The U.S. solar industry has averaged 24% annual growth since 2014, and the Department of Energy estimates that solar farms will soon occupy up to five million acres of land. Globally, the solar industry generates over $420 billion in annual revenue.1
But one tiny thing holds back this growing industry. Or rather, many tiny things: dust particles. Dust drastically reduces solar panels’ efficiency, cutting into profits and requiring frequent cleaning.
We’ll explore the benefits of solar farms and the effect of dust on solar panel efficiency. Then, we’ll examine factors that cause dust accumulation and—most importantly—how to control it.
The U.S. has over 10,000 utility-scale solar farms capable of producing at least one megawatt (MW) of electricity.2 These installations accounted for 3.4% of America’s utility-scale power generation in 2022, and planned future projects could more than triple solar energy production.3,4 Globally, experts expect solar power to reach 10% of power generation by 2030.5
Solar power’s popularity is largely due to its lack of emissions and cost-effectiveness. Solar panels produce 40 grams of CO2-equivalent per kilowatt hour, compared to 600 grams for natural gas and 1,000 for coal.6 An 80-acre poultry farm in Delaware saved $40,000 per year on energy after installing a 275 kilowatt (kW) solar system; meanwhile, Penn State University saved $2.5 million in two years by buying solar power.7,8
Fun fact: Physicist Edmond Becquerel first discovered that he could produce electrical current using light in 1839.9
A one megawatt (MW) solar farm needs up to 10 acres of land—including space for panels, maintenance, and site access—but many solar farms are larger.10 One utility-scale installation in Virginia covers 6,350 acres.11 That’s a lot of land to maintain!
Dust control is a huge part of solar farm maintenance. Solar operators often build on dust-prone lands, such as sandy deserts or agricultural fields with fine-grained silt and clay soils that easily blow into the air as dust.13
Like any smooth, flat surface, solar panels collect dust. This process—called soiling—is problematic because dust decreases solar panel efficiency and, therefore, energy production and profitability. Researchers worldwide have found that dust can reduce solar panel efficiency by up to 76% in some regions.14
Fun fact: In June 2024, a 3.5-GW solar park spanning approximately 33,000 acres in Xinjiang Province, China, became the world’s largest solar farm to date.12
A 2010 study found that just one gram of dust accumulation on one square meter of solar panels could have serious financial consequences: solar farm operators lost up to $53 for every one-kW decrease in energy productivity.15 In 2024 dollars, that’s around $77 per lost kW.
So, what does that look like on an industrial scale? Researchers are still working out the exact costs; however, we can compile data from multiple studies to get estimates.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that, on average, solar panel soiling decreases energy production by up to 7% per year in the U.S.16 Engineers from MIT found that as little as 1% power reduction for a 150-MW solar farm could reduce annual revenue by over $200,000. So, a 150-MW solar farm that experiences 7% energy loss could lose over $1.4 million per year. Globally, researchers estimate losses of up to $1.8 billion per year per 1% loss of power output.17
Even at their best, solar panels only convert about 15% of incoming energy to electricity. They reflect the rest back into the environment as heat.18 So, it’s crucial to keep them running at peak efficiency to increase profits and protect the environment—and that starts with dust control. Several factors can make dust more or less likely to accumulate on solar panels.
Large dust particles are more likely than small ones to accumulate on flat solar panels that face upward with no tilt because these particles are heavier.19 However, smaller particles may block more sunlight because they can pack closer together.20 Researchers in Saudi Arabia also observed that spherical particles—such as silt and certain sands—were more likely to accumulate on flat panels.21 Keep in mind, dust sizes and shapes vary depending on your region’s soil type. So, it’s smart to get familiar with the local soil.
Pakistani researchers studied natural dust accumulation in one humid climate and one dry climate for six weeks. In the humid climate, dust accumulated at a rate of 6.4 grams per meter squared (g/m2), reducing solar panel efficiency by 15%. In the dry one, dust accumulated faster at 10.3 g/m2, reducing efficiency by 25%.22
However, another study in Saudi Arabia found that humidity increased dust adhesion to solar panels, decreasing efficiency by 6% after five weeks of exposure.23 That tells us there’s more going on—like the local weather.
In Jordan, three months of natural dust accumulation decreased solar panel output, until rain helped remove the dust and improve efficiency.24 And in Santa Clara, California, a long, dry, dusty summer decreased solar panels’ efficiency by 22%—until it rained. Rain restored the solar panels to almost 99% of their original efficiency.25
Thus, humidity without rain attracts dust and adheres it to solar panels, while humidity with rain washes the panels partly or mostly clean. High wind speeds can also blow dust particles off solar panels.26
Proximity to highways, cities, industrial activities, deserts, and farmland can all impact dust accumulation. Researchers in India applied different types and amounts of environmental dust to solar panels to determine their effect on power production. Rice farming dust caused the greatest power loss (up to 76% for 50 g/m2 of accumulation), while industrial dust from fly ash had the least (43% for 50 g/m2).27 That said, dust types may vary in your area, so be sure to assess your unique environmental risks.
Think of dusting your home: you mostly dust flat surfaces that face upward, such as counters and end tables. Vertical surfaces (like your TV screen or framed photos) accumulate far less dust. The same principles apply to solar panels. The more upright panels are, the more likely they are to shed dust.28
Dust accumulation increases solar panels’ operating temperatures, further reducing efficiency and making them more likely to overheat.29 Overheating can cause fires, as can equipment damage due to dust or improper cleaning.30
Fortunately, solar farm fires are rare. A study of two million German solar installations found that only 0.006% (about 12,000) suffered fires with serious damage. More good news: most fires occur in electrical cabinets, not on panels.31 The bad news is that information isn’t worth a hill of beans if a “rare” fire happens on your solar farm. Why not do all you can to mitigate the risks?
