Photovoltaic Cleaning Frequency Optimization Under Different Degradation Rate Patterns

Micheli, Leonardo; Theristis, Marios; Talavera, Diego L.; Almonacid, Florencia; Stein, Joshua S.; Fernandez, Eduardo F.

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.044

Photovoltaic Cleaning Frequency Optimization Under Different Degradation Rate Patterns

Journal Article · Thu Nov 12 23:00:00 EST 2020 · Renewable Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.044· OSTI ID:1725847

Micheli, Leonardo ^[1]; Theristis, Marios ^[2]; Talavera, Diego L. ^[1]; Almonacid, Florencia ^[1]; Stein, Joshua S. ^[2]; Fernandez, Eduardo F. ^[1]

Univ. of Jaen (Spain)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Dust accumulation significantly affects the performance of photovoltaic modules and its impact can be mitigated by various cleaning methods. Optimizing the cleaning frequency is essential to minimize the soiling losses and, at the same time, the costs. However, the effectiveness of cleaning lowers with time because of the reduced energy yield due to degradation. Additionally, economic factors such as the escalation in electricity price and inflation can compound or counterbalance the effect of degradation on the soiling mitigation profits. The present study analyzes the impact of degradation, escalation in electricity price and inflation on the revenues and costs of cleanings and proposes a methodology to maximize the profits of soiling mitigation of any system. Here, the energy performance and soiling losses of a 1 MW system installed in southern Spain were analyzed and integrated with theoretical linear and nonlinear degradation rate patterns. The Levelized Cost of Energy and Net Present Value were used as criteria to identify the optimum cleaning strategies. The results showed that the two metrics convey distinct cleaning recommendations, as they are influenced by different factors. For the given site, despite the degradation effects, the optimum cleaning frequency is found to increase with time of operation.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Program (EE-2A); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 1725847

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1778508

Report Number(s):: SAND--2020-12738J; 692357

Journal Information:: Renewable Energy, Journal Name: Renewable Energy Vol. 166; ISSN 0960-1481

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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14 SOLAR ENERGY
Cleaning Frequency
Degradation Rate
Economics
Optimization
Photovoltaics
Soiling

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