Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis

Dust accumulation on PV module surfaces directly impacts incident solar radiation, resulting in a significant decrease in the electrical performance of large-scale solar power plants. In this investigation, the characterization and impact of unknown and soil dust particles on PV systems at the Pasir...

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Main Authors: Islam, Md. Imamul, Mohd Shawal, Jadin, Al Mansur, Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43627/1/Characterization%20of%20accumulated%20unknown%20and%20soil%20dust%20on%20the%20PV%20system_An%20experimental%20study%20on%20the%20impact%20and%20performance%20analysis.pdf
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author Islam, Md. Imamul
Mohd Shawal, Jadin
Al Mansur, Ahmed
author_facet Islam, Md. Imamul
Mohd Shawal, Jadin
Al Mansur, Ahmed
author_sort Islam, Md. Imamul
collection UMP
description Dust accumulation on PV module surfaces directly impacts incident solar radiation, resulting in a significant decrease in the electrical performance of large-scale solar power plants. In this investigation, the characterization and impact of unknown and soil dust particles on PV systems at the Pasir Mas Solar Farm in Kelantan, Malaysia, were examined. The principal goal was to comprehend the impact of accumulated dust on the performance of PV systems and to characterize the dust samples. Using state-of-the-art lab facilities, the investigation disclosed the physical, optical, morphological, and chemical characteristics of both known and unknown dust. The impact of deposited dust was also identified using thermal imaging techniques and I–V data measurements. The results of the particle size analysis indicated a Z-average size of 4730 nm and a Polydispersity Index of 1.0. The SEM and EDS analyses revealed heterogeneous particle sizes with substantial quantities of SiO2 and Al2O3. The UV–VIS–NIR spectroscopy found a high absorbance characteristic of the dust which may result in thermal degradation. According to I–V data measurements, only 0.88% and 41.60% of the 226 strings met the expected Voc and Isc, respectively, and thermal imaging detected that approximately 19.91% of the PV strings were affected by hotspots. However, the performance ratio of the plant ranged from 81% to 89%, with an average of 85.82%, and efficiency varied between 12% and 13%. The study concludes that PV performance is substantially influenced by dust, underscoring the necessity of efficient cleaning methods and proposing future research on chemical cleaning processes.
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spelling UMPir436272025-01-20T01:59:20Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43627/ Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis Islam, Md. Imamul Mohd Shawal, Jadin Al Mansur, Ahmed TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering Dust accumulation on PV module surfaces directly impacts incident solar radiation, resulting in a significant decrease in the electrical performance of large-scale solar power plants. In this investigation, the characterization and impact of unknown and soil dust particles on PV systems at the Pasir Mas Solar Farm in Kelantan, Malaysia, were examined. The principal goal was to comprehend the impact of accumulated dust on the performance of PV systems and to characterize the dust samples. Using state-of-the-art lab facilities, the investigation disclosed the physical, optical, morphological, and chemical characteristics of both known and unknown dust. The impact of deposited dust was also identified using thermal imaging techniques and I–V data measurements. The results of the particle size analysis indicated a Z-average size of 4730 nm and a Polydispersity Index of 1.0. The SEM and EDS analyses revealed heterogeneous particle sizes with substantial quantities of SiO2 and Al2O3. The UV–VIS–NIR spectroscopy found a high absorbance characteristic of the dust which may result in thermal degradation. According to I–V data measurements, only 0.88% and 41.60% of the 226 strings met the expected Voc and Isc, respectively, and thermal imaging detected that approximately 19.91% of the PV strings were affected by hotspots. However, the performance ratio of the plant ranged from 81% to 89%, with an average of 85.82%, and efficiency varied between 12% and 13%. The study concludes that PV performance is substantially influenced by dust, underscoring the necessity of efficient cleaning methods and proposing future research on chemical cleaning processes. Elsevier 2025 Article PeerReviewed pdf en http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43627/1/Characterization%20of%20accumulated%20unknown%20and%20soil%20dust%20on%20the%20PV%20system_An%20experimental%20study%20on%20the%20impact%20and%20performance%20analysis.pdf Islam, Md. Imamul and Mohd Shawal, Jadin and Al Mansur, Ahmed (2025) Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis. Renewable Energy, 20 (122200). pp. 1-30. ISSN 0960-1481. (Published) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122200 10.1016/j.renene.2024.122200
spellingShingle TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Islam, Md. Imamul
Mohd Shawal, Jadin
Al Mansur, Ahmed
Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis
title Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis
title_full Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis
title_fullStr Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis
title_short Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis
title_sort characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the pv system an experimental study on the impact and performance analysis
topic TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
url http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43627/1/Characterization%20of%20accumulated%20unknown%20and%20soil%20dust%20on%20the%20PV%20system_An%20experimental%20study%20on%20the%20impact%20and%20performance%20analysis.pdf
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AT mohdshawaljadin characterizationofaccumulatedunknownandsoildustonthepvsystemanexperimentalstudyontheimpactandperformanceanalysis
AT almansurahmed characterizationofaccumulatedunknownandsoildustonthepvsystemanexperimentalstudyontheimpactandperformanceanalysis