Inspired by the self-cleaning properties of the lotus leaf, a research team from Israel’s Ben Gurion University has developed a specially designed self-cleaning mechanism that can be applied to any desert-based solar panel. With the help of the technology, a solar panel could lose as much as 98% of its accumulated dust.

The researchers of the university were able to develop the mechanism by “wet chemically etching” the surface of the panel to create a series of nano wires, and then covering the panel with a special hydrophobic coating. According to the research team, this type of coating material can be a lot more cost-effective and longer lasting than the traditional ones.

The new technology, if proven to be successful, will be very helpful to the solar panels that are currently being used in the desert regions. With the removal of their accumulated dust, it will become a lot easier for the panels to use the desert's abundant sunlight for power generation.

Like the research team, a growing number of developers from around the world are also beginning to develop their own dust removal solutions for solar panels. The U.S.-based coating manufacturer, Pellucere Technologies, for instance, has already developed an anti-pollutant and anti-reflective light technology called "MoreSun" which is capable of eliminating the accumulated dirt on solar panels by 90%.

Another noteworthy "dust proof" solution that is worth mentioning is SolarSharc's anti-pollutant layer for solar panels. Consisting of nano-particles and silicon dioxide, the new solution is claimed to be toxin-free and highly transparent, and can help to enhance the overall power output of the solar panels by 4%. On its official website, SolarSharc also claims that its new self-cleaning coating is durable and easy to clean; Specs-wise, the self-cleaning layer is known to feature a reliable anti-reflective capability, strong heat endurance, and outstanding weather adaptability; it is able to have its efficiency largely intact even after being subjected to 100˚C heat and 1,000 hours of ultraviolet tests. The coating can raise the light penetration ratio of solar panels, and enable them to absorb 93% of visible light, according to SolarSharc.

(Image: Flickr/BlackRockSolar CC BY 2.0）