Solar energy is advancing by leaps and bounds. Installed solar photovoltaic generation capacity in 2021 was 22% higher than in 2020. And it is one of the most economical ways to generate electricity in many parts of the world, according to the International Energy Agency. However, it has one major problem: dirt. The accumulation of dust or sand on the panels significantly reduces their performance. With nighttime humidity, the dust can also form crusts that are difficult to remove.

Much of this cleaning work is done by hand and with water, a scarce resource in some of the areas with the greatest solar potential, such as northern Chile. In line with this, the company Eccopia has developed autonomous cleaning robots that tackle the problem from several angles. On the one hand, they operate at night, without interfering with the generation of the panels, and with solar energy accumulated during the day. The robots also operate without water. They use microfiber and controlled air flows.

The robots also collect and deliver data on the panels which, interpreted using cloud-based artificial intelligence systems, enable plant operators to monitor the performance of the facilities and improve their predictive maintenance strategies.

You can see more HERE