About SolarOptim

Increasing power production for utility scale PV solar farms with a fast and adaptable robotic washer.

Our Founders

With an impressive legacy spanning over 25 years, Chris and Carrie Nystrom have successfully founded and expanded both a commercial and industrial cleaning company, along with an equipment sales business supplying robotic cleaning systems across Canada. Their extensive experience has underscored the notion that sustainability and practicality can go hand in hand, firmly believing in the potential to develop environmentally responsible solutions across various industries through strategic partnerships and a dedication to innovation. When approached by one of the worlds leading solar companies to devise a novel solution for cleaning solar farms, our team deliberately prioritized simplicity, water optimization, and adaptability into our product design features.

Confronting the formidable challenge of reducing the water footprint in utility-scale O&M, we collaborated with leading engineering experts to design a user-friendly robotic cleaning solution that effectively achieves this objective. This groundbreaking innovation not only creates job opportunities for local community members in nearby solar farms but also empowers asset owners to maximize power generation levels, thus enhancing MW and revenue potential per square mile/kilometer. Consequently, it mitigates the necessity for overbuilding and excessive land consumption to meet renewable energy targets.

Our Vision

Our journey in product development began with a request from a leading global O&M company seeking an innovative solution to intricate soiling issues. Over the past five years, we have meticulously developed a product to address complex soiling challenges in Australia, navigating through a myriad of challenging operating conditions such as water scarcity, skilled labor shortages, and remote harsh environments, while implementing safe and robust operating methods.

Our overarching mission is to pioneer innovative products that propel the solar industry towards achieving net-zero targets by optimizing power generation capacity and minimizing water usage through O&M cleaning strategies. With a vision to revolutionize solar cleaning, we aim to create robotic solutions adaptable to any solar farm, operated by local labor, and fostering sustainable increases in renewable energy production.

As of 2023, with 2 billion panels already in operation and 1 billion more installed annually, there are millions of kilometers of panels to be washed with millions more projected to come online by 2030.

Become a Partner

History

In 2014, our founders recognized the need for solar panel cleaning and started exploring available solutions. With a background in robotic cleaning in other industries, we soon took on technical support roles in North and South America for an European tractor mounted solution learning first-hand the challenges in cleaning solar panels. By 2016, we were being asked by a global O&M to develop new approaches to removing snow and tackling the toughest soiling challenges in Australia. Through rapid prototyping with engineering partners and real-world testing in challenging environments, we have evolved from a fixed brush used to clean 2 million panels to the current rotary brush – RB1 that we have already tested on multiple sites in Australia, Canada, and the USA. We are now ready to continue making history with a highly adaptable, effective, and efficient product.

2014

Began market research into cleaning technologies for O&M Solar Market.

2015

Began training USA solar O&M companies on European Tractor Solution.

2016

Request from Global O&M company to design a snow brush.

2017

Snow brush developed, integrated and tested with tractor system

2018

Technical support and training expanded to South America.

2019

Fixed brush single panel tracker development and prototype testing in Australia.

2020

Development with NAIT on FB1 (Fixed Brush One) washer. FB1 sold to O&M in Australia.

2021

FB1 washes 500,000 panel Australian solar farm. Development with RDP on FB2 and Rotary brush prototype begins.

2022

Patent filed. FB2 shipped and washing begins on 880,000 panel Australian site.

2023

Won contract to wash 500,000 panel farm in Australia. Rotary Brush One (RB1) developed with Exergy Solutions tested in Australia, USA, and Canada.

2024

Rotary Brush One (RB1) enhancements and multi-site testing in Australia.

Exergy Solutions, In Collaboration with SolarOptim

The collaboration between SolarOptim and Exergy Solutions represents a paradigm of strategic partnership and innovative project management, with Exergy strengthening our team with its robust blend of leadership, expertise, and support. Exergy extends beyond the realm of traditional engineering services to offer fractional project management and expert consulting, including the invaluable insight of senior executives. This partnership is anchored in a mutual confidence in SolarOptim's vision and a dedicated commitment to the success of our product. By combining our efforts, we strategically navigate the stages of ideation, design, prototyping, and the integration of crucial field feedback, guaranteeing a product that not only achieves but surpasses client expectations. Exergy's deep engagement and consistent backing not only fortify SolarOptim's market position but also significantly elevate our presence within the industry. This synergistic alliance propels us towards adopting technically astute solutions that are both cost-effective and strategically poised, embodying the essence of true collaboration and agile innovation.

Learn More About Exergy