Automatic Versus Manual Solar Panel Cleaning for Remote Locations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2013.02.02.1Keywords:
Solar Energy, Photovoltaic, Renewable Energy, Electricity GenerationAbstract
Photovoltaic solar technology is now being widely investigated for implementation in the UAE as a possible renewable energy source. Currently the main emphasis is on the accessible areas but remote locations are now being explored for the possibility of large scale deployment. However due to the environment and location certain measures such as regular cleaning must be considered to ensure the efficient operation of the PV panels. This paper investigates the cost of current developed cleaning technologies available in the Gulf region, highlights their advantages and disadvantages and the time needed to recoup initial investment.
References
Snyder RE. Solar power generator cuts offshore operating cost. World Oil 1973; 176(6): 81-83.
Anderson M, Grandy A, Hastie J, Sweezy A, Ranky R, Mavroidis C, Markopoulos Y. Robotic device for cleaning photovoltaic panel arrays, Reference: Available from: http://www.coe.neu.edu/Research/robots/papers/CLAWAR09.pdf
Mohandes B, El Chaar L, Lamont LA. Application study of 500W photovoltaic (PV) system in the UAE. J Appl Solar Energy 2009; 45(4): 242-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X09040057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X09040057
Al Hanai T, Bani Hashem R, El Chaar L, Lamont LA. Study of a 900 W, thin-film, amorphous silicon PV system in a dusty environment, Proceedings of International Conference on Renewable Energy: Generation and Application. Al Ain, UAE March 8-10, 2010.
Kimber A. The Effect of Soiling on Photovoltaic Systems Located in Arid Climates, Proceedings of 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Milan, Italy, September 3-7, 2007.
Chakravarty BC, Das BK, Arora NK, Basu PK, Vaishya JS. Degradation of solar cells made of upgraded metallurgical grade silicon. Solar Energy Materials Solar Cells 1992; 26(4): 339-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0927-0248(92)90053-R DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0927-0248(92)90053-R
Al-Hasan AY, Ghoneim AA. A new correlation between photovoltaic panel’s efficiency and amount of sand dust accumulated on their surface. Int J Sustainable Energy 2005; 24(4): 187-97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786450500291834 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14786450500291834
El-Shobokshy MS, Mujahid A, Zakzouk AKM. Effects of dust on the performance of concentrator photovoltaic cells. IEE Proc I Solid-State Electron Devic 1985; 132(1): 5-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1049/ip-i-1.1985.0002
Steffens F. Solar energy: battery energy storage control. J Power Sourc 1991; 35(1): 1-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-7753(91)80001-E DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7753(91)80001-E
Karatep E, Hiyama T, Boztepe M, Çolak M. Voltage based compensation system for PV generation system under partially shaded insolation conditions. Energy Conversion Management 2008; 49(8): 2307-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2008.01.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2008.01.012
Uchida D, Otani K, Kurokawa K. Evaluating the effect of shading factor by fitting a clear day pattern obtained from hourly maximum irradiation data. Solar Energy Mater Solar Cells 2001; 67(1): 19-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0927-0248(00)00321-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0927-0248(00)00321-4
Drif M, Perez PJ, Aguilera J, Aguilar JD. A new estimation method of irradiance on a partially shaded PV generation in grid-connected photovoltaic systems. Renewable Energy 2008; 33(9): 2048-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2007.12.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2007.12.010
Alonso-Garcia MC, Ruiz JM, Herrmann W. Computer simulation of shading effects in photovoltaic arrays. Renewable Energy 2006; 31(12): 1986-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.09.030 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.09.030
Herrmann W, Wiesner W. Modelling of PV modules the effects on non-uniform irradiance on performance measurements with solar simulators, Proceedings of 16th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Glasgow, UK, May 1-5, 2000.
Markvart T. Solar Electricity, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester 2001.
