Does cleaning our solar panels add to our emissions?

Only a little. Water bought for cleaning and a contractor's service are small Scope 3 items. A diesel pump used for cleaning is Scope 1. The bigger effect runs the other way: dusty panels generate less, so more power comes from the grid.

What to count

• Tanker water bought for cleaning: Scope 3.
• A cleaning contract: Scope 3 purchased services.
• Your own diesel pump or vehicle: Scope 1.

What to watch

Compare generation before and after cleaning. If output rises noticeably, more frequent cleaning cuts grid units and Scope 2.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads quantities, dates and units from your bills and invoices and shows the factor and source used on every line.

• Water tanker purchases
• Solar net metering and Scope 2

Sources: GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.