Enhanced Photovoltaic Soiling in an Urban Environment

Conference · Thu Feb 06 04:00:00 EST 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8980735· OSTI ID:1603904

Toth, Sarah ^[1]; Hannigan, Michael ^[2]; Vance, Marina ^[2]; Deceglie, Michael G ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
2. University of Colorado

Natural soiling, or the deposition of ambient particulate matter (PM) onto the surface of solar glass, causes losses in PV production around the world. Much work in the PV community has focused on soiling in dusty desert environments. However, PV systems in urban environments are exposed to different contaminants and thus soil differently. We present an analysis of PV soiling in such an urban environment considering the impacts of meteorological parameters. We present 1 year of results from a soiling station in an urban location in Colorado. Bare glass samples were exposed outdoors for 11 days alongside the station; results from microscopy and light transmittance measurements show how moisture and dew affect the morphology and optics of contamination on glass. The coupon results suggest that natural (rain) cleanings may not be sufficient to clean solar panels in urban environments. Ion chromatography of soiling on the reference cell surfaces suggest that dry brush cleanings may not sufficiently clean chemicals deposited on solar panel surfaces in urban environments.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1603904
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-5K00-74102
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
42 ENGINEERING
photovoltaic cells
soil
solar energy
solar panels