Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Soiling at solar plants can lead to up to 80% energy-yield losses annually in some regions, if they are not cleaned regularly. Billions of liters of potable water are wasted to clean these plants. Sol Clarity's patented technology, the Electrodynamic screen (EDS) can clean solar modules using water-free, autonomous, non-contact cleaning, without the use of moving parts or manual labor, just using static electricity. The EDS can remove over 90% of the dust on PV collectors, restoring over 95% of the lost output power in laboratory tests; thereby growing solar while saving over 14 billion liters of water per year. 

Sol Clarity was formed in 2021 as the continuation of a research project from Boston University. The company was created in order to develop the EDS technology to a commercialization point, with the ultimate goal of supporting the growth of clean energy across global markets.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Replaces/avoids GHGs (e.g., projects that replace sources of GHGs, such as the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, transport, or other energy uses), Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption)

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

On the business side, our project is supported by women and minority employees. As a company in the climate tech space, often not a diverse or supportive space for women and people of color, we note these failings and try to support and employ underrepresented individuals whenever possible within our operations and public messaging. 

On the implementation side, our technology seeks to empower climate vulnerable and minority communities by offering a solution for solar panel soiling. The expansion of solar as a primary energy source will allow for solar infrastructure and dependency to grow in arid regions, which are often also some of the poorest regions of the world. These benefits will directly empower underrepresented communities by preserving water sources and reducing the need for human labor in hot, hazardous conditions. 

Furthermore, our project will make solar energy a more reliable and widespread energy source in communities that are simultaneously more vulnerable to soiling and more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These benefits will be especially positive for women. According to a UN Chronicle article on Solar Sister, an organization supporting women in bringing clean energy solutions to underserved communities in Africa, studies show that access to clean energy is correlated to better livelihoods for women. 

The EDS will be instrumental in expanding reliance on solar energy as a clean energy source, thereby mitigating climate change globally and reducing negative climate impacts on traditionally underrepresented communities while supporting the livelihoods of minorities within those communities.

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Mission Statement:

We are a seed stage startup based out of Greentown Labs in Somerville, MA. 

All of our employees are based in the US (5 in MA and 1 in FL). 

We have an ongoing medium scale field trial running in AZ, and are setting up another in Chile. 

Our first commercial pilot on full scale solar panels is lined up for a solar field in Townsend, MA. The Keeling Prize proceeds will be used towards this pilot.

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