AUTO-CLEANING SOLAR FROM MARS

Self-Cleaning Panel Tech Could Up Solar Power Yeilds by 40 Percent
Jason Mick, August 23, 2010 (Daily Tech)

"…[M]any of the world's sunniest regions (near the equator) are also home to large deserts...[that] would seem to be an ideal place to deploy solar installations…[because they have] intense sunlight…[are] relatively foliage-free…[and fewer environmental impacts]…[but desert] dust clings to panels, dramatically reducing their output.

"…[A] team of researchers led by MIT professor Malay K. Mazumder, Ph.D…[want to] use automated cleaning technology developed for missions to Mars…[A] transparent, electrically sensitive material [would be] deposited on glass or a transparent plastic sheet covering the panels. Sensors [would] monitor the levels of deposited dust on the panel. When the dust levels get too high, a charge is applied to the coating and the dust is physically moved across the panel via the charge and dumped off the edges."

The technology was proved on the Mars rovers. (click to enlarge)

"The procedure uses a minimal amount of energy, making it a viable cleaning solution. It removes 90 percent of dust, greatly improving power output…[It does not require water and] the technology has already been stress tested by NASA space probes and rovers under the harsh Martian climate…United States, Spain, Germany, the Middle East, Australia, and India all are home to large scale solar installations. Many of these installations are in regions where water is scarce, making water-based cleaning problematic…"

[Professor Mazumder;] "A dust layer of one-seventh of an ounce per square yard decreases solar power conversion by 40 percent. In Arizona, dust is deposited each month at about 4 times that amount. Deposition rates are even higher in the Middle East, Australia, and India."

click to enlarge

"The technology already has a huge potential market…[in today’s $24B USD [soalr panel] market…[It] may prove the catalyst to help convince nations to go ahead with [solar] installations, as it should help to substantially reduce the per kilowatt-hour cost of solar power…"

[Professor Mazumder;] "Less than 0.04 percent of global energy production is derived from solar panels, but if only four percent of the world's deserts were dedicated to solar power harvesting, our energy needs could be completely met worldwide. This self-cleaning technology can play an important role."