As solar panel installations expand, so does the demand for smarter, safer, and more efficient cleaning solutions. Drones are increasingly being adopted in the solar O&M sector, offering solutions for hard-to-reach areas, minimal human intervention, and even simplify cleaning.

However, not all drones are equal — and not all are designed with cleaning in mind. In this article, we review and compare three drones that stand out for their potential in solar panel maintenance:

• Chronos, by Objectif Drone Production – designed specifically for cleaning
• Hercules 2.0, by Drone Volt – a lightweight inspection and multi-role UAV
• P100 Pro, by XAG – a heavy-duty agricultural drone adapted for cleaning

Chronos – For Dedicated Cleaning Professionals

The Chronos stands out as the most specialized cleaning drone currently available, especially for the European market where C5 compliance is critical. With strong autonomy and dual-pressure options, it is perfect for professionals cleaning panels on buildings, facades, or mid-scale ground installations. Its accessory kit and RTK positioning make it ideal for precision spraying without physical access to the array.

Recommended for:

• O&M teams
• Professional cleaning contractors
• European markets needing regulatory compliance

Hercules 2.0 – Compact and Versatile

Though not designed for cleaning, the Hercules 2.0 excels in speed, portability, and security. With a flight time of just 14 minutes, it's more suited for inspection work, pre-cleaning surveys, or testing smaller payload spraying systems, but it is also beginning to be used by some professionals for cleaning panels. Its lightweight body, fast deployment, and encrypted data transmission make it suitable for urban and high-risk environments.

Recommended for:

• Inspection crews
• Data-sensitive environments
• Teams needing fast drone deployment

P100 Pro – Power for Scale

The P100 Pro is the heavy lifter among the three. Originally developed for agriculture, it has been successfully adapted for solar cleaning in utility-scale plants or agropv environments. It supports up to 50 kg payload, a rugged water-resistant frame, and modular spraying systems, making it ideal for long operational hours and extreme conditions — but it also comes with higher complexity and cost. Unfortunately, it doesn't yet have the C5 category.

Recommended for:

• Solar farms
• AgroPV setups
• Scenarios demanding high-capacity water or the use of specialized solutions

Drone Comparison Table – Solar Panel Cleaning Applications

Introducing Chemitek Solar New Solution: Drone Solar Cleaning Agent (DSA)

In response to requests from customers and partners, and due to the growing demand for drone-compatible cleaning products, we have developed a solution designed specifically for drone-assisted cleaning of solar panels: the Drone Solar Cleaning Agent (DSA).

This product was designed to address the practical challenges of airborne application—balancing effective cleaning performance with material safety and operational efficiency. The DSA drastically reduces cleaning time and water use by over 50%, while delivering exceptional results. It works with a 1:50 dilution ratio, allowing coverage of up to 510 m² per kg, and requires only 5 minutes of dwell time. The formula is environmentally friendly - free from solvents, ammonia, or bleach, and suitable for low-pressure systems, safe on panel coatings, making it compatible with various drone spraying configurations.

By integrating a specific cleaning agent into the workflow, drone operators and O&M teams can simplify operations, improve consistency and reduce environmental impact - especially on sites where water conservation is a key concern. This modality is also increasingly in demand in hard-to-reach locations, as it is a more suitable and simpler cleaning technique, without putting cleaning equipment and O&M teams at risk.

In conclusion there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in drone-based solar cleaning — the right choice depends on your operational scale, type of panels, regulatory environment, and cleaning frequency. For certified professionals and EU operations, the Chronos is a ready-to-go solution, for explorers and hybrid missions, Hercules 2.0 offers flexibility and for large-scale efficiency, the P100 Pro delivers sheer power and payload superiority.

As the solar industry continues to innovate, we expect more drones to enter the market — but for now, and for us, these three represent the top of their class.

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