EcoServ: Helping a Local Business Clean Solar Panels More Safely, Efficiently and Sustainably
Funding awarded: £26,000 from Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund
Organisation: EcoServ, a Cynon-based exterior cleaning business specialising in solar panel cleaning.
Website case study
EcoServ is a well-established small business based in Cynon, providing exterior cleaning services across the Pen y Cymoedd Fund communities and the wider South Wales area. Since 2013, the business has built a strong reputation in window cleaning and solar panel cleaning, helping customers keep their solar panels performing effectively through regular maintenance.
With demand for solar panel cleaning growing across residential, commercial and agricultural settings, EcoServ identified an opportunity to expand its service and take on larger-scale work. The business applied to Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund for support to purchase a specialist robotic solar panel cleaning system, including training and delivery.
The Fund awarded £26,000 towards the total project cost of £43,980. This investment enabled EcoServ to buy the equipment needed to clean larger solar arrays more safely, more efficiently and more competitively, while strengthening the long-term resilience of the business.
The challenge
As solar panel installations continue to increase, there is a growing need for professional cleaning services that can help panels operate at their best. For EcoServ, traditional manual cleaning methods limited the type and scale of work the business could take on. Some installations were difficult to access safely, while larger commercial and agricultural arrays required a faster and more cost-effective approach.
EcoServ had already identified strong interest from solar installers and customers, but needed the right equipment to respond to this demand and grow into new markets.
The funding
Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund supported EcoServ with a £26,000 award towards a robotic solar panel cleaning system. The robot has enabled the business to clean panels at height more safely, reduce labour-intensive work, complete jobs faster and improve the quality of results for customers.
This investment directly supports the Fund’s commitment to helping independent businesses strengthen their financial security, achieve sustainable growth and build long-term resilience.
The outcomes
The impact of the funding has been significant. EcoServ reports that the robotic system can clean solar panels four times faster than previous methods, allowing the business to work more efficiently, quote for larger contracts and offer more competitive pricing.
The equipment has also improved safety by reducing the need for manual access to difficult areas, while helping EcoServ deliver better results for customers. Importantly, it has opened up new contracts and changed the scale of opportunity available to the business.
As well as the direct benefit of the equipment, EcoServ has also taken part in business growth training funded by Pen y Cymoedd. This provided practical advice, helped build confidence and created opportunities to connect with other local businesses.
In their words
“It’s been amazing. We purchased the robot and it has allowed us to clean solar panels safely, more efficiently but also with better results for the customer. It can do the cleaning four times faster and has opened up new contracts for us. We are quoting for larger contracts and solar arrays, and we can also offer more competitive pricing.
We want to thank everyone at PyC so much. It has been amazing — not just the funding but the support from the PyC team. We are now more credible and it has changed the trajectory of the business.”
Why this matters
EcoServ’s story shows how targeted investment in local businesses can support innovation, improve productivity and create the conditions for sustainable growth. By enabling a small business to access specialist equipment, the Fund has helped EcoServ move into larger markets, improve service quality and build confidence for the future.
The funding is already helping EcoServ to increase its capacity and credibility, while supporting the wider transition to renewable energy by helping solar panels remain clean, efficient and well maintained.
The Fund was established by energy company Vattenfall to benefit the communities hosting the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm across the upper Neath, Afan, Rhondda and Cynon Valleys. It exists to support local people, groups and organisations to invest in themselves, their ideas and their communities.
The Community Fund has a substantial annual budget that is index-linked, meaning it increases in line with inflation. As an example, this equated to around £2.5 million in 2025. The Fund will continue to support communities until 2043, creating long-term opportunities for growth, resilience and positive change.
The Fund is managed by an independent, locally based not-for-profit Community Interest Company. It is overseen by a Board of Directors with strong local connections and delivered by a small but dedicated staff team with extensive community engagement experience. We are here to help ensure the Fund delivers on the vision and priorities of local communities.
Over the next 10 years, the Fund is focusing on investment in people, places and businesses — helping the Valleys to thrive, driving bold ideas, supporting transformation and creating lasting impact for current and future generations.