SOLAR PANEL CLEANING WITH SUN SERVICE SPECIALISTS Because solar panels have no moving parts, there is very little maintenance — but solar panel cleaning should be a priority for system owners, as soiling and dirt on your array can definitely lead to lost energy production. To operate at peak efficiency, panels need access to direct sunlight, which can be adversely affected when the photovoltaic cells within them are obstructed by outside factors such as dust, dirt, air pollution build-up, animal droppings, pollen, etc.