Progress and prospects on performance analysis of solar cleaning system – A comprehensive review

Abstract

Solar energy is growing quickly around the world. By the end of 2023, the world's installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity will have grown from 1.2 TW in 2022 to 1.6 TW. In the same year, new installations will have grown by 87% to 447 GW. This growth has made it even more important to have good cleaning methods, since dust and other particles can cut PV performance by 20–50%, and even 80% in dry conditions. This evaluation looks at many ways to clean, including as robotic systems, electrostatic methods, ultrasonic techniques, and self-cleaning coatings. It looks at how well they clean, how much water and energy usage, how they affect panels over time, and how much they cost to run. The results show that robotic and electrostatic cleaning can bring back 95–98% of panel efficiency, although they use more energy (0.5–2% of PV output) and cost more money. Passive nanostructured coatings cut soiling losses by 50–70% and preserve water, but they break down when exposed to UV light for a long time. Combining robotics with coatings in hybrid approaches makes cleaning less frequent while keeping high efficiency. Case studies from different regions and sizes demonstrate that waterless robotic and electrostatic cleaning are most effective in dry areas, while rain-assisted coatings are best suited for humid areas. In contrast, manual or passive approaches remain the most cost-effective for small rooftop systems. For sustainable and scalable PV maintenance, AI-driven predictive cleaning and durable nanocoating, supported by targeted policies and incentives, are needed.