Economic Effect of Dust Particles on Photovoltaic Plant Production

Joaquín Alonso-Montesinos, Francisco Rodríguez Martínez, Jesús Polo, Nuria Martín-Chivelet and Francisco Javier Batlles
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Joaquín Alonso-Montesinos: CIESOL, Joint Centre of the University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
Francisco Rodríguez Martínez: CIESOL, Joint Centre of the University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain
Jesús Polo: Photovoltaic Solar Energy Unit, Renewable Energy Division, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Nuria Martín-Chivelet: Photovoltaic Solar Energy Unit, Renewable Energy Division, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Francisco Javier Batlles: Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-24

Abstract: The performance of photovoltaic panels decreases depending on the different factors to which they are subjected daily. One of the phenomena that most affects their energy production is dust deposition. This is particularly acute in desert climates, where the level of solar radiation is extreme. In this work, the effect of dust soiling is examined on the electricity generation of an experimental photovoltaic pilot plant, installed at the Solar Energy Research Center (CIESOL) at the University of Almería. An average reduction of 5% of the power of a photovoltaic plant due to dust contamination has been obtained, this data being used to simulate the economic effect in plants of 9 kWp and 1 and 50 MWp. The economic losses have been calculated, and are capable of being higher than 150,000 €/year in industrial plants of 50 MWp. A cleaning strategy has also been presented, which represents a substantial economic outlay over the years of plant operation.

Keywords: photovoltaic production; soiling; solar economy; data mining; PV soiling; photovoltaic plant maintenance (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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