How to remove snow from solar panels (SolarShare Edition)

 

 

Introduction

SolarShare has 8x500Kw solar fields in the Timiskaming region in Northern Ontario. In the winter, the area sees frequent snowfall, which accumulates on the panels and freezes over time. As a result, the panels stop producing energy until the temperature warms (and the snow and ice melt). Commercial panel sweepers exist but are generally designed for large-scale solar farms with long rows of panels. Our Timiskaming region solar field has 25 rows, with only 3 panels per row. Furthermore, our research found that one machine would cost approximately $45,000 per year to lease, whether used or not. Not ideal!

 

If at first you don’t succeed…

Very much deterred by the price tag, we tried several less costly solutions. In December 2020, we hired a group of Amish individuals with scrapers to clean the sites. After a single day of work, they refused to return- cleaning thousands of panels is difficult, boring work. We needed a faster, less labour-intensive solution.

In November 2021, we purchased a used snow grooming machine (Figure 1) to pack down the snow between rows. The build-up of snow was stalling the trackers- once removed, the trackers could be accessible in the winter.

In October 2024, we experienced periods of intense sunlight (relative to previous years). With newfound determination to capture this energy, we purchased a blower and mounted it on the back of the snow groomer to blow light snow off. However, much of the snow had crystalized and locked together. The machine blew the snow and ice off layer by layer but it was much slower than clearing everything by hand.

To improve the process, we designed a hydraulic actuated lever with an arm to disturb the snow before blowing (Figure 2). We are currently in the 3rd design adjustment, trying to modify the sweeping motion so it clears snow without too much downward pressure against the panel.

2025 update: The snow wiper is working as designed and does remove some snow. However, when the weather stays cold (-20C at night), the snow locks together, and too much force is required to clear the panels. We are now waiting for a semi-thaw to try the process again.  Working with snow is highly unpredictable as warm panels lock the snow onto the panel. We are revitalizing the blower and, in combination with the sweep arm, will be able to remove snow in many conditions but not all.

Pictures below.

 

Written by Ambrose Raftis, edited by Brian Chang