Model performance drop from dust and grime. Tune cleaning frequency using rainfall, wind, and time. Get transparent results, exports, and practical guidance instantly here.
| Clean energy (kWh) | Days | Base rate (%/day) | Dust factor | Tilt (deg) | Rain (count, eff) | Cleaning (count, eff) | Tariff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150000 | 30 | 0.1500 | 1.10 | 20 | 2, 35% | 1, 85% | 0.12 |
| 520000 | 30 | 0.2200 | 1.35 | 10 | 1, 20% | 2, 90% | 0.10 |
| 1800000 | 365 | 0.0800 | 0.95 | 28 | 25, 25% | 6, 85% | 0.08 |
1) Effective daily soiling rate
reff = rbase × Fdust × Ftilt × Fwind × Fseason
2) Buildup across evenly spaced segments
Lend = min(Lstart + reff × d, Lcap)
L̄segment = (Lstart + Lend) / 2
After event: Lnew = Lend × (1 − η)
3) Average soiling loss and energy impact
L̄ = (Σ (L̄segment × d)) / D
Eafter = Eclean × (1 − L̄/100)
Elost = Eclean − Eafter
Soiling reduces irradiance reaching cells, lowering energy and distorting performance ratios. The impact is site-specific: proximity to roads, agriculture, and construction can raise deposition, while humidity can cement particles. Treat soiling as an operational risk that affects revenue, availability perceptions, and warranty conversations, and track it as a controllable loss category.
Start from measured data when possible: soiling station transmittance, cleaned-versus-soiled string comparisons, or post-clean step changes in SCADA. Convert observations to a daily percentage by dividing recovered loss by days since the last effective cleaning. If data is limited, use conservative ranges and run sensitivity across dry and wet months. This calculator separates a base rate from multipliers so you can document assumptions transparently for engineering review.
Rain does not equal cleaning. Light showers may remove little, while heavy events on steeper tilt can recover meaningful output. Scheduled cleaning efficiency depends on method, water quality, brush pressure, and remaining film. By applying removal efficiency to accumulated loss at evenly spaced events, the tool estimates an average loss over the full period and prevents unrealistic buildup using a configurable cap.
Average soiling loss converts directly into an energy factor applied to clean energy. The difference is the expected energy lost, and tariff converts it to an indicative value. Use this for budgeting cleaning, comparing robotic options, and prioritizing high-impact seasons or dusty work windows. Pair the result with O&M access constraints, water logistics, and safety requirements to finalize a schedule.
During construction, earthworks and traffic can temporarily raise dust, and batching or hauling can increase particulates. Use the season and dust multipliers to reflect active phases, and adjust wind factor to represent either scouring winds or airborne dust. Set a target maximum loss to derive a recommended cleaning interval, then capture assumptions in the exported report to align EPC, O&M, and owner expectations.
It is the time-weighted mean percent loss across the selected period, accounting for buildup and partial removal from rain and cleaning events. It is applied to clean energy to estimate delivered energy.
Use site measurements when available. Otherwise start with a conservative daily value, run sensitivities, and calibrate after the first few cleanings by comparing step changes in production against days since last effective cleaning.
They let you adapt a base rate to local conditions. Low tilt can retain dust, wind can either scour or increase airborne particles, and seasonal activity can change deposition. Multipliers keep assumptions explicit and adjustable.
No. Light rain may remove little and can even redistribute dirt. Heavier rain on steeper tilt is usually more effective. Use the rain efficiency field to reflect intensity, tilt, and your observed post-rain performance.
It prevents unrealistic accumulation when long dry periods are modeled. Many sites reach a practical saturation where additional dust adds less incremental loss. Set the cap using historical worst-case observations or conservative engineering judgment.
It is the days needed for the modeled effective soiling rate to reach your target maximum loss, ignoring rain benefits. Use it as planning guidance, then adjust for access, water constraints, and seasonal dust bursts.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.