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Description
Established in 2019, Nevergreen Ltd. initially specialized in the maintenance and upkeep of green areas hosting photovoltaic power plants. In 2021, the company expanded its core services by venturing into the manual cleaning of solar panels.
The primary objective of this project is twofold: to enhance Nevergreen Ltd.''s competitive position and to boost the company''s turnover and net operational profit. The innovative green solution introduced by the company is a two-component technology designed for deep cleaning of solar panels. Nevergreen Ltd. aims to be the first enterprise in Bulgaria to apply this comprehensive cleaning technology to photovoltaic modules, offering a unique service in the growing PV plant market. This technology''s main advantage is its remarkable ability to improve solar panel and photovoltaic productivity by up to 20-25% after thorough cleaning.
The introduction of this panel washing methodology streamlines the cleaning process, resulting in substantial emission reductions. The project carries significant environmental benefits, including an estimated annual reduction of CO2 emissions/equivalents by 3,506 tons, the annual collection of 0.75 tons of waste for re-use or recycling, a decrease in annual energy consumption by 20.2 mW, and a reduction in annual fuel consumption by 1,300 liters of diesel. This initiative is a pioneering leap into sustainability, enhancing both economic and environmental dimensions for Nevergreen Ltd.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several critical issues and challenges related to the efficiency of solar photovoltaic systems, particularly focusing on the impact of environmental pollutants and the need for effective cleaning solutions. The specific challenges and issues include among others :
a) Decreased Efficiency Due to Pollution : The accumulation of dust, soot, pollen, and other pollutants on solar panels significantly reduce their efficiency, leading to power losses of up to 20%. This pollution acts as a barrier between the solar panels and sunlight, reducing the amount of solar energy absorbed and converted into electricity . The natural cleaning effects of rain and wind are not sufficient to remove these pollutants effectively, leaving the panels dirty and underperforming. As a result, the photovoltaic systems are not producing energy at their optimal capacity, leading to inefficiencies in energy production.
b) Need for Effective Cleaning Mechanisms : Given that natural elements like rain and wind do not provide adequate cleaning, manual or automated cleaning becomes necessary to restore the panels'' efficiency. Traditional cleaning methods might be labor-intensive, expensive, or not efficient enough to provide deep cleaning. The challenge was to find a cleaning technology that could not only restore the panels'' production capacity but also sustain it over time without frequent manual intervention.
"Neveregreen" Ltd. has introduced a new green solution to the market - a two-component technology which serves as an instrument of deep cleaning of solar panels. This technology is very efficient, addressing the need for regular and thorough cleaning. “Nevergreen” Ltd. is the first company in Bulgaria to apply this particular high scope cleaning technology for photovoltaic modules. Respectively, by implementing this technology, the company is the only one offering this service on the growing market of photovoltaic plants in Bulgaria.
The project aimed to solve the problem of reduced solar panel efficiency due to environmental pollution by introducing an automated and advanced cleaning technology that can restore the panels'' production capacity. The solution also addresses the challenges of labor, cost, and efficiency, providing a more sustainable and effective approach to maintaining solar panel performance. The use of the new methodology of panel washing has contributed to an efficient cleaning work process and a significant saving of harmful emissions.
The new investment has created a competitive advantage for the company to expand its portfolio of services, which will lead to additional incomes and ensure its investment strategy in a medium term.