[austincheney]

I have noticed it does not take long for solar panels in Kuwait to be coated in layers of dust. Does this reduce efficiency by any measurable amount?

[D_Alex]

Yes, the loss is quite significant, and of course dependent on how much dust has accumulated. The effect is worse in countries near the equator, as the panels are installed with a lesser tilt. 70% losses have been reported in some studies.

See eg; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403211...

[philipkglass]

Yes, the effect is significant. But there are robots specifically designed for frequent, water-free cleanings in dusty regions:

https://www.ecoppia.com/