Fire prevention can include safety inspections, maintenance, and a fire suppression system. Some states also require firebreaks around the installation. Of course, the number one thing you can do is keep dust down!
Preventing dust accumulation on solar panels works best when you use a three-pronged approach: nature, regular maintenance and cleaning, and soil stabilization.
Nature can be a friend or foe when it comes to solar panel maintenance. As we mentioned, wind and rain can help clean your solar panels, while humidity alone can make dust stick. In some areas, grass will grow around the solar panels, helping control dust. However, you’ve still got unpaved access roads, firebreaks, and equipment pads to contend with—especially in desert locations that lack vegetation.
So, nature can help, but since you can’t control it, it’s best to clean your solar panels regularly.
Most people spray solar panels with water and wipe them down because the panels won’t tolerate harsh chemicals or heavy scrub brushes. That’s a lot of cleaning: a one-MW solar farm uses anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 panels.32,33 No wonder solar panel cleaning uses an estimated 10 billion gallons of water annually!34
Engineers are inventing cleaning robots to reduce labor. They’re also developing waterless cleaning methods like electrostatic repulsion, which uses electricity to make dirt “jump” off the panel’s surface. Early research shows the latter is 100% effective for dust accumulations of one g/m2, but it may not work well for thicker accumulations.35 These methods could help lower cleaning costs and prevent water from damaging electrical components.36,37
Solar panel manufacturers typically recommend at least two cleanings per year, maybe more if your installation tends to collect more dust due to climate, urban pollution, or nearby construction or highways.38
Water cleaning accounts for approximately 10% of solar installations’ operating costs.39 Most utility-scale solar farms can expect to pay about 37¢ to 75¢ per panel, plus any fees the contractor charges.40 If your installation doesn’t have its own water source or is difficult to access, you could be looking at even higher costs. Additionally, any damage done during cleaning can lead to expensive repairs—such as replacing cracked glass or fixing leaks. NREL estimates that the one-time cleaning cost for a 10-MW solar farm is around $5,000 (assuming nothing goes wrong), while larger utility-scale solar farms will pay even more.41
Preventing dust helps prevent some of these pesky cleaning costs, too. That’s why dust control is crucial to your bottom line.
While you can’t eliminate 100% of dust from nearby communities, you can implement dust control to reduce the amount of dust that originates on your solar installation. To do this, we recommend using an all-natural, cost-effective soil stabilizer like Perma-Zyme.
Perma-Zyme is a soil stabilizer that significantly reduces dust for up to two years. It interlocks soil particles together, so they won’t shift or escape into the air. It’s effective for unpaved access roads, equipment pads, firebreaks, and other areas around solar panels where grass doesn’t grow.
Perma-Zyme offers many of the same benefits as solar power, such as long-term results, cost-savings, little maintenance, sustainability, and more. Let’s cover the highlights.
A single, simple Perma-Zyme application suppresses dust for up to two years and stabilizes soil for up to 10 years or more. Compare that to traditional products that only last a few months!
Perma-Zyme strengthens soil up to 13 times and eliminates the need to haul aggregate for construction, so it can reduce access road construction costs by up to 80%.
Additionally, many customers’ yearly maintenance costs drop to zero after applying Perma-Zyme. That’s a huge annual savings—and since Perma-Zyme lasts for 10+ years, you’re looking at significantly lower maintenance costs over time.
It can also help you reduce the risk of early panel replacements. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates worn-out solar panels could generate as much as 78 million tons of waste annually by 2050.42 Meanwhile, the costs of recycling panels are 10-15 times higher than throwing them in landfills.43 Using Perma-Zyme to reduce dust damage can keep your panels working longer, so you can avoid preventable early replacements while waiting for recycling technology to improve and become more affordable.
As we mentioned, one Perma-Zyme treatment controls dust for up to two years and stabilizes soil for 10+ years with minimal maintenance. You’ll save hundreds of hours that you used to spend grading access roads and spraying dust suppressants; instead, you can now use that time for other important projects—like growing your solar energy business.
Perma-Zyme’s enzyme formula is 100% natural, organic, non-toxic, and non-hazardous, so it’s perfectly safe for people and the environment.
Perma-Zyme works with most soil types. Even if soil isn’t naturally compatible on its own, most customers can amend their soil to work with Perma-Zyme—and thanks to its long-lasting results, they find that Perma-Zyme is still more cost-effective than repeatedly applying other products.
Our customers have used Perma-Zyme all over the world, and it works whether the local climate is hot or cold, humid or dry. Some of our customers are in Texas, Michigan, Alaska, Nevada, Mexico, South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Dust isn’t the only soil problem that can damage solar panels. Shifting soil can make panels break, take on dust, or catch fire. Usually, soil shifts because of erosion caused by events like heavy rain and freeze-thaw cycles—two common phenomena in solar-rich areas like the Southeast and New England.44 Even in the desert, flash flooding can cause massive, rapid erosion.
Perma-Zyme prevents erosion by turning native soil into a hard, concrete-like surface that resists water and won’t shift. As a bonus, water runs off Perma-Zyme treated soil, helping keep mud and standing water away from essential equipment. Just be sure you have a drainage plan in place; all that run-off needs somewhere to go.
As you can see, Perma-Zyme goes hand-in-hand with the solar industry’s values. And while you’re saving the planet, there’s nothing wrong with saving money, too! Perma-Zyme offers a comprehensive, cost-effective solution to dust control and soil stabilization, helping your solar fields operate at peak efficiency with less maintenance for years to come.
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