Photovoltaic Cleaning Frequency Optimization Under Different Degradation Rate Patterns
Abstract
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.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Jaen (Spain)
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1725847
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1778508
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2020-12738J
Journal ID: ISSN 0960-1481; 692357
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; 34366
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Renewable Energy
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 166; Journal ID: ISSN 0960-1481
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; Soiling; Cleaning Frequency; Optimization; Photovoltaics; Degradation Rate; Economics
Citation Formats
Micheli, Leonardo, Theristis, Marios, Talavera, Diego L., Almonacid, Florencia, Stein, Joshua S., and Fernandez, Eduardo F. Photovoltaic Cleaning Frequency Optimization Under Different Degradation Rate Patterns. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.044.
Micheli, Leonardo, Theristis, Marios, Talavera, Diego L., Almonacid, Florencia, Stein, Joshua S., & Fernandez, Eduardo F. Photovoltaic Cleaning Frequency Optimization Under Different Degradation Rate Patterns. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.044
Micheli, Leonardo, Theristis, Marios, Talavera, Diego L., Almonacid, Florencia, Stein, Joshua S., and Fernandez, Eduardo F. Fri .
"Photovoltaic Cleaning Frequency Optimization Under Different Degradation Rate Patterns". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.044. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1725847.
@article{osti_1725847,
title = {Photovoltaic Cleaning Frequency Optimization Under Different Degradation Rate Patterns},
author = {Micheli, Leonardo and Theristis, Marios and Talavera, Diego L. and Almonacid, Florencia and Stein, Joshua S. and Fernandez, Eduardo F.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.044},
journal = {Renewable Energy},
number = ,
volume = 166,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2020},
month = {Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2020}
}
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