Photovoltaic Systems must be cleaned just yet

The cleaning entrepreneur Adolf Beer from Mainburg, Bavaria is an experienced building cleaner, proficient entrepreneur and an alert contemporary. With his assessment of needs for the cleaning of photovoltaic systems he had the right instinct for an underestimated problem: Profitability loss of solar systems caused by soiling. As he was investigating how to improve cleaning, Beer found the GEKKO Solar robot of SERBOT. For Beer it was clear: „This is the only way to do it!“

We wanted to know how Beer is doing with his GEKKO Solar:

How has the GEKKO Solar proven itself in practice?

The cleaning performance of the GEKKO Solar is perfect. No similar result can be achieved with common hand cleaning. The cleaning image left by the GEKKO surprises not only the clients but me too. The GEKKO achieves top quality cleaning also for very heavy soiling. In terms of price, the GEKKO-cleaning is absolutely competitive – the larger the system, the more pronounced the effect is.

How has the demand of solar systems cleaning developed in your company?

I have achieved good turnover from the start. But there is a poor awareness of the problem. I always need to be very persuasive despite resounding arguments.

According to your experiences, what are the disadvantages of cleaning with robot?

It's clear that a high-tech device like the GEKKO Solar is demanding in terms of operation and maintenance. The service and support of SERBOT is up to my full satisfaction. Unfortunately, the use of the GEKKO Solar is limited by roof inclination. I can't serve customers which have more than 45 degree of roof inclination.

How do you consult owners of solar plants?

In extreme cases, after a few months only, the current efficiency drops below the guaranteed value of the equipment manufacturers and the need for cleaning becomes quickly apparent. However, normally this happens only after two or three years. At this point the system has already lost 15 to 20 percent of its optimum performance.

As a rule, operators of smaller plants often skip this performance loss. If the loss is finally apparent , the dirt already adheres well – sometimes extremely well. The annealed dirt attacks thin-film modules particularly stubbornly. If cleaning is left unattended beyond that point, algae and mosses settle in additionally. Bird droppings then tarnish not only the incident of light, but also serve as fertilizers for the resultant flora.

Mr. Beer, thank you very much for the interview!