Will tomorrow’s solar panels be self-cleaning?

The build-up of dirt can affect the performance of the solar panels. — AFP Relaxnews

Researchers in Germany have created a coating that, when applied to solar panels, could help them keep clean in a completely autonomous way. This would help eliminate dirt from the solar panels that could affect their performance.

The Fraunhofer FEP institute in Germany has developed a means of making glass facades, as well as solar panels, self-cleaning. This new technology is based on the ability of materials to attract or repel water. In this case, the researchers applied crystalline titanium oxide to ultra-thin glass.