Hey, solar panel cleaners! It’s November 27th, the day before Thanksgiving, and I’m gearing up for an epic turkey day with family tomorrow. Before diving into the festivities, I spent my morning doing what I love—checking out new solar panel cleaning videos on YouTube. What I found sparked some thoughts that I think are worth sharing with you all.

Drones and the Future of Solar Panel Cleaning

One of the videos that caught my eye featured a solar panel cleaning drone. This drone was impressive: it hovered over the panels, spraying what appeared to be water mixed with a cleaning agent. What stood out was that there were no visible hoses attached, meaning it likely had an onboard tank, maybe around 2.5 gallons—a typical push sprayer size.

The drone itself looked like a top-tier model, possibly a high-end DJI drone. If I had to guess, it would cost upwards of $50,000, maybe even closer to $100,000. Beyond spraying, this drone had some serious muscle, as it lifted a cleaning robot to the rooftop. That got me thinking—what if manufacturers of solar panel cleaning robots started integrating drones to transport their robots onto carports or rooftops? It’s an exciting idea that could revolutionize how we approach certain job sites.

Robot Limitations and Observations

In the video, the robot dropped by the drone had a single rotary brush at the front and no rear bristle. It also didn’t have any visible hoses or tubing for water. From what I could deduce, the drone sprays the panels first, and then the robot operates on the damp surface. While innovative, I couldn’t help but wonder about the efficiency and practicality of this setup. Without continuous water flow, how effective can the cleaning be?

This led me to reflect on the wide variety of solar panel cleaning equipment available today. Brands like SolarCleano, Sola-Tec, Tucker Solar Brush, Solara, and Sun Biotics are pushing boundaries with their innovations. However, there’s a whole world of equipment coming from China and other regions that we rarely discuss, and it’s worth exploring further.

A Global Perspective: Solar Panel Cleaning in India

As I kept searching YouTube, I stumbled upon videos from India showcasing unique solar panel cleaning methods. One video featured a team of 10-15 cleaners using what looked like mops or window cleaning applicators to clean large ground-mounted panels. Their speed and efficiency reminded me of street food vendors in India—fast, skillful, and almost performative.

These videos opened my eyes to the sheer volume of solar panel cleaning taking place in India. I even connected with a solar panel cleaner from India in a Facebook group chat. He shared his experience of cleaning 140 panels in a day for just $20. Yes, you read that right—$20 for a day’s work. Even more surprising, he’s contracted to clean those panels every 30 days, earning a total of $240 annually for that job.

Comparing Pricing Structures: California vs. India

This stark contrast in pricing blew my mind. Here in California, my minimum charge for a residential rooftop job is $160 per visit, and most customers only need two cleanings per year. That’s $320 annually for minimal time and effort compared to the hours of labor this cleaner in India puts in every month.

In India, what we’d consider a commercial job—60 to 120 panels—is treated as a typical project. Their pricing and methods differ drastically from ours, but it’s a reminder of how location dictates everything. It also raises questions about how solar farms in India are cleaned and what equipment they use, something I plan to research further.

Diving Deeper into the Industry

These discoveries inspired me to spend the coming weeks learning more about solar panel cleaning practices in India. From the equipment they use to their cleaning techniques, there’s so much to uncover. The global differences in pricing and methods are a fascinating reminder of how diverse our industry is.

If you’re curious too, I highly recommend checking out YouTube for the latest videos on solar panel cleaning. Use the filters to sort by upload date and explore what’s trending worldwide. You’ll find everything from innovative equipment to unique cleaning methods that might inspire new ideas for your own business.

Final Thoughts

As we head into Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with solar panel cleaners worldwide and learn from their experiences. Whether it’s cutting-edge drone technology or traditional cleaning methods in India, there’s always something new to discover in this industry.

If you’ve had experiences with solar panel cleaning in different regions—or have thoughts on drones, robots, or pricing—drop a comment and let’s discuss. Don’t forget to follow Solar Panel Cleaning Friends on Facebook for more insights, tips, and discussions.

Thanks for reading, and happy Thanksgiving! Let’s keep powering up and pushing our industry forward.