Larger arrays soil faster than most domestic systems. Barn and warehouse roofs are often low pitch, so rain does not rinse them well, and farm sites add dust from fields, livestock buildings and grain handling. Industrial estates and roadside premises collect traffic film and exhaust particulates. On a system of hundreds of panels, a modest soiling loss across the whole array becomes a measurable amount of lost generation and income.
Commercial cleaning uses the same pure water and soft brush method as domestic work, scaled up with longer poles, larger water supplies and, where appropriate, powered rotating brushes designed for panels. Roof work on commercial buildings needs proper planning because many have fragile roof lights or fibre cement sheets, so access is agreed in advance with a method statement. Ground-mounted arrays can often be cleaned from the ground with poles or vehicle-mounted equipment.
What is included
- Site survey or photo review to confirm panel count, layout, roof type and access
- Risk assessment and method statement for roof work or site rules when requested
- Pure water cleaning with soft brushes, scaled for larger arrays
- Planning around site hours, livestock, deliveries, pupils or public access
- Ground-mounted array cleaning, including the lower edges where soil splash collects
- Notes on damaged panels, loose cabling, vegetation shading or nesting found during the clean
- Scheduling for repeat cleans on a fixed interval if required
Who it is for
- Farms with arrays on barns, livestock sheds or ground mounts near arable land
- Warehouses, factories and industrial units with low-pitch roof arrays
- Schools, offices, care homes and community buildings with solar
- Sites where monitoring shows falling generation not explained by faults
- Businesses that need paperwork such as risk assessments for contractors
How much does it cost?
As a guide, commercial and farm arrays are usually priced per panel after a survey, commonly around £1.50 to £5 per panel, with the lower end for large, easy-access ground arrays and the higher end for small roof arrays with difficult access. See our full cost guide.