Karatepe E, Boztepe M, Çolak M. Development of a suitable model for characterizing photovoltaic arrays with shaded solar cells. Solar Energy 2007; 81(9): 77-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2006.12.001
Ubisse A, Sebitosi A. A new topology to mitigate the effect of shading for small photovoltaic installations in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Energy Conversion Management 2009; 50(7): 1797-801. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2009.03.016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2009.03.016
Pang H, Close J, Lam L. Study on effect of urban pollution to performance of commercial copper indium diselenide modules, Proceedings of 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Hawaii, USA, May 7-12, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279943
Sharma AK, Dwivedi R, Srivastava SK. Performance analysis of a solar array under shadow condition. IEE Proceedings Part G: Circuit, Devices & Systems 1991; 138(1): 301-306. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1049/ip-g-2.1991.0051
Kovach A, Schmid J. Determination of energy output loss due to shading of building-integrated photovoltaic arrays using a ray tracing technique. Solar Energy 1996; 57(2): 117-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(96)00066-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(96)00066-7
Goossens D, Kerschaever EV. Aeolian dust deposition on photovoltaic solar cells: the effects of wind velocity and airborne dust concentration on cell performance. Solar Energy 1999; 66(4): 277-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(99)00028-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(99)00028-6
Kobayashi S, Tomonori I, Kobayashi H, Yamada K, Yachi T. Degradation of output characteristics of a small photovoltaic module due to dirt spots. Proceedings of Intelec 2005, Berlin, Germany, Sept 18-22, 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/INTLEC.2005.335137
Kaldellis JK, Fragos P, Kapsali M. Systematic experimental study of the pollution deposition impact on the energy yield of photovoltaic installations. Renewable Energy Article in Press 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.004
Lamont LA, El Chaar L. Enhancement of a stand-alone photovoltaic system’s performance: reduction of soft and hard shading. J Renewable Energy 2011; 36(4): 1306-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2010.09.018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2010.09.018
Heliotex, Automatic solar cleaning systems, www.solarpanel-cleaningsystems.com/, accessed 10/05/2011.
Verma LK, Sakhuja M, Danner AJ, Yang H, Zeng HC, Bhatia CS. Self-cleaning and antireflective packaging glass for solar modules. Renewable Energy 2011; 36(9): 2489-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.02.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.02.017
Georgia Institute of Technology, Self-cleaning, low-reflectivity treatment boosts efficiency for photovoltaic cells, http://www. Physorg.com/news157137842.html, accessed 10/05/2011.
Sharma VK, Colengelo A, Spagna G. Photovoltaic technology: basic concepts, sizing for a stand-alone photovoltaic system for domestic applications and preliminary economic analysis. Energy Conversion Management 1995; 36(3): 161-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0196-8904(94)00065-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-8904(94)00065-8
Sol-Taic-Solar, Nationwide cleaning services, http://www.sol-taicsolar.com/, accessed 10/05/2011.
Al-Qubaisi E, Al-Ameri M, Al-Obaidi A, Rabia M, El Chaar L, Lamont LA. Microcontroller based dust cleaning system for a standalone photovoltaic system, Proceedings of Electric Power and Energy Conversion Systems, Sharjah, UAE, Nov 10-12, 2009.
Al-Dhaheri S, Lamont LA, El Chaar L, Al-Ameri O. Automated design for boosting photovoltaic (PV) performance offshore, Proceedings of Electric Power and Energy Conversion Systems Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, USA, April 19-22, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TDC.2010.5484258
Ju F, Fu X. Research on Impact of Dust on Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Performance, Proceeding of International Conference on Electrical and Control Engineering (ICECE), Yichang, China, 16-18 Sep, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICECENG.2011.6058487
Krauter S. Increased electrical yield via water flow over the front of photovoltaic panels. Solar Energy Materials Solar Cells 2004; 82(1-2): 1313-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2004.01.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2004.01.011
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2013 Journal of Technology Innovations in Renewable Energy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Policy for Journals/Articles with Open Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work
Policy for Journals / Manuscript with Paid Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Publisher retain copyright .
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work .
