Contamination of Solar Panels as Factor in Selecting Location for Construction and Operation of Solar Power Plants in Russia

Abstract

Today, world power industry is in search of alternative to traditional energy sources such as coal, gas and oil. A lot of countries apply different policies to stimulate the development of renewable energy sources based generating facilities on their territory. All these in one or other way leads to vast implementation of solar based generating facilities. Solar photovoltaic systems at such generating facilities usually occupy open areas and can be located on water surface, along highways, in the fields, on the roofs of buildings and residential complexes, as well as on the electric vehicles. The problem is that such areas are aggressive in terms of contamination to the main part of such power stations which is a solar panel. Thus, solar panels tend to accumulate layers of dust and dirt. The aim of the carried out research was to study the operation of the solar panel with contaminated surface. The experiment with a solar panel was carried out in laboratory conditions. The obtained results allow us to show how different types of contaminants may influence the operating efficiency of the solar panels.