Many of the houses we work on are close to the sea. Salt carried on the wind settles on everything, and over years it attacks metal that was not chosen for it. The panels themselves cope well; the weak points are the fixings, the frames where metals meet, and the connectors. Most of the protection is decided when the system is designed, not afterwards with a cloth.
This guide is about what is specific to the coast: salt and corrosion. For how often to clean panels anywhere, see how often should you clean solar panels.
What salt does, and to what
Salt deposits on metal hold moisture, and moist salt makes corrosion run faster. On the coast that means:
- Fixings and bolts: ordinary or cheaply plated steel rusts. The rust stains the roof and, worse, weakens the fixing.
- Where two metals touch: aluminium rails with steel bolts, or clamps of a different metal, can corrode where they meet if they are not separated or chosen to work together.
- Frames and rails: anodised aluminium holds up well; scratched or cut edges are where corrosion starts.
- Connectors and cable entries: salt and moisture in a poorly sealed connector cause faults that show up as lost production or an inverter alarm.
- The inverter: mounted outside and exposed to sea air, its housing and vents take the brunt. Inside, or under cover, it lasts better.
The glass of a panel is not harmed by salt, but a salt film does let less light through until rain or cleaning removes it.
Choosing materials for the coast
Ask what the mounting system and fixings are made of. Stainless steel fixings are standard on good installations; for the most exposed sites the more corrosion-resistant grades are the better choice. Rails and clamps should come from the same system, designed to be used together, rather than mixed parts.
For the panels themselves, ask whether the model has been tested for salt mist. The international test for this is IEC 61701, and manufacturers state on the datasheet or certificate whether a panel passed it and at what severity. A panel for a house on the front line should have it.
We choose materials and components per site. If you are close to the sea, tell us, and ask us which parts we use and why.
Where the inverter goes
On the coast we prefer to mount the inverter indoors, in a garage or utility room, or at least under cover and out of the direct wind. Shade and ventilation matter too, because inverters dislike heat. See what maintenance a solar inverter needs.
Wind comes with the coast
Coastal sites are also windier. Wind loads and corrosion are linked: a fixing that has lost strength to rust is also a fixing that holds less against a storm. Our guide on protecting solar panels from strong winds covers the mounting side.
A yearly look
You do not need to climb onto the roof to keep an eye on a coastal system. Look from the ground, a terrace or a window, and use the production figures in the app. The checklist below lists what to look for. If you see rust on fixings, loose parts or white crust on connectors, call us rather than touching it; parts on the roof are connected to live cables.
Cleaning near the sea
Rain removes most dust but not always all the salt. A salt film shows as a greyish haze on the glass. If production in the app drops on clear days and the panels look hazy, cleaning helps. Use plain, soft water and a soft brush, never a pressure washer, abrasives or detergents that the panel maker does not allow, and never from the panels themselves. On a roof, leave it to people with the right equipment; we work with a cleaning partner for this.
Along the coast
We install from the north to the south of the Costa Blanca. If you are near the water, we take that into account in the design, and you can ask for a quote with that in mind.
