Electrostatic cleaning effect on the performance of PV modules in Jordan

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of dust accumulation on photovoltaic modules performance and proposes a new photovoltaic cleaning method based on static electricity concepts. The results of the proposed cleaning method were compared with the results of three different conventional photovoltaic cleaning methods: manually -the reference-, naturally, and nano-coating. The economic feasibility of the proposed cleaning method was compared with the nan-coating cleaning method. For the mentioned purpose, a system of four photovoltaic modules was installed in Amman, the system was exposed to natural dust. Energy loss due to dust accumulation after two weeks of exposure to natural dust without cleaning or rain was found to be 5.93% for the naturally cleaned module. Electrostatic neutralization cleaning reduced energy loss to 4.56%. Nano-coating reduced energy loss to 2.33%. According to the literature on cleaning of PV modules, the average power loss of photovoltaic modules due to dust accumulation is extreme which could reach 1% per day. 1.37% enhancement in energy saving utilizing electrostatic neutralization cleaning is a highly appreciated improvement in the photovoltaic module's efficiency. From an economic perspective, nano-coating was about 3.8 times cheaper compared with electrostatic neutralization under the stated conditions in this study. Electrostatic neutralization has a promising techno-economic future for mega solar power plants in arid regions compared with nano-coating by developing a robust practical mechanism with less capital and running costs owing to nano-recoating barriers.