Steve Williams
Solar operations, maintenance and safety specialist working to raise the standard of care for photovoltaic assets.
Field experience brought into industry practice
Steve Williams entered the UK solar industry in 2012 through Clean Solar Solutions Ltd, the business he still owns and leads. His work has since grown from operational delivery into solar maintenance, specialist training, technician competence and safety guidance.
His perspective was formed on real sites: rooftops with difficult access, ground-mounted arrays exposed to soiling and vegetation, commercial assets with demanding reporting requirements, and systems where a routine service visit reveals a wider maintenance concern.
Alongside Clean Solar Solutions Ltd, he leads Clean Solar Solutions America and the International Solar Cleaning Academy (ISCA), and serves as Lead Consultant for Solar O&M Consultancy Ltd. He has chaired solar-focused working groups for Solar Energy UK, the Power Washers of North America (PWNA) and the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA).
Leadership beyond his own businesses
Committee work has given Steve a platform to turn field problems into shared guidance, discussion and training priorities.
Solar Energy UK
Former Chair · Rooftop O&M Working GroupHelped bring practical rooftop maintenance and access concerns into the UK solar trade body's working group. He is named as chair in Solar Energy UK's published rooftop O&M guidance.
PWNA
Chair · Solar Cleaning CommitteeWorks with a US cleaning industry association to develop informed discussion and resources for professionals entering or operating in solar cleaning.
IWCA
Chair · Solar CommitteeSupports the profession's understanding of photovoltaic-specific methods, competence and risks where exterior cleaning trades meet solar assets.
From operations to education and standards
The same question runs through Steve's work: how can an asset owner know that solar maintenance was planned, performed and reported competently?
Entered the UK solar industry through the company he founded, still owns and leads today. Developed specialist solar cleaning and O&M approaches addressing access, site conditions, performance and useful reporting.
Chaired the Solar Energy UK Rooftop O&M Working Group and contributed to discussion around long-term maintainability and safer practice.
Serves as Lead Consultant for Solar O&M Consultancy Ltd and founded ISCA in 2022 to provide structured solar panel cleaning training, certification pathways and advanced safety education.
Established Clean Solar Solutions America, accepted solar committee chair roles with PWNA and IWCA, and organizes the Solar Panel Cleaning Convention.
“A solar array should be maintained as an electrical asset with a long operating life, not treated as a surface that simply needs washing.”
Steve Williams · approach to solar cleaning and O&M
What his work covers
Asset condition and performance
Soiling, deposits, biological contamination and site conditions are assessed in the context of energy yield, maintenance frequency and the owner's long-term plan for the asset.
Electrical and fire safety awareness
Field teams need to recognize visible warning signs, avoid work outside their competence, document concerns and escalate them to qualified personnel. Cleaning is never a substitute for electrical inspection.
Work at height and site hazards
Access method, roof condition, overhead power lines, birds, nesting and site-specific risks shape the job hazard analysis and the decision whether work should proceed.
Training and consistent methods
Through ISCA, Steve has developed foundation and advanced learning on solar cleaning practice, photovoltaic fire safety awareness, bird hazards and overhead power line awareness.
Equipment and safer systems
His current Dielectric Solar Cleaning Pole initiative is a developing consultation on clearer classification and testing expectations for specialist equipment used near energized PV systems.
Evidence and reporting
Photographs, condition observations, scope boundaries and clear handover information help an owner understand what was done, what was found and what needs a qualified follow-up.
Bringing the profession together
Solar Panel Cleaning Convention
Steve organizes the Solar Panel Cleaning Convention, creating a meeting point for contractors, manufacturers, educators and safety specialists to share field experience and examine new methods and equipment.
ISCA Awards
He sits as a judge for the ISCA Awards at its European and American events, assessing work within the specialist solar cleaning field. This is an ISCA role, distinct from his positions with external trade associations.
Explore the work behind the profile
These public resources show Steve's views in his own words and his involvement in established industry guidance.
The working group's published guidance identifies Steve as its chair.
Steve's Solar Energy UK commentary on specialist maintenance and the evolution of rooftop O&M.
His argument for treating cleaning as part of wider operations and maintenance planning.
The trade body's resource page for rooftop operations and maintenance guidelines.
External resources are maintained by their respective publishers. Committee roles and current projects are described as of September 2026.
Selected industry awards
Steve and businesses under his leadership have received recognition across solar maintenance, innovation and energy efficiency. The distinctions below include both individual and company awards.
- Solar Maintenance Company of the Year · 2017 and 2022
- Renewable Energy Business Development Director of the Year · third place, 2018
- Energy Efficiency Champion · 2018 and 2024
- UK Solar Innovator of the Year · 2019
Discuss solar O&M, safety or professional training
For industry collaboration, speaking, technical discussion or a project enquiry, contact Steve through Clean Solar Solutions America.
Contact Clean Solar Solutions America →