Minimization of Economic Losses in Photovoltaic System Cleaning Schedules Based on a Novel Methodological Framework for Performance Ratio Forecast and Cost Analysis

Fabian Zuñiga-Cortes (), Juan D. Garcia-Racines, Eduardo Caicedo-Bravo and Hernan Moncada-Vega
Additional contact information
Fabian Zuñiga-Cortes: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Universidad del Valle, Calle 13 # 100-00, Cali 760032, Colombia
Juan D. Garcia-Racines: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Universidad del Valle, Calle 13 # 100-00, Cali 760032, Colombia
Eduardo Caicedo-Bravo: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Universidad del Valle, Calle 13 # 100-00, Cali 760032, Colombia
Hernan Moncada-Vega: Maintenance Planning Department of T&D, Celsia S.A., Calle 15 # 29B-30, Autopista Cali-Yumbo, Yumbo 760502, Colombia

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: The growing interest in deploying photovoltaic systems and achieving their benefits as sustainable energy supplier raises the need to seek reliable medium-term and long-term operations with optimal performance and efficient use of economic resources. Cleaning scheduling is one of the activities that can positively impact performance. This work proposes a methodological framework to define the optimal scheduling of the cleaning activities of photovoltaic systems. The framework integrates a forecast model of the performance ratio, including the environmental variables’ effect. In addition, an economic analysis involving the economic losses and maintenance costs of cleaning is used. This framework is applied to a case study of a photovoltaic system located in Yumbo, Colombia. Based on the historical data on irradiance, active energy, temperature, rainfall, and wind speed, the obtained forecast model of the photovoltaic system’s performance ratio in a 60-day horizon has a mean absolute percentage error lesser of than 11%. The next cleaning date is forecasted to be beyond the horizon in a 19-day range, which will decrease as time goes by. This framework was applied to historical data and compared to actual cleaning dates performed by the utility company. The results show a loss of USD 33.616 due to unnecessary, early, or late cleaning activities.

Keywords: cleaning schedule; economic losses; forecast model; performance ratio (PR); photovoltaic systems (PV) (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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