With the hyCLEANER solarROBOT pro cleaning robot, Josha Kneiber ensures that solar panels stay clean. In an interview with DVZ, he explains why cleaning solar surfaces is so important and why the geopolitical upheavals play into the young entrepreneur's hands.

DVZ: The BVL's Power of Logistics initiative has revealed that ~30 million QM of roof space of all logistics real estate built in the past 10 years is suitable for the installation of PV systems. That's a lot of work coming your way.

Josha Kneiber: The addition of PV to already sealed areas holds great potential, which must be leveraged. Therefore, the initiative is exactly right and also at the EU level, the right way to discuss directives in this regard. We have used 2022 to convert our production of cleaning robots to series production and are ready for what is to come.

Why is it so important to clean solar panels from dirt?

A wide variety of weather conditions cause dirt to accumulate on the panels. This leads to reduced efficiency of the modules, so that a significant reduction in yield is noticeable. But financial loss is not the only issue. Dirt can attack the coatings and seals, so that water entering the system can damage it, making it susceptible to failure and repair.

Is there a cleaning rhythm?

There is no general answer to this question. The cleaning rhythm depends on various factors such as the type and degree of contamination, and on the region and location. In Germany, this can mean that plants near agricultural operations are cleaned three to four times a year. Still other plants are cleaned only once a year.

Further questions & answers about the cleaning of solar surfaces are highlighted by DVZ in a further interview with Mr. Kneiber, Managing Director of hyCLEANER GmbH & Co. KG in the following article.