| Work Detail |
Scientists have measured the performance of photovoltaic modules in heavily soiled conditions in Saudi Arabia and identified the most suitable tilt angles to improve power generation. They have also found that the intensity of rain, dust, sandstorms and cloud cover play a key role. A research group comprising scientists from Saudi Arabia and the UK has conducted a year-long experiment to analyse the impact of dust and tilt angle on photovoltaic performance in a desert environment and found that the intensity of rain, dust, sandstorms and cloud cover play a key role in the performance of solar modules. “Jeddah is one of the worst dirt accumulation areas in the world, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Central Asia,” the group explained. “The city is characterised by a desert environment with high temperatures, low rainfall, drought conditions and winds that cause dust and sand storms.” The experimental setup included seven pairs of PV modules installed in Jeddah city at angles of 0?, 15?, 25?, 45?, 60?, 75? and 90?. One panel in each pair was cleaned daily, while the other accumulated dust throughout the year. During the 12-month trial, the PV module’s performance was monitored and recorded minute by minute. In addition, an air quality monitoring system measured airborne particulate matter (PM), allowing a correlation to be established between dust episodes and performance variations. For further analysis, the team also flagged periods of light rain, dust storms, heavy rain, long-term dust accumulation and cloudy days. The photovoltaic panels were based on polycrystalline cells and each had a nominal power of 10 W. All panels were oriented south on 150 cm poles. Clean panels were installed at a height of 80 cm, while dusty ones were installed above. A distance of 120 cm was maintained between each pair of tilted panels. The 90? angled modules experienced technical problems, which led to their partial elimination from the analysis. “The results revealed that dust accumulation significantly reduces energy output, with a reduction of up to 80.4% observed after 183 days without rain for a module at 0? angle,” the group said. “Rain significantly helped clean the PV modules by removing dirt buildup naturally, especially on those with steeper angles. However, lower rainfall intensities (<1 mm/day) increased dust accumulation and adhesion, causing cementation on the module at 0? angle.” More for the results, throughout the year, the 25? was able to maintain the best results with dust, with an average output of 4.76 W. That represents a normalized power of 0.73 over the 12-month period. 0?, 15?, 45?, 60?, 75? and 90? were able to produce 0.5, 0.61, 0.65, 0.48, 0.37 and 0.23, respectively. The 25? panels also remained in the lead in the dry period, with an average power output of 4.28 W. On the other hand, in the rainy period, the 45? panels have demonstrated the best performances, with an average power output of 6.05 W. “The study highlighted the critical role of environmental factors such as rainfall intensity, dust, sandstorms, and cloud cover on PV module performance,” the team concluded. “By identifying the optimal tilt and understanding environmental patterns, this research provided valuable guidelines for improving the efficiency and longevity of solar panel installations in desert environments.” The results were presented in “ Impact of dust and tilt angle on the photovoltaic performance in a desert environment,” published in Solar Energy . The study was carried out by scientists from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz University of Taif and the University of Southampton in the UK. |
