26/08/2025
PV module damage is a silent revenue leak
Scratches, high‑pressure cleaning marks, snail trails, soiling banding, people walking on modules — all of these can trigger irreversible degradation, hotspots, efficiency loss and, in many cases, voided warranties.
Why this isn’t a rounding error
A simple way to size the impact:
Lost revenue (€) = Plant size (MWp) × Yearly Local Average Irradiance × Yield loss (%) × PPA/Market price (€/MWh)
Example (purely illustrative):
50 MWp × 1500 × 1% yield loss × €60/MWh = 750 MWh you never sell ≈ €45.000/year. Run it with your own irradiance and tariff — it adds up fast.
What’s driving these failures?
Improper cleaning (high‑pressure jets, abrasive tools).
Untrained staff stepping on modules to “save time”.
Deferred or ad‑hoc maintenance that lets microcracks and soiling bands turn into permanent losses.
Cleaning chemicals not certified or approved by module OEMs.
What to do instead
Use specialist cleaning and maintenance aligned with OEM manuals and warranty clauses.
Schedule cleans with data (irradiance, soiling ratio, fouling patterns) — clean when it pays, not when it’s convenient.
Verify performance before/after to prove ROI and protect warranty status.
Choose certified, manufacturer‑approved cleaning solutions, tested for PV compatibility.
Want a no‑nonsense calculator to quantify what soiling and improper cleaning are costing your plant? Comment CALC or send me a DM with CALC and I’ll share it. Let’s make sure your MWs are producing — not eroding.
