# Does cleaning our solar panels add to our emissions?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/solar-panel-cleaning-water-and-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](https://senseible.earth/answers/water-tanker-purchases-which-scope)
- [Solar net metering and Scope 2](https://senseible.earth/answers/rooftop-solar-net-metering-scope-2)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Corporate Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard), [GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance](https://ghgprotocol.org/scope-2-guidance)

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.