Why Soiling Is Everyone’s Problem—But No One’s Budget

In the world of solar assets, performance is king. Every kilowatt-hour produced—or lost—carries weight on the bottom line. Yet one of the most persistent threats to PV plant output remains under-monitored, under-funded, and often completely misunderstood: soiling. The issue isn’t just technical—it's managerial.

This article explores the disconnect between asset management, operations & maintenance (O&M), performance optimization, cost allocation, and data availability—highlighting how even when the problem is clear, the solution can get stuck in limbo.

The Blind Spot: Missing or Poor-Quality Soiling Data

Soiling—accumulation of dust, pollen, or pollution on panels—can slash a PV plant’s output by 5% to 20% or more, depending on location and season. Despite this, most PV assets lack any kind of reliable soiling monitoring. In most plants, there's simply no data at all; in others, the data is too sporadic or poorly calibrated to support confident decision-making.

Without trustworthy soiling data, both asset managers and O&M teams are left guessing. Should we clean? How often? Are we losing money? If so, how much?

When soiling is invisible, it’s also unmanageable.

When You Have the Data, a New Problem Emerges

In the rare cases where soiling data is available and reliable, a new frustration arises: the disconnect between insight and action. The data may clearly show performance degradation due to soiling, even quantify the revenue loss—but that’s just the beginning.

Who is supposed to act on that information? And more importantly—who’s supposed to pay?

O&M’s Dilemma: Responsibility Without Budget

Operational teams are often tasked with performance maintenance, including panel cleaning. But here’s the catch: while they carry the responsibility, they rarely have the budget flexibility to act on non-routine cleanings or invest in performance-enhancing solutions like soiling mitigation coatings.

Meanwhile, the asset management team—focused on financial performance and ROI—might see soiling loss as an O&M matter, not their budgetary concern.

This creates a perfect storm:

• The problem is identified.
• The solution is known.
• The teams involved agree it's necessary.
• And yet… nothing happens.

The Real Cost of Inaction

Every day a soiling issue goes unresolved, the plant loses energy production and revenue. Worse, these losses often go unaccounted for in financial models, leading to overly optimistic performance expectations and skewed ROI projections.

This isn’t a case of negligence. It’s a case of structural misalignment.

When responsibilities and budgets are siloed, plants suffer—not because of technical limitations, but because of operational inertia.

Bridging the Gap: Towards Performance-Aligned Operations

Solving this challenge requires more than just installing sensors or writing new SOPs. It calls for a change in how we define ownership and value within PV plant operations.

What can be done?

• Shared KPIs: Align O&M and asset management teams around common performance and revenue goals.
• Flexible Budgets: Create joint funds or discretionary budgets specifically for performance optimization.
• Cross-functional Reviews: Establish monthly reviews where both teams assess soiling data, losses, and potential ROI from corrective actions.
• Technology-Driven Trust: Use automated analytics platforms to ensure data quality and reduce the subjectivity in decision-making.

Everyone’s Problem—So Make It Everyone’s Priority

Soiling is a solvable problem—but only if the data exists, the teams are aligned, and the budgets allow for action. As the solar industry matures, PV asset management must evolve beyond financial oversight and into strategic partnership with O&M.

The good news? Some companies are already recognizing this structural gap and taking proactive steps. New cross-functional Performance or Optimization teams are being created to bridge the divide between asset management and O&M. These teams are empowered with both the mandate and the means to act on performance data—ensuring that no kilowatt is left behind due to internal bottlenecks.

It’s time we move past the blame game and start working together—because clean panels and clear roles both lead to better performance.

Do you have any suggestions or topics about the solar universe you would like to read here? Reach us by email (and go solar)!