An Investigation on the Pollen-Induced Soiling Losses in Utility-Scale PV Plants
[1];
[3];
[5];
[6];
[6]
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); University of Jaen (Spain)
- Solar Unsoiled, Inc., Durham, NC (United States)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Duke University, Durham, NC (United States)
- University of Rome (Italy)
- University of Jaen (Spain)
Here in this study, the impact of pollen as a PV soiling agent is investigated. The performance data of five utility-scale PV plants in North Carolina, USA, was collected and analyzed using two soiling extraction methods. Satellite and environmental data, including pollen counts, cropland, and vegetation, was also collected and analyzed to identify impacts to soiling losses. During the spring peak pollen season, performance losses of >15% were observed at all five sites. Partial performance recoveries following the pollen season were slow, with lack of correlation with rainfall. This means that the statistical soiling estimation methods that assume abrupt performance recovery from rain are not appropriate for pollen-impacted solar sites. When manual cleanings were performed on site the performance recovery ranged from 5% to 11% indicating persistent soiling impacts are present in this region. The results of this work provide new insights into the phenomenon of pollen deposition on PV systems, demonstrating that 1) soiling can also affect systems located in rainy locations and 2) that its effects cannot be determined using the current estimation methodologies.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office; Italian Ministry of University and Research
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 2283429
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA--5K00-87319; MainId:88094; UUID:05a501b2-6260-4d0f-871d-881251359375; MainAdminId:71695
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Journal Name: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 14; ISSN 2156-3381
- Publisher:
- IEEECopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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