Iberdrola calls start-ups to find waterless solution to cleaning PV panels

Spain’s Iberdrola SA (BME:iBE) has launched an international start-up challenge in search of a low-cost and innovative solution for cleaning solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with no water.

The challenge, which Iberdrola is organising through its venture capital vehicle Inversiones Financieras Perseo SL, is open to individuals and companies from all over the world. The proposals can be submitted online in Spanish or English until October 18, 2019.

Participants are asked to come up with a no-water approach to cleaning PV panels given that Iberdrola builds its large-scale solar farms in areas where there is water scarcity. The Spanish power company will also consider proposals for reduced water consumption.

The proposed solutions have to be applicable to solar farms of 100 MW and above with fixed tilt, multi-row single-axis trackers, one-row single-axis trackers or generic solutions regardless of the plant configuration.

Solutions also have to be capable of removing stick stains, be fixed or portable so that they can be moved to nearby PV parks, remotely operated or fully autonomous and energy independent from the parks.

The winning project will be tested at Iberdrola’s installations and if the pilot is successful, the solution will be incorporated in the company’s portfolio.

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