Effect of Dust on PV Performance in Samsun

Here we discussed the electrical performance of Photovoltaic (PV) panels