The effect of dust components and contaminants on the performance of photovoltaic for the four regions in Iraq: a practical study

Miqdam T Chaichan,Kamaruzzaman Sopian,Ali H.A Al-Waeli,Hussein A Kazem

doi:10.1051/rees/2019009

Abstract

The accumulation of dust on the surface of the solar cell causes a clear decrease in its performance. The present study has led to investigate the impact of pollution and dust of four different Iraq regions of different conditions on solar cells performance. The areas studied were Baghdad, an agricultural area in Mahmoodia, the Karbala-Najaf desert road, and the city of Fao. The components of dust samples were examined from the areas mentioned and a high percentage of silica was found, which shows the impact of the desert in the Iraqi dust. In Baghdad and Mahmoodia dust samples, clear proportions of clay and silt minerals were found that can be traced back to the fertile valley of Mesopotamia. Significant percentages of particulate matter (PM), lead and sulfur were found in Fao and Baghdad dust samples indicating high contamination by fossil fuel combustion emissions. Practical experiments were carried out to measure the current, voltages, and power of a solar cell, and a clear reduction in these parameter values was measured. From the types of the components of dust samples, the study suggested suitable periodic cleaning period and cleaning methods for each type of dust.

Highlights

Global energy demand is growing at an ever-increasing rate, owing to the rising number of people worldwide and the progress in the well-being of societies and industry
The second study area (Mahmoodia) lies within orchards scattered over a large area in the fertile Mesopotamia Valley or the rest of it, its weather conditions are almost similar to Baghdad
Dust was collected from four different stations: Baghdad city, an agricultural area in Mahmoodia, Karbala-Najaf desert road, and Fao city adjacent to the Gulf and the Salt Lake

Summary

Introduction

Global energy demand is growing at an ever-increasing rate, owing to the rising number of people worldwide and the progress in the well-being of societies and industry. The bulk of the energy produced globally (up to 97%) is from fossil sources [1]. This type of fuel emits dangerous pollutants that have caused catastrophic phenomena on the planet such as increased global warming and climate change [2]. The continued dependence on fossil fuels is offset by several global events to reduce this dependence and shift towards renewable energies such as solar energy [3]. Renewable energies play an important role in the growing evolution towards reducing carbon in the atmosphere, helping to reduce greenhouse gas pollutants [5]

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion