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Dust and other deposits on solar-panel glass can reduce electricity generation by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight before it reaches the cells. This surface soiling is usually an optical obstruction, not proof that the cells have permanently degraded. How much output is lost—and whether cleaning is worthwhile—depends on the site, the deposits, and the cost of removing them.
How particles on panel glass reduce output
Photovoltaic (PV) modules need sunlight to reach their cells. Dust, pollution particles, dirt, and other material that accumulates on the module surface can absorb, reflect, or scatter some of that light. With fewer photons reaching the cells, the module can produce less electricity. NREL describes this optical mechanism in its soiling report; IEA PVPS examines it in its technical report on soiling losses.
A dirty surface and a degraded cell are different problems. Soiling is material on the module that can often be removed; permanent degradation is a lasting change in the module’s ability to convert light. Cleaning may restore generation lost to removable deposits, but it cannot reverse cell degradation or fix unrelated faults such as shading, damaged wiring, or an inverter problem.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallSoiling can include dust and pollution, biological debris, and—in some settings—snow-related shading. IEA PVPS calls soiling a major influence on PV-system yield after irradiance, but the impact on an individual system depends on local conditions, not a universal percentage.
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Why deposits vary from one panel or place to another
Airborne particle concentration is not the same as the amount deposited on a particular panel. Deposition, adhesion, persistence, and optical effect depend on the particle mixture, local weather, humidity, panel orientation, and array design. Consequently, soiling can differ by location, season, module, and even across the surface of one module.
Particle size and settling
IEA PVPS reports that, in the arid and semi-arid settings covered by its analysis, silt-sized particles of 2–63 µm are predominant contributors to soiling. In that 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. The report also says particles below 10 µm are rarely removed from PV modules by wind. These findings describe the report’s evidence and should not be treated as a rule for every climate or particle mixture.
Humidity, dew, rain, and wind
Deposits can become harder to remove through processes such as cementation, capillary aging, and caking. Humidity can increase adhesion, and dew can contribute to deposition in some conditions. Rain and wind can scour some dust from panels, as NREL notes in its overview of solar soiling, but neither guarantees a clean surface. Whether natural weather removes deposits depends on the material and the event; “rain cleans every panel” and “wind blows the dust off” are not reliable assumptions.
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What global loss estimates can—and cannot—tell you
Global estimates establish that soiling matters across the PV sector, but they do not predict the loss or cleaning payoff for a household array. IEA PVPS’s January 2023 report page estimated annual global PV energy-production losses of 3–5%, with economic losses on the order of €3–5 billion. A September 2025 IEA PVPS fact sheet gives a later estimate of average global energy losses of 4–7%. The estimates differ; they should not be averaged or presented as a guaranteed range for any one system. Their underlying evidence or methods may differ.
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The 2022 IEA PVPS report also describes total suspended particle densities of 100–200 µg/m³ in equatorial regions around Africa and Asia, based on a global survey. That is environmental context, not a panel-output loss rate, and the cited figure does not include snow shading at high latitudes. Air pollution measured in the atmosphere cannot be translated directly into deposited material or generation loss at a particular home.
How to tell whether soiling is affecting your system
Measure or monitor the actual system before deciding that cleaning is needed. IEA PVPS describes electrical approaches, including short-circuit-current and power measurements, as well as optical methods such as image processing, LEDs, and reflectance. The purpose is to estimate both the current soiling state and its rate of accumulation, so cleaning can be planned against observed conditions rather than a fixed calendar.
Deposits may be uneven and often accumulate more in lower module areas. In nonuniform conditions, a single short-circuit-current measurement can understate the impact. The IEA PVPS report discusses IEC 61724 recommendations for where and when to measure soiling and for sensor cleaning; measurement choices matter if the result will guide an operational decision.
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- Compare generation with an appropriate baseline while accounting for changing irradiance and other system conditions.
- For larger systems, use suitable electrical or optical soiling measurements and consider spatial variation across modules.
- If output remains low after deposits are removed, investigate other causes rather than assuming further cleaning will help.
When cleaning is worth considering
Cleaning makes economic sense when the value of the generation it is expected to recover exceeds the costs and constraints of cleaning. Those costs can include labor, equipment, water, access, and ongoing maintenance. A global average cannot show whether that calculation works for a specific rooftop or plant.
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For a home array, start with the module manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and the system’s measured performance. A brush or other cleaning equipment is not automatically beneficial: the method must suit the module and site, and an expected output gain should not be assumed without evidence. Water-based washing can be impractical where water is scarce. Large utility plants may face different access and scale considerations and may use automated or robotic approaches.
Mitigation options
- Manual cleaning: Can remove deposits, but requires appropriate labor, equipment, access, and—where used—water.
- Automated or robotic cleaning: May suit some large or difficult-to-access arrays; the operational and maintenance costs depend on the site.
- Anti-soiling coatings: Aim to reduce accumulation or adhesion, but field performance and durability need to be considered under local conditions.
- Preventive design and scheduling: Site-specific design choices and cleaning schedules can help manage soiling, but neither implies a universal interval.
IEA PVPS’s 2022 report surveys manual and automated cleaning, coatings, robotic dry-cleaning, monitoring, and economic scheduling. Its September 2025 fact sheet emphasizes optimized schedules, site-specific technologies, and preventive design. Neither establishes one cleaning interval or a guaranteed output increase for every array.
Why the local answer matters
Soiling is a real and potentially recoverable source of lost PV generation, but its severity is determined by what reaches a module, what remains attached, and how much light the deposit blocks. For a particular system, measurement and a comparison of recoverable generation against cleaning cost are more useful than applying a global percentage or assuming that rain has done the job.
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