17-05-2025
Startup develops drone to clean solar plant in 30 minutes
Nagpur: A startup incubated at
Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth
(PDKV), Akola, developed a drone that can clean a 1-megawatt solar energy project in just 30 minutes using clean water, significantly improving efficiency.
Developed under the guidance of Dr SR Kalbande, director of PDKV-RIF and dean of agricultural engineering, in collaboration with Indian Drone Research and Development Pvt Ltd, the drone offers a faster, automated, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional manual cleaning.
PDKV's 600-KW solar project faces challenges in rooftop panel cleaning, which affects efficiency due to the accumulated dust on it. "This drone not only reduces cost and water usage but also increases energy production through clean panels," said Ashish Bhaskar Hande, managing director and CEO.
"Our goal is to strengthen India's clean energy mission with the help of indigenous and sustainable technology."
Dr Kalbande added, "By providing technical guidance to the startup and helping them every time, our objective is to create a startup ecosystem in our region."
This idea promotes national campaigns such as Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and the spread of green technology. The project, supported by vice-chancellor Dr Sharad Gadakh, was successfully demonstrated at the College of Agricultural Engineering, in the presence of faculty and students.
