NIT Rourkela Develops AI Based System to Monitor and Clean Solar Panels

Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed a patented Artificial Intelligence (AI) based system designed to monitor solar plants and improve the efficiency of solar panel cleaning and maintenance.

The technology, titled “Federated Learning based Autonomous System and Method for Monitoring and Cleaning Solar Plant,” is aimed at addressing operational challenges caused by dust, dirt and other forms of soiling that accumulate on photovoltaic panels and reduce their power generation efficiency.

The AI based system is designed to continuously monitor the condition of solar panels and identify areas affected by soiling or potential faults. Based on the data collected, the system can help determine when and where cleaning is required, enabling a more targeted approach to solar panel maintenance.

The use of federated learning is a key feature of the technology. The approach allows the system to support intelligent monitoring and analysis while enabling data to be processed without requiring all operational information to be centrally shared. This could help improve the efficiency of solar plant monitoring while supporting data privacy.

Conventional solar panel cleaning is generally carried out at fixed intervals or through periodic maintenance schedules. However, panels may not always require cleaning at the same time or to the same extent. Unnecessary cleaning can increase maintenance costs, labour requirements and water consumption, particularly in large scale solar projects.

The AI based solution developed by NIT Rourkela is intended to enable condition based cleaning by identifying panels or sections that require attention. This could help solar plant operators reduce unnecessary cleaning operations, optimise the use of water and maintenance resources, and maintain the performance of photovoltaic installations.

Dust accumulation is a significant concern for solar projects, especially in dry and polluted regions, where soiling can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching photovoltaic cells. As solar installations continue to expand, automated monitoring and maintenance technologies are gaining importance in improving plant performance and reducing operational costs.

The development by NIT Rourkela could contribute to the growing use of AI and autonomous technologies in the renewable energy sector. By combining solar panel monitoring, fault detection and cleaning optimisation, the system seeks to support more efficient operation and maintenance of solar power plants.