Optimization of PV Cleaning Practices: Comparison Between Performance-Based and Periodic-Based Approaches
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ASME DIGITAL COLLECTION
Abstract
Soiling of photovoltaics (PV) panels is affected by various factors such as relative humidity,
dust concentration, and panel tilt angle. The soiling can lead to significant losses in elec tricity production, especially in a place like Dubai, UAE. Soiling can also lead to long term damage of the PV panels such as degradation and delamination due to the hot
spots caused by dirt deposition. It is important to choose the right cleaning strategy
(method and frequency) to maximize the electricity production and economic performance
of the PV facility. An optimization algorithm was developed and tested for multiple PV panel
configurations based in Dubai Water and Electricity Authority’s (DEWA) outdoor test facil ity (OTF) solar lab. The algorithm’s input included electricity production, soiling rates
(SRs), electricity price, and cleaning costs. The output included number of cleaning
events and the extra revenue as compared with the current practice of periodic (5-day
cycle) manual cleaning. Four different cleaning scenarios were tested and compared
with the current scenario. Three scenarios resulted in improved net cost benefit (NCB),
up to 34% for the case of performance-based manual cleaning. The fourth scenario resulted
in diminished NCB, down by 245% for the case of daily automatic cleaning. Other findings
of the study included higher tilt angles that resulted in lower cleaning requirements and
thin-film PV panels that required less cleaning than first generation PV panels (mono/poly crystalline). The algorithm is an effective yet simple tool to help operators optimize the NCB
of their PV facilities. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4046918]
Description
Keywords
energy, optimization, photovoltaics
Citation
Alhajeri, R.A. and Abu-Hijleh, B. (2020) “Optimization of PV Cleaning Practices: Comparison Between Performance-Based and Periodic-Based Approaches,” J. Eng. Sustain. Bldgs. Cities, 1(2).