The impact of dust on the efficiency of various photovoltaic panels: An experimental study

Abstract

Currently, numerous countries are making substantial investments in solar energy to ensure a sustainable fulfillment of their energy requirements. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of photovoltaic (PV) systems is impacted by a variety of factors, including ambient temperature, module age, and dust accumulation. This study advances both theoretical modeling and practical experimentation by analyzing different PV module technologies under varying dust conditions to evaluate their efficiency. The experimental analysis was conducted on solar installations situated on the rooftops of National School Of Applied Sciences (ENSA) (longitude 8.43°W and latitude 33.25°N) and the Faculty of Science (longitude 8.48°W and latitude 33.22°N), in El-Jadida city, Morocco. The results reveal significant efficiency reductions in dusty modules, with losses ranging from 3 % to 14 %. Dust accumulation presents challenges, causing shadow effects and multiple peaks in power-voltage curves, particularly affecting polycrystalline modules. Furthermore, amorphous, polycrystalline, and monocrystalline silicon modules showed high power degradation rates of 2.18 %/year, 2.05 %/year, and 1.70 %/year, respectively, exceeding standard expectations due to environmental factors and lack of maintenance. These findings underscore the necessity of maintenance plans to ensure the long-term efficiency and viability of PV systems, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and cleaning to maximize energy output and reduce maintenance costs.