Organic Soiling: The Role of Pollen in PV Module Performance Degradation

Ricardo Conceição, Hugo G. Silva, José Mirão and Manuel Collares-Pereira
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Ricardo Conceição: Renewable Energies Chair, University of Evora, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal
Hugo G. Silva: Renewable Energies Chair, University of Evora, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal
José Mirão: Hercules Laboratory, University of Evora, 7000-089 Evora, Portugal
Manuel Collares-Pereira: Renewable Energies Chair, University of Evora, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: Soiling is a problem for solar energy harvesting technologies, such as in photovoltaic modules technologies. This paper describes not only one complete year of Soiling Ratioindex and rates measured in a rural environment of Southern Europe, but also focuses on the seasonal variation of the type of soiling, mainly spring and summer. The Soiling Ratio index is calculated based on the maximum power output and short circuit current of two photovoltaic (PV) panels, along with Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray of glass samples to provide visual and chemical inspection of the type of soiling. Mass accumulation on glass samples mounted on a “glass tree” was weekly measured with a microbalance and related with the Soiling Ratio metrics. Soiling rates were calculated to infer the degree of soiling for each season and the respective comparison made. Results show a soiling rate of 4.1%/month in April (spring), 1.9%/month in July (summer) and 1.6%/month in September (fall). Rain (the main natural cleaning agent of the photovoltaic modules) as well as aerosol optical depth (proxy for atmospheric particle concentration) were correlated with the Soiling Ratio. In-depth analysis on the type of organic soiling was performed.

Keywords: solar energy; photovoltaic module performance; organic soiling; Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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