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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Dust and other deposits on solar-panel glass can reduce the sunlight that reaches the cells, lowering electricity generation. The effect is usually a surface-soiling loss, not proof that the cells have permanently degraded. How much output a particular system loses—and whether cleaning is worth doing—depends on local conditions and should be measured rather than inferred from a global average.
What soiling does to a solar panel
Soiling is material that accumulates on photovoltaic (PV) module surfaces. It can include dust, airborne pollution, dirt, biological debris and, in some climates, snow-related shading. Deposits alter incoming light by absorbing, reflecting or scattering it, so fewer photons reach the cells to be converted into electricity. The optical mechanism is described by IEA PVPS and NREL.
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Surface soiling is distinct from permanent degradation: cleaning may remove a deposit and restore the light path, but it does not reverse damage to cells or other components. A dirty panel should therefore not be assumed to have lost its underlying conversion capability. Shading, snow coverage and electrical faults can also reduce generation and are separate issues that may need separate diagnosis.
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Airborne particle concentration is not the same thing as the amount deposited on a panel, and neither alone establishes the resulting generation loss. Particle size and chemistry, local weather, humidity, module orientation and array design all influence whether particles settle, adhere, spread or wash away. As a result, soiling can differ by location, season, module and plant.
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IEA PVPS reports that in arid and semi-arid settings, silt-sized particles from 2–63 µm are predominant contributors. In the report’s account, particles below 1 µm are readily removed from the atmosphere by rain and tend not to deposit, while larger particles settle more readily under gravity. Particles below 10 µm are rarely removed from PV modules by wind. These observations concern the contexts described in the report, not every climate or mixture of pollutants. IEA PVPS Task 13, December 2022.
Deposits may become more persistent through cementation, capillary aging or caking. Humidity can increase adhesion, and dew can contribute to deposition under some conditions. Rain and wind can scour away some dust, as NREL notes, but their effectiveness depends on the deposit and event; neither guarantees a clean surface. NREL, 2021.
What global estimates can—and cannot—tell you
Global estimates establish that soiling matters at scale, but they are not predictions for an individual rooftop. IEA PVPS’s January 2023 report page gives an estimated annual global PV energy-production loss of 3–5%, with economic losses on the order of €3–5 billion. A September 2025 IEA PVPS fact sheet instead reports average global energy losses of 4–7%. The estimates differ; they should not be averaged or treated as interchangeable, and neither supplies a household-system loss figure. Methodology or underlying evidence may differ between the publications.
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The 2022 report also describes total suspended particle densities of 100–200 µg/m³ in equatorial regions around Africa and Asia, based on its global survey; it says this figure does not include snow shading at high latitudes. This is environmental context, not a measure of panel output loss. IEA PVPS Task 13 report page and IEA PVPS Tasks 13 and 16 fact sheet, September 2025.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to tell whether cleaning is worthwhile
Base a cleaning decision on the loss at the site and the value of the generation that cleaning could recover. IEA PVPS describes electrical methods such as short-circuit-current and power measurements, as well as optical approaches including image processing, LEDs and reflectance. Monitoring can estimate current soiling and its rate of change, helping operators plan cleaning rather than follow a universal schedule.
One measurement can miss part of the picture. Soiling may be uneven and often accumulates in lower module areas; the report warns that short-circuit-current measurements can underestimate impact in nonuniform conditions. It cites IEC 61724 recommendations on when and where to measure soiling and on sensor cleaning. IEA PVPS Task 13, December 2022.
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For a home system, check the inverter or monitoring app for an unexplained production change, while accounting for season, weather, shading and equipment issues. If the cause remains uncertain, an installer can help distinguish surface deposits from a system fault. Compare the likely value of recovered generation with the cost and practical constraints of cleaning; a global percentage alone cannot answer whether washing your array pays off.
Cleaning, coatings and automated options
Mitigation approaches include manual washing, automated or robotic cleaning, anti-soiling coatings, monitoring and optimized cleaning schedules. The best choice depends on site conditions, array scale and operating costs. Water-based cleaning may be impractical where water is scarce; larger plants may justify automation that would not suit a small accessible rooftop. Coatings and newer methods require evidence of durable performance under local field conditions rather than an assumption that a lab result guarantees a benefit.
There is no universal cleaning interval or guaranteed output increase. Follow the module manufacturer’s cleaning and safety instructions, and avoid methods or access practices that could damage equipment or put a person at risk. The IEA PVPS 2025 fact sheet emphasizes site-specific technologies, optimized schedules and preventive design measures. IEA PVPS Tasks 13 and 16, September 2025.
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