Solar Panel Cleaning ROI Calculator

Decide whether professional solar panel cleanings pay off by pairing your baseline production, expected performance lift, and service pricing. The calculator estimates extra kilowatt-hours captured, the dollar value of that energy, annual cleaning spend, ROI, and how long it takes savings to cover each visit.

Estimated annual generation from your array prior to cleaning, based on monitoring or utility net-metering data.
Percent increase in output you expect after removing dust, pollen, or bird droppings.
Total invoice for one cleaning visit, including labor, water, and access equipment.
Retail rate or avoided cost per kilowatt-hour. Defaults to $0.18/kWh when blank.
How many times per year you schedule cleanings. Defaults to 1 visit when blank.

Results assume the performance gain persists across the year. Validate cleaning schedules and safety procedures with your installer before working on the roof.

Examples

  • 8,000 kWh/year, 5% gain, $180 per visit, $0.18/kWh default rate, 2 visits ⇒ Extra generation captured: 400.00 kWh/year • Value of recovered energy: $72.00 USD • Annual cleaning spend: $360.00 USD • Net annual benefit: −$288.00 USD • Return on cleaning investment: −80.00% • Value per cleaning visit: $36.00 USD • Months of savings to cover one visit: 30.00.
  • 12,000 kWh/year, 8% gain, $120 per visit, $0.30/kWh, 1 visit ⇒ Extra generation captured: 960.00 kWh/year • Value of recovered energy: $288.00 USD • Annual cleaning spend: $120.00 USD • Net annual benefit: $168.00 USD • Return on cleaning investment: 140.00% • Value per cleaning visit: $288.00 USD • Months of savings to cover one visit: 5.00.

FAQ

How do I estimate the performance gain percentage?

Compare energy output before and after a prior cleaning, review monitoring platform soiling loss estimates, or consult your installer for typical gains in your climate. Many residential arrays see 3–8% swings.

Should I include production-based incentives?

Yes. If you earn SRECs or production incentives, add their dollar value to the electricity rate so the recovered kilowatt-hours reflect both bill savings and incentive revenue.

What if I clean the panels myself?

Enter your estimated DIY cost (equipment rental, water, or your own hourly value) in the cleaning cost field so the ROI compares paid service versus self-performance accurately.

Does the tool handle partial-year cleanings?

Yes. Set the visits per year to match how many times you plan to clean. For a single seasonal cleaning, leave the field blank or enter 1.

Additional Information

  • Recovered kilowatt-hours equal baseline production multiplied by the cleaning gain percentage, so accurate monitoring data keeps projections honest.
  • Electricity value defaults to $0.18/kWh but can be replaced with your utility's tiered rate, time-of-use average, or feed-in tariff.
  • Annual cleaning spend scales the per-visit fee by the number of visits to reveal the true yearly cash outlay.
  • Months to cover one visit divides the cleaning invoice by the monthly value of recovered energy so you can align cleanings with soiling seasons.

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