It goes without saying that solar electric systems do well in sunny climates. All else equal, the more sun, the better. Regions that get the most sun, however, often come with a lot of dust, which can be a drag on solar panel efficiency. In the absence of rain showers — which typically do a fine job at rinsing panels — what’s a solar energy system owner to do? A group of clever scientists, which yesterday presented a report at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, may have the answer:

The self-cleaning technology involves deposition of a transparent, electrically sensitive material deposited on glass or a transparent plastic sheet covering the panels. Sensors monitor dust levels on the surface of the panel and energize the material when dust concentration reaches a critical level. The electric charge sends a dust-repelling wave cascading over the surface of the material, lifting away the dust and transporting it off of the screen’s edges.

Inspired by a solution that was originally developed by NASA for use on Mars, the technology has the potential to save labor hours and, perhaps more important, water — a precious resource in arid climes.

The leader of the study, Malay K. Mazumder, noted that even small amounts of dust can pose challenges. ”A dust layer of one-seventh of an ounce per square yard decreases solar power conversion by 40 percent,” he said. “In Arizona, dust is deposited each month at about 4 times that amount. Deposition rates are even higher in the Middle East, Australia, and India.”

While homeowners may still find it easiest to get out the garden hose, this self-cleaning solar panel technology is evidence that folks in the industry are working hard to find smart solutions to a range of issues.