R. Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro
Zona Industrial de Bouro - Letra C
4740-010 Esposende, Portugal
Cement Removal Agent
Biodegradable agent to remove alkaline contaminants from solar panels
Solar panels are a great way to generate electricity and save money on energy bills. However, over time, cement and other alkaline contaminants can accidentally splash onto the surface of solar panels that are placed near cement plants, or even during construction or renovation projects. If left untreated, this cement buildup can severely reduce the efficiency of solar panels and affect their lifespan.
In fact, cement dust dries very quickly on the surface of the module, and often O&M teams are forced to resort to aggressive methods to clean the panels, such as harsh chemicals, scrapers and high-pressure machines. But these methods are not only aggressive and harmful to human health and the environment, they also damage the panels and void the warranty.
Left Side: Modules cleaned with CRA | Right Side: Modules covered with cement dust
Ligh cement dust contamination removed with CRA
Cement dust problem in Dubai solved with CRA by SirajPower
Real case of application of CRA to effectively and safely remove cement dust from solar panels in Israel
The Cement Removal Agent (CRA) from ChemiTek is a powerful and effective solution that can help you clean your solar panels and restore their performance. This product is specifically designed to remove cement, rust, stone dust, gypsum and other alkaline contaminants from solar panels without damaging the surface, while significantly reducing the time spent cleaning, the water consumed for cleaning and the costs required to clean the modules.
ChemiTek's CRA solutions is safe to use on your solar panels. It is fully tested by international laboratory TÜV Sud and has conformity letters from some of the world's leading PV manufacturers
This product is a remediation agent and should be used as such. To avoid a recurring problem, you should act preventively and protect your modules with one of ChemiTek's coatings. This will prevent dust particles from adhering directly to the glass, making them easy to remove during normal cleaning operations.
How it Works?
CRA is a concentrated solution that needs to be diluted in cleaned water before applied to the contaminated solar modules. This innovative cleaning agent uses a unique blend of acid and surfactant technology to dissolve and break down cement and other alkaline contaminants on the surface of your solar panels. This powerful formula penetrates deep into the cement to soften and loosen it, making it easier to remove.
To use the Cement Removal Agent, simply dilute the product in water (see bellow the recommended dilution ratio) apply the product directly to the affected area and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then, use a soft brush or cloth to gently scrub the surface, rinse with water and wipe clean. With just a few easy steps, your solar panels will look like new again.
Benefits:
Cement Removal Agent offers several benefits for solar panel owners:
- Effectively removes cement dust, stone dust, gypsum, and other alkaline contaminants from solar panels
- Safe and easy to apply formula that won't damage neither void the surface of your solar panels
- Helps restore the performance and efficiency of your solar panels
- Saves time and money on maintenance and cleaning
Industries & Applications
- Cleaning of photovoltaic solar panels, solar thermal panels, photovoltaic solar tiles, etc.
- Installers of photovoltaic plants
- Solar panel cleaning companies
- Solar parks with their own maintenance teams
Available Formats
- 5kg drum
- 20kg drum
- 1000kg IBC
FAQs
The surface of photovoltaic solar panels must be clean to ensure full operation and maximum efficiency. Any kind of dirt that may be on the surface of the solar module, be it dust, pollen, tree sap, bird droppings, sand, salt crystals, etc., will reduce the light transmission, i.e., reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the solar module cells, and thus the panel will produce less power.
To the naked eye the panels may appear clean, however there will be dirt accumulated, even if it is just the air pollution itself. A simple test to see if your panel needs cleaning is to wipe the surface of the panel with a white cloth or cotton pad before the actual cleaning.
According to recent studies, when a solar panel is very dirty it can lose up to 50% of its efficiency compared to a clean solar panel. However, an energy loss of 10 to 15% can be observed in panels with some dirt.
In fact, rain or wind alone does not wash the solar panels. The wind carries dust particles, and the rain, specially in small quantities, will catch any dust in the air and, when it dries, will leave dirt spots, thus making the solar system less efficient.
A simple way to illustrate why the weather alone does not wash out the solar panels is to look at the windshield of your car. If you leave your windshield dirty for a long time, you will lose visibility due to accumulated dirt, but thanks to the cleaner that you apply and the windshield wiper, you can wash the glass and regain visibility in no time!
In this way, the solar panels are like the windshields of your car, except that they do not have readily available liquid for washing the solar panels associated with the windshield wiper.
For the warranty on your solar panel to remain valid, you should use solar panel cleaners that meet the manufacturers' requirements, such ChemiTek’s products.
However, as a rule of thumb, use products with a neutral pH, that are tested by international laboratories and approved by the solar panel manufacturers themselves. This will rule out any negative effect of their use on washing solar panels.
Adjust the dilution of the product according to the harshness of the problem. Do a test in a small area to check which dilution is best for your case. It is preferable to leave the product on the module longer than to use a lower dilution. Start with a dilution of 1 to 2 (1kg of CRA in 2 litres of water) and check the behaviour. If it is not strong enough to start removing the cement with ease, then reduce the dilution to 1 kg of CRA in 1 litre of water or even 1kg of CRA in 0,5 litres of water. In very extreme cases, the product can be used without dilution as a last resort measure. ChemiTek advises against it.
CRA is a removal agent for cement dust, stone dust, hard water stains,rust, and other alkali contaminants that are cured on the surface of the glass of solar modules.
Cement Removal Agent is a biodegradable product designed to be as delicate as possible with the components of the solar module (ARC, silicone and aluminium frame). The product reacts chemically only with the contaminants and emulsions the particles so that they can be rinsed off easily.
In case of doubt, contact us.
CRA is a remediation product, and it should be used as such. To avoid the reappearance of the problem, you should act preventively and protect the modules with an antistatic coating such as the Antistatic Solar Armor from ChemiTek.
