Solar power plays a critical role in creating a sustainable future, but maintaining solar panels, especially in deserts, introduces challenges. Dust and sand often accumulate on panels, reducing efficiency and necessitating regular cleaning with current methods relying on fossil-fuel-powered vehicles and significant water use. These methods are particularly problematic in arid regions where water is already scarce. In places like India, this water is often diverted from rural communities, exacerbating existing resource inequities.
Motivated by these issues, Boston University College of Engineering graduates Annie Rabi Bernard and Ryan Eriksen developed a more- sustainable solution. Together, they created a groundbreaking electrodynamic screen (EDS) technology that uses static electricity to clean dust from solar panels. The system clears over 90% of dust in just 30–40 seconds and requires no water or extensive energy, saving billions of gallons of water annually.
In 2020, Bernard and Eriksen founded Sol Clarity, a startup dedicated to bringing this technology to market. Operating out of Greentown Labs in Massachusetts, Sol Clarity has transitioned from hand-built prototypes to scalable production, offering EDS sheets that can be added to existing solar panels or integrated into new ones. With venture capital funding and state grants, they have begun deploying pilot installations worldwide, including regions like California, India, and Saudi Arabia, where water conservation is critical.
The startup continues to expand, with plans to collect data from pilot installations and scale its operations globally. By combining sustainable technology, engineering expertise, and a passion for social impact, Sol Clarity is redefining solar energy maintenance, making renewable energy more efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly.