Solar energy dust and soiling R&amp;D progress: Literature review update for 2016

Costa, Suellen Caroline Silva; Diniz, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso; Kazmerski, Lawrence L.

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.015

Cited by 158 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 127 publications

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“…Air pollution causes an additional reduction in PV performance by dust accumulation on the solar panel. A discussion about the impact of different types of aerosols is given in [55], a general overview of the field is given in [56].…”

Section: Air Pollution and Soilingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban haze and photovoltaics

Peters

Karthik²,

Liu

et al. 2018

Energy Environ. Sci.

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Urban haze is a multifaceted threat. Foremost a major health hazard, it also affects the passage of light through the lower atmosphere. In this paper, we present a study addressing the impact of haze on the performance pf photovoltaic installations in cities. Using long-term, high resolution field data from Delhi and Singapore we derive an empirical relation between reduction in insolation and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration. This approach enables a straightforward way to estimate air pollution related losses to photovoltaic power generation anywhere on the planet. For Delhi, we find that insolation received by silicon PV panels was reduced by 11.5% ± 1.5% or 200 kWh/m 2 per year between 2016 and 2017 due to air pollution. We extended this analysis to 16 more cities around the planet and estimated insolation reductions ranging from 2.0% (Singapore) to 9.1% (Beijing). Using spectrum data from Singapore, we projected how other photovoltaic technologies would be affected and found an additional reduction compared to silicon of between 23% relative for GaAs and 42% for a 1.64 eV perovskite material. Considering current installation targets and local prices for electricity, we project that annual losses in revenue from photovoltaic installations could exceed 20 million USD for Delhi alone, indicating that annual economic damage from air pollution to photovoltaic site operators and investors worldwide could be billions of dollars. Motivation:In June 2013, three of the authors of this paper, I. M. Peters, L. Haohui and A. Nobre, lived in Singapore and were witnesses of the most severe haze event to have occurred in the city to date. For a couple of days, the pollutant standard index (PSI) jumped from its usual value of about 25 to over 200. The normally clear view from our office windows on the sixth floor became filled with an impenetrable fog that swallowed up neighboring buildings. Face masks were sold out in a matter of hours. People were panicking. The event, in many ways, served as a wake-up call. Given our research focus on photovoltaic installations, we wanted to investigate the impact of haze on solar cell performance. From the reduced visibility it was evident that haze must have an effect, and we set out to quantify it. This paper summarizes our understanding so far. We have since learned about the devastating effects of urban air pollution on human health. This paper adds another aspect -the detrimental effect on photovoltaic power generation due to the reduction of light received. We hope that, in a small way, we can help raise awareness and make progress to improve the quality of life in what more and more people call home in the 21 st century -cities.

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Section: Air Pollution and Soilingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban haze and photovoltaics

Peters

Karthik²,

Liu

et al. 2018

Energy Environ. Sci.

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“…Soiling can easily cause more than 1% power loss per day [1][2][3][4] and is a site-specific phenomenon, strongly influenced by local climatic conditions. 1,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The predominant type of contamination could change considerably depending on the location: mineral dust deposits 1 (Figure 1A), bird droppings ( Figure 1B), biofilms of bacteria, algae, lichen, mosses, or fungi [12][13][14] ( Figure 1C), plant debris or pollen 15 (Figure 1D), engine exhausts or industry emissions ( Figure 1E), and agricultural emissions such as feed dusts ( Figure 1F).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-Economic Assessment of Soiling Losses and Mitigation Strategies for Solar Power Generation

Ilse

Micheli

Figgis

et al. 2019

Joule

254

123

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Soiling consists of the deposition of contaminants onto photovoltaic (PV) modules or mirrors and tubes of concentrated solar power systems (CSPs). It often results in a drastic reduction of power generation, which potentially renders an installation economically unviable and therefore must be mitigated. On the other hand, the corresponding costs for cleaning can significantly increase the price of energy generated. In this work, the importance of soiling is assessed for the global PV and CSP key markets. Even in optimized cleaning scenarios, soiling reduces the current global solar power production by at least 3%-4%, with at least 3-5 billion V annual revenue losses, which could rise to 4%-7%, and more than 4-7 billion V losses, in 2023. Therefore, taking into account the underlying physics of natural soiling processes and the regional cleaning costs, a techno-economic assessment of current and proposed soiling mitigation strategies such as innovative coating materials is presented. Accordingly, the research and development needs and challenges in addressing soiling are discussed.

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“…For this, each study within the PV soiling research is significant, as each work is achieved under different environmental circumstances, in addition to the existence of several variations within the experimental and analytical formulation of the research problem in hand. In that sense, several research lines in literature can be found tackling the PV soiling issue from many distinct angles, for example, Costa et al [10] presents periodic literature review in order to compile and assess the most recent and up-to-date publications related to soiling of PV modules. Recently, Menoufi [8] has presented a novel concept through an empirical research work (The Photovoltaic Soiling Index-PVSI) calling for the standardization of the soiling studies related to PV systems so that their results could be compared.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soiling of Photovoltaic Modules: Comparing between Two Distinct Locations within the Framework of Developing the Photovoltaic Soiling Index (PVSI)

Alquthami

Menoufi

2019

Sustainability

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This article evaluates the impact of dust accumulation on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules in two different locations inside Egypt, Cairo and Beni-Suef. Two identical PV modules were used for that purpose, where each module was exposed to the outdoor environment in order to collect dust naturally for a period of three weeks, each in its corresponding location. The approximate dust density on each of the two PV modules was estimated. Moreover, the electrical performance was evaluated and compared under the same indoor testing conditions. The results show a better electrical performance and less dust density for the PV module located in Cairo compared to that located in Beni-Suef. The results further provide an indication for the impact of soling in different locations within the same country through a clear and simple procedure. In addition, it paves the way for establishing a Photovoltaic Soiling Index (PVSI) in terms of a Photovoltaic Dust Coefficient, as well as a Photovoltaic Dust Interactive Map. The product of such concepts could be used by the Photovoltaic systems designers everywhere in order to estimate the impact of dust on the future performance of PV modules in small and large installations in different regions around the globe, and during different times of the year as well.

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Solar energy dust and soiling R&D progress: Literature review update for 2016

Cited by 158 publications

References 127 publications

Urban haze and photovoltaics

Urban haze and photovoltaics

Techno-Economic Assessment of Soiling Losses and Mitigation Strategies for Solar Power Generation

Soiling of Photovoltaic Modules: Comparing between Two Distinct Locations within the Framework of Developing the Photovoltaic Soiling Index (PVSI)

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