Soiling Spectral and Module Temperature Effects: Comparisons of Competing Operating Parameters for Four Commercial PV Module Technologies

Antonia Sônia A. C. Diniz, Tulio P. Duarte, Suellen A. C. Costa, Daniel Sena Braga, Vinicius Camatta Santana and Lawrence L. Kazmerski
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Antonia Sônia A. C. Diniz: Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Brazil
Tulio P. Duarte: Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Brazil
Suellen A. C. Costa: Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Brazil
Daniel Sena Braga: Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Brazil
Vinicius Camatta Santana: Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Brazil
Lawrence L. Kazmerski: Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Brazil

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: The choice of a particular PV technology for best performance is sometimes based upon a single factor or single operating condition. However, many parameters have functionalities that oppose each under actual operating conditions. In this paper, the comparisons of different PV module technologies under moderate environmental conditions (Tropical Climate Zone, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) are explored based upon the two competing parameters of soiling-layer spectral effects and panel operating temperature. Specifically, low-bandgap PV technologies (e.g., Si or Cu(In,Ga)(SSe) 2 ) are reported to have performances less affected by the absorption of incoming sunlight than higher-bandgap absorbers (e.g., a-Si:H or CdTe). However, the opposite is true for operating temperatures, with higher bandgaps having advantages under higher-temperature operating conditions. We present a simple comparative soiling-temperature model with experimental collaborative data to address the following question: What is the controlling parameter of the combination of soiling spectral effects and temperature on lower- and higher-bandgap module technologies? Temperature coefficients are measured for groups of modules for the four technologies having bandgaps ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 eV. Additional optical absorption for the soiling layers in the range of 300 nm to ~600 nm is confirmed by transmission measurements. The data from our soiling monitoring stations indicate that these potential spectral effects are based on consistent differences in soiling ratios and soiling rates. Some differences between the model predications and experimental observations are discussed. This paper reports temperature and soiling regions of “best-of-class” performances for these four commercial PV technologies in this climate region based upon the two competing parameters.

Keywords: photovoltaics; soiling; spectral effects; temperature effects; competing operating parameters; technology comparisons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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