Novel approach to acoustic cleaning of large photovoltaic surfaces discovered.

Contactless, efficient, sustainable: Researchers present a new approach for cleaning large photovoltaic systems using body sound at the Intersolar trade fair.

Voluminous and hard-to-reach photovoltaic systems lead to a loss of yield of up to 20% due to dirt. But how can large and hard-to-reach photovoltaic systems be effectively cleaned from dust and sand without wasting too much water or damaging sensitive module surfaces?

A groundbreaking answer to this question is provided by the research project "AkSoRe - Acoustic Cleaning of Photovoltaic Modules." The project partners Silberform AG and the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT will present a first demonstrator from May 7 to 9, 2025, at the Intersolar trade fair in Munich.

Future Technology Meets Application

The core of the project is a novel method for cleaning PV modules through targeted mechanical vibrations. The technology uses body sound to remove contaminants such as dust and sand from module surfaces without water and mechanical abrasion, making it nearly maintenance-free.

The market for cleaning photovoltaic modules is growing rapidly - a global market volume of around $1.85 billion is expected by 2033. Especially in regions with high dust levels and water scarcity, there is a significant need for sustainable, low-maintenance solutions.

"With our acoustic cleaning technology, we aim to address this need and create real added value for the solar industry. Our goal is to make energy generation through PV systems even more sustainable and efficient," explains project leader Andreas Männchen from Fraunhofer IDMT.

Live Demonstration at the Trade Fair

At the joint booth in Hall A2, Stand 236, the developers will demonstrate an illustrative demonstrator showing how the acoustic cleaning principle works.