Technical & Commercial Benefits of Anti‑Soiling ARC Coatings: The Case of Rads Global
- rsingh80
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects often experience substantial performance degradation not due to the panels themselves, but from accumulations such as soil, dust, pollution, and scaling. Anti-soiling Anti-Reflective Coating (ARC) technologies are increasingly critical in mitigating these losses, reducing maintenance expenses, and enhancing return on investment. Rads Global, a company based in the Netherlands, exemplifies how advanced nano-coatings can achieve significant improvements.
Antisoiling ARC Coatings:
How the Anti-soiling ARC Technology Works
The Coating technology works through multiplying effects of dynamic functions of the surface created due to deposition of Nano-materials.
Multifunctional Nano-Coatings:
Rads Global offers coatings that extend beyond anti-soiling properties, integrating features such as anti-reflection, anti-corrosion, anti-abrasion, anti-PID, self-cleaning, anti-biofilm, among others.-
Application Method for Anti-soiling ARC Coatings:
Through the use of Chemical Combustion Vapor Deposition (CCVD) and plasma processes, Rads applies coatings that form a chemical bond with solar glass surfaces, ensuring exceptional durability.
Key Performance Improvements & Metrics
Business Case: ROI, Risks & Considerations
Benefits:
Higher revenue: More kWh produced over lifetime, especially in dusty regions.
Reduced O&M costs: Less frequent cleaning, less downtime.
Sustainability: Significant water savings.
No. of Robots for Dry Cleaning requirement reduced by half.
Retrofit potential: Older PV systems can be upgraded.
Robotic Cleaning requires less Robots and frequency without any Damage to Coating.
Increased performance and extended warranty of Modules.
Decreased degradation of PV modules.
Decreased PV Module temperature in Arid and Tropical regions.
Decreased UVID and PID in TOPCON Modules.
Risks:
Initial cost and logistics of applying coatings (only in Retrofit). For new modules No such Risk because, the Glass with Antisoiling ARC is supplied and used for module production as a Bill of Material.
Site‑specific performance: less gain in naturally clean regions.
Example Use Cases of Rads Global
- In Delhi, India, coated modules produced ~8.9% more power than non‑coated modules.- Retrofit application (HP+ coating) for modules 2+ years old showed 4‑7% yield increase with 2.5–4 year payback.
- Retrofit Bikaner, India for modules 2+ years old showed 3% yield increase.
- Retrofit Hiryur, Karnataka, India for Modules 4+ years showed 3.1% yield increase.
- Delft, Netherlands, New modules, showed 4% yield increase.
-Mumbai, India, Modules showed 5% yield increase.
Quantitative Example: Applying to a Project
Summary
Anti‑soiling ARC coatings like those from Rads Global offer a compelling mix of technical and economic benefits:
Energy gains of 5–15% depending on environment.
O&M cost reductions via less cleaning and water use.
ROI payback typically within 2.5–4 years.
Durability for up to 25 years with robust application methods.
For solar farm developers, asset owners, and investors, coatings are becoming essential to optimise lifetime performance and returns.
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