de Insurgentes plant in Mexico, which is situated in the very hot and dry climate of the Baja California Sur peninsula. It involved installing a wide array of sensors and communication boxes across the plant so that the soiling progress of a representative set of panels could be monitored along with the plant’s power output and the weather conditions throughout the year. 

CleanRight was subsequently used to calculate the optimum cleaning schedule for 2022, based on the vast amount of data provided by the sensors and other relevant data such as water and energy prices. The resulting cleaning schedule clearly indicates which panels should be cleaned each week. 

Significant cost savings

In 2023, Laborelec has identified ENGIE’s PV plants where CleanRight would have a clear added value. Laborelec expert Gauthier Du Boullay believes that PV plants in areas with long dry seasons, plenty of sunshine, high humidity levels and high wind speeds will be the prime candidates. “In such areas, we expect significant savings in cleaning costs and lower performance losses. This will also reduce uncertainty, improve the plant’s business case, and save water.” These power plants represent 40% of the total installed PV capacity withing the Group. Out of these 40%, the half are in LATAM and a third in India.

Next Steps

Laborelec is now creating a single soiling mitigation tool that will combine the different soiling and cleaning optimization algorithms available within the Group. It will comprise: 

• an advanced algorithm to treat soiling station data and compute KPIs,
• a techno-economical optimization for the selection of the best cleaning solution for the PV plant (i.e. tractors, autonomous robots,…)
• the economically optimized cleaning schedule for the selected cleaning solution.