The Threat of Dust Cementation
In Gujarat, Rajasthan, and the Middle East, fine silica dust storms are common. When fine dust combines with morning dew, it forms a hard, cemented crust over the panels that is extremely difficult to remove without heavy scrubbing.
O&M data from Kipp & Zonen soiling sensors reveals that a single dust storm can degrade panel output by over 40% in less than 24 hours. Daily waterless sweeping removes the loose dust before dew can trigger cementation, protecting the module surface from permanent staining.