Researchers from the University of Toledo in Ohio have invented a device for passively removing snow from solar panels during the winter months when photovoltaic systems can often suffer damage and experience energy losses due to snow accumulation.

The strip device, which is called Snow-Free Solar, passively removes snow when applied to the lower edge of solar panels.

To test the device, researchers applied the strip to panels at roughly 150 solar plants where they effectively melted snow without preventing the absorption of sunlight.

According to its developers, the strips can also be easily applied to both new and old solar panels and they require no energy to passively remove the snow.

The company explained: “Our strip coating does not interfere with absorption of sunlight or panel efficiency at any time, does not cause any partial shading or hotspots on the panel, and does not invalidate module warranty and in fact improves the lifetime of the module.”

During trials of the strip device — conducted in both the U.S. and Japan — the researchers reportedly achieved an annual increase in power generation of more than 5%.