A comprehensive global review of building integrated photovoltaic systems

Rehman, Shafiqur; Aliyu, N; Alhems, Luai M.; Mohandes, A Mohammed; Himri, Y.; Allouhi, A.; Mahbub, Alam Sheikh

doi:10.5937/fme2102253r

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 108 publications

(101 reference statements)

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“…Known as Faisaliah Solar Power Project giant PV plant of 2,600 MW installed capacity is proposed for the Makkah region and being developed by the Saudi Ministry of Energy in phases [7]. Figure 2 highlights th status of solar PV projects in Saudi Arabia, including operational, under construction, an planned solar PV projects with their power capacities [4,5,[7][8][9]. The motivation for this research is that Saudi Arabia plans to develop several solar PV projects to supply its existing energy portfolio with clean energy sources, primarily from solar PV.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Known as Faisaliah Solar Power Project, a giant PV plant of 2,600 MW installed capacity is proposed for the Makkah region and is being developed by the Saudi Ministry of Energy in phases [7]. Figure 2 highlights the status of solar PV projects in Saudi Arabia, including operational, under construction, and planned solar PV projects with their power capacities [4,5,[7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Soiling on PV Module Performance in Saudi Arabia

Garni

2022

Energies

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Solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment is rapidly expanding around the world. However, the soiling factor has an impact on its performance. Saudi Arabia has high solar irradiation and plans to diversify its energy mix for electricity generation by deploying more solar PV across the country. However, it is located in an arid and desert environment, making it a challenging project due to dust accumulation on solar modules. The soiling and PV performance in Saudi Arabia are examined in this paper. Furthermore, it highlights several mitigation techniques that can be used to maintain PV performance through preventive and restorative measures. Furthermore, this study looks into the size and characterization of dust in Saudi Arabia, as well as the entire life cycle of dust accumulation on PV modules. In this review study, the performance of solar PV systems is evaluated under soiling in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Depending on the local environment and other factors, the PV performance has been reduced by somewhere between 2% and 50%. A single sandstorm reduced the module power output by 20%. As revealed in Dhahran, the PV module was exposed to an outdoor environment and not cleaned for 6 months resulting in a power drop of more than 50%. It is strongly advised to clean PV panels once a month or fewer to maintain a high-performance system. However, in the event of a dust storm, it is advised to clean the system immediately to avoid a major decline in PV performance. The bi-facial PV solar panels technology associated with solar trackers and utilizing robotic cleaning systems have maximized the received solar irradiation and minimized the soiling loss efficiently. The most common elements found in dust particles are primarily derived from the natural desert. It has been noted that the composition and sizes of dust particles depend heavily on the location of the PV module. It is concluded that dust accumulation and cleaning costs are not a significant barrier to large-scale, cost-effective solar PV deployments in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the central region, which is considered a high-suitable region for utility-size PV plants due to many factors. The results of this study are essential for enlightening the PV engineering community, investors, and the research community about how soiling may affect regions with significant solar potential, such as Saudi Arabia, and what potential soiling mitigation strategies may be considered to maintain high-performance solar PV projects.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Soiling on PV Module Performance in Saudi Arabia

Garni

2022

Energies

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“…PV panels are growing more popular because of their commercial acceptability, technological maturity, ease of installation, minimal equipment, negligible operational and maintenance costs, and distributive nature. In addition, power can be generated when sunlight and solar panels are available [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cleaning of Photovoltaic Panels Utilizing the Downward Thrust of a Drone

et al. 2022

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This study demonstrates that a drone flying above photovoltaic (PV) panels can clean the dust and enhance the panels’ efficiency. If operated regularly, the drone’s downward thrust generated during its cruise at a certain height above the panels can remove most of the accumulated dust. Sandstorms are frequent in Saudi Arabia, creating dust deposition on PV panels, which acts as a shield against solar radiation. As a result, the energy absorption from solar radiation is reduced and subsequently, the panels’ energy output is reduced. This experimental investigation was conducted at KFUPM University’s beach, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to prove the effectiveness of drone-based cleaning of PV panels. Volumes of 20, 50, and 100 CC of dust were spread on the panel during different experiments. These experimental results showed that the back thrust of the drone could remove most of the dust and improve the solar panels’ energy output performance. For example, for 50 CC dust spread on the panel, the current increased from 1.34 A to 2.16 A (61.2% increase), relative to the pre- and post-drone flight for horizontal movement of the drone. Similarly, for vertical and diagonal movements, the current increased by 69.83% and 68.03%, respectively, for a dust spread of 20 CC. Furthermore, dust reductions of 74.64%, 57.0%, and 78.4% were realized during the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal paths, respectively, of the drone flight for 50 CC dust spread.

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