A method and device for cleaning and pretreating solar panels is provided. The device comprises a brush having cleaning elements made from silicone foam rubber material. The cleaning elements can be flaps of silicone foam rubber material. A sheet of silicone foam rubber material having two free ends can be attached to a core member such that the two free ends extend away from the core member to form flaps. The solar panels can be cleaned by brushing the solar panel surfaces with the flaps of silicone foam rubber material. The solar panels can also be pretreated by brushing the solar panel surfaces with silicone foam rubber material.

A solar and electrolytic system includes a moisture harvesting solar system that includes a photovoltaic module having a light receiving surface, a water collection subassembly, and a cleaning subassembly, The water collection subassembly has a water collection vessel and the cleaning subassembly has a water dispensing unit fluidly coupled to the water collection vessel. The solar and electrolytic system also includes an electrolysis cell with an anode and a cathode each extending into an electrolysis tank and each electrically coupled to a power supply. One or more intersystem fluid pathways fluidly couple the water collection vessel of the moisture harvesting solar system with the electrolysis tank of the electrolysis cell and one or more electrical pathways electrically couple the photovoltaic module of the moisture harvesting solar system with the power supply of the electrolysis cell.

A solar and electrolytic system includes a moisture harvesting solar system that includes a photovoltaic module having a light receiving surface, a water collection subassembly, and a cleaning subassembly, The water collection subassembly has a water collection vessel and the cleaning subassembly has a water dispensing unit fluidly coupled to the water collection vessel. The solar and electrolytic system also includes an electrolysis cell with an anode and a cathode each extending into an electrolysis tank and each electrically coupled to a power supply. One or more intersystem fluid pathways fluidly couple the water collection vessel of the moisture harvesting solar system with the electrolysis tank of the electrolysis cell and one or more electrical pathways electrically couple the photovoltaic module of the moisture harvesting solar system with the power supply of the electrolysis cell.

Presented herein are systems and methods for waterless, contactless systems and methods for cleaning solar panels that can be applied, for example, to photovoltaics and solar reflector power plants. The systems and methods remove dust particles from surfaces using electrostatic induction.

Presented herein are systems and methods for waterless, contactless systems and methods for cleaning solar panels that can be applied, for example, to photovoltaics and solar reflector power plants. The systems and methods remove dust particles from surfaces using electrostatic induction.

A solar panel washing assembly for automatically cleaning solar panels includes a plurality of solar panels that is each positionable on a support surface to be exposed to sunlight. A fluid supply pipe is fluidly coupled to a pressurized water source w to receive pressurized water and a control unit is positioned proximate the support surface. The control unit is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply pipe to receive the pressurized water. A plurality of distribution pipes is each fluidly coupled to the control unit to receive the pressurized water when the control unit actuated into the open condition. A plurality of spray nozzles is each fluidly coupled to a respective one of the distribution pipes to spray the pressurized water onto a respective solar panel to clean the respective solar panel.

A solar panel washing assembly for automatically cleaning solar panels includes a plurality of solar panels that is each positionable on a support surface to be exposed to sunlight. A fluid supply pipe is fluidly coupled to a pressurized water source w to receive pressurized water and a control unit is positioned proximate the support surface. The control unit is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply pipe to receive the pressurized water. A plurality of distribution pipes is each fluidly coupled to the control unit to receive the pressurized water when the control unit actuated into the open condition. A plurality of spray nozzles is each fluidly coupled to a respective one of the distribution pipes to spray the pressurized water onto a respective solar panel to clean the respective solar panel.

A robot for cleaning solar panels has a frame and a propulsion system for moving the robot on solar panels. The robot also has arms movably coupled to the frame, and a cleaning assembly coupled to each of the arms for cleaning the solar panels. The arms and cleaning assemblies further facilitate the transportation of the robot between solar panels that are discontinuous and spaced apart from each other. In addition, a water distribution system is included for distributing water during cleaning operations. A control system operates the robot and controls the propulsion system, arms, cleaning assemblies and water distribution system.

A robot for cleaning solar panels has a frame and a propulsion system for moving the robot on solar panels. The robot also has arms movably coupled to the frame, and a cleaning assembly coupled to each of the arms for cleaning the solar panels. The arms and cleaning assemblies further facilitate the transportation of the robot between solar panels that are discontinuous and spaced apart from each other. In addition, a water distribution system is included for distributing water during cleaning operations. A control system operates the robot and controls the propulsion system, arms, cleaning assemblies and water distribution system.

An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.