Dust impact on concentrated solar power: A review

Abstract

Many sites with high solar radiation face high dust loads that reduce energy generation by concentrated solar power plants. This review presents the attenuative impacts of atmospheric aerosols, as well as reflectivity losses due to soiling of solar reflectors, by covering both experimental investigations and numerical studies; along with presenting the theoretical background. The chemical nature of aerosols, and the physics of soiling and atmospheric extinction phenomena (scattering and absorption) are also reviewed. Suspended particles like aerosols result in atmospheric extinction of the solar radiation that reaches the concentrators, and the deposition of these particles on the solar reflectors provokes decreases up to 80% in their reflectivity, and thus enhances the cumulus of optical losses and the reduction of energy production. Even though dust affects both CSP and photovoltaics, CSP technologies suffer more losses. The impact of dust should be particularly considered during the planning phase of solar thermal plants, since its consequent reduction in energy output can be severe. While there have been multiple papers to review dust-related problems for PV, the present paper is the first literature review dedicated to the impact of soiling on concentrated solar power.

Experimental modeling of atmospheric discharge phenomena and charged dust particle interactions

“…As a result, dust particles present in the lower atmosphere can be carried to higher altitudes through this circulation, contributing to the vertical transport of dust particles. Indirectly, solar-driven ionospheric processes interact with dust grains, further influencing their dynamics and participating in the overall vertical transport of particles in the upper atmospheric layers (Schepanski et al, 2014;Zereg et al, 2022).…”

Impacts of Renewable Energy Generation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review

“…Both CSP and solar PV are impacted by dust, but CSP experiences more losses. Since dust can significantly reduce energy output, it is important to take this into account when designing CSP plants [61]. Both the ambient temperature and sandstorms affect the variability and uncertainty of solar PV, which is important to know during the planning phase of the solar PV project [62,63].…”

The Impact of Dust Deposition on PV Panels’ Efficiency and Mitigation Solutions: Review Article

“…Smaller particles tend to occupy more surface area than coarse particles, thereby reducing radiation and leading to the deterioration of PV performance [63][64][65]. Fine particles are more stably concentrated than coarse ones [66,67], leading to higher light diffusion, especially at lower wavelengths, and more radiation loss [68]. The degradation may increase with high humidity when microscopic dust particles stick to the surface, forming adhesive films that are not easily removed by wind [69].…”