Are you unsure if the yield of your solar panels is as expected? Check the following points.

1. Verify the exact yield. Note: do not refer to the annual statement from your energy supplier for this, but to the data from the inverter. The amount of energy returned shown on the annual statement is always significantly lower than the total amount of energy produced by the solar panels.
2. Check if the yield matches the estimated annual yield stated in your quote. If the yield is disappointing or you notice a significant decline over the years, see here for possible reasons and what we can do about it.

Solar panels lose a small amount of their output each year due to natural degradation. The extent of this degradation depends on the type of panels. Generally, the degradation of solar panels should never exceed around 0.7% per year.

Is the yield of your solar panels declining faster than expected? First, check if the solar panels have become dirty. More information on cleaning solar panels can be found here.

If the decline is still unexplained, it may be time to have the system inspected by one of our experts.

Dirt generally does not stay on solar panels that are fairly tilted. The rain regularly washes away all the dirt. Even stuck-on dirt such as bird droppings will eventually come off and disappear. Therefore, in many cases, cleaning is not necessary. Additionally, cleaning is not very good for the panel as it affects the coating layer.

However, in some cases, especially for installations where the panels are at a less steep angle or where there are many trees nearby, it’s different. Trees release pollen, which can land on the panels as a sticky layer. Algae can grow on this layer, resulting in a green deposit along the edges of the panels, covering part of the cells.

This residue can be cleaned with rainwater or osmosis water, without cleaning agents, and using a soft sponge. Are the solar panels located in a hard-to-reach area for you? SolarCircle is happy to help. Please contact us at info@solarcircle.es.