Iberdrola group, through its Renewables subsidiary and its International Startup program PERSEO, is launching the Startup Challenge: Photovoltaic cleaning, an international call for companies from all around the world to present waterless, sustainable and low-cost solutions to improve solar panel cleaning processes in large-scale photovoltaic projects, such as the Núñez de Balboa (Spain) and Hermosillo (Mexico) plants. Registration will be open from 5 September to 18 October 2019.
WHAT SOLUTIONS CAN BE PRESENTED?
We are looking for systems that can be applied in the following installations:
- Plants with fixed tilt (three vertical panels per string, each two metres tall).
- Plants with multi row single-axis tracker (one panel per string).
- Plants with one row single-axis tracker (with two panels per string).
- Generic solutions applicable to different kinds of plant configurations.
The most important factors will be taken into account in the proposed solutions are:
- In addition to dry cleaning solutions, solutions with very low water consumption could be considered.
- Be fixed or portable, so that they can be used in several nearby plants.
- Configuration of the photovoltaic power station: plants with fixed panels or mounted on single axis trackers.
- Be totally autonomous and/or remotely operated.
- Remove stick stains on the panels and prevent them from becoming embedded in them.
- Be energy-independent of the plant and not add weight to the panels or negatively affect their characteristics.
WHY SHOULD YOU SUBMIT A PROPOSAL?
Iberdrola will bear the costs and give the winner of the challenge technical support to test their solution on installations pertaining to the Renewables subsidiary, providing access to high-tech equipment, teams, infrastructure and sites as well as coworking areas.
If the pilot project is successful, the company will incorporate the solution into its provider portfolio to improve the operability and maintenance of its photovoltaic plants. Plus, Perseo might consider investing in the project.
The winning technology could be scaled up to group’s entire photovoltaic project portfolio, which has a total installed capacity of 14,000 MW.