Effects of dust, soiling, aging, and weather conditions on photovoltaic system performances in a Saharan environment—Case study in Algeria

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power represents one of the most promising future sources of energy in the world. Considered the cleanest form of energy, extensive research is being undertaken to widen its use. Notably, mega projects are being considered for installation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region because of its high solar potential, with hopes of eventually feeding Europe from the PV electricity generated in this region and transported through high voltage direct current (DC) lines. However, current implementation of PV systems has shown that their reliability and efficiency depend upon surrounding environmental factors, such as the ambient temperature, wind, and rainfall, as well as soiling, pollution, and aging. The aim of this study was to investigate, through experimental tests, the effects of such factors on the power output of a grid connected PV station. The results showed that the output power and efficiency are deeply affected by various environmental factors, which are weather dependent. These findings may help us develop appropriate solutions to overcome these drawbacks.