Self-cleaning technology developed for lunar and Mars missions could be used to keep terrestrial solar panels dust free
Dust deposits can reduce the efficiency of electricity generating solar panels by as much as 80%.
The self cleaning technology can repel dust when sensors detect concentrations on the panel’s surface have reached a critical level.
The research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Large scale solar installations are usually in sunny, dry desert areas where winds can deposit layers of dust over the solar panels.
Solar panels in the Mojave desert cover many kilometres. In one month, dust fall can reach as much as 17kg per square kilometre.
The dust reduces the amount of light that enters the panels and so the electricity they can generate.