In the morning light of Normandy, a 1MW solar power station is quietly losing 20% of its generation potential—not due to equipment failure, but from dust and bird droppings accumulating on its surface. According to data from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), uncleaned solar panels can suffer annual electricity generation losses of 4% to 25%, with even higher numbers in dusty regions like Champagne-Ardenne. Facing this dilemma, Chinese company Todos has introduced a fully automated solar panel cleaning robot, providing an innovative solution of “water-free dry cleaning + intelligent management” to redefine the standards for solar PV operation and maintenance in France.
Customized for the French Climate: All-Around Performance from the Alps to the Mediterranean
The core competitiveness of the Todos robot lies in its adaptability to France’s complex climate. Its spiral brush head, made from ultra-flexible modified nylon (PA610), can operate at adjustable speeds of 60-120 RPM to remove dust without scratching the photovoltaic panel glass. It maintains over 99% cleaning coverage in Marseille’s humid environments and Lyon’s industrial dust. With an IP65 protection rating and a wide temperature range from -30°C to 70°C, it can easily face the severe cold of the Alps and the heat of Provence, while its ability to traverse obstacles up to 22° perfectly suits France’s common uneven rooftop installation scenarios.
The energy self-supply system is ingeniously designed: a 24V/16Ah battery paired with a 55W solar panel can self-charge under an average of 4.5 hours of effective sunlight per day in France, allowing a single charge to clean distances of 1600 to 3000 meters. In foggy regions like Normandy, the robot can automatically adjust its cleaning frequency through the Todos Intelligent Cloud platform to ensure panel cleaning is completed before the optimal sunlight periods, minimizing power generation losses.
Economic Benefits: One Robot = 600,000 Euros Saved Over 15 Years
Taking a French 1MW solar power station as an example (with 1818 550W modules), traditional manual cleaning costs about 1200 to 6500 Euros per session (calculated at the French minimum wage of 11.52 Euros/hour). If cleaned four times a year for 15 years, the total cost can reach 72,000 to 585,000 Euros. In contrast, the Todos solution requires only three robots (with an initial investment of about 15,000 Euros), totaling less than one-fifth of the operational costs of traditional methods over 15 years.
The power generation gains are even more substantial: with a 20% efficiency improvement after cleaning, the station could increase its annual electricity generation by 600,000 kWh (with an average electricity price in France of 0.15 Euros per kWh), resulting in an annual revenue increase of approximately 90,000 Euros. Consequently, the investment payback period can be reduced to 1.7 years. This “zero water cost + low electricity cost” model is particularly advantageous for distributed power stations in Burgundy and community solar projects in the suburbs of Paris.
Intelligent Management: Seamless Monitoring from Bordeaux Vineyards to Data Centers
Through the Todos Intelligent Cloud platform, French users enjoy lifetime free software upgrades, with real-time access to cleaning reports, anomaly warnings, and reminders for materials replacement. Technicians in the Bordeaux vineyard office can remotely diagnose robot faults in Strasbourg using a mobile app—this “far-sighted” functionality fundamentally changes the response speed for traditional maintenance. For remote power stations, a satellite communication module can be optionally installed to replace 4G networks, ensuring that solar systems in Alpine ski resorts are accurately monitored.
A specially designed French-language interface and localized technical training allow French maintenance personnel to operate without worrying about language barriers. Each robot comes with a detailed maintenance manual (including video tutorials), enabling 90% of common issues to be resolved through remote guidance, significantly reducing dependence on external technical support.
Todos robots are infusing the concept of “cleaning equals profit” into France’s renewable energy industry. This solution, which combines Chinese manufacturing with European standards, is not just a technical export, but also a model of deep cooperation between China and France in the field of carbon neutrality. As the first rays of sunlight shine on the freshly cleaned solar panels, we see not only the production of electricity but also a bright future for sustainable development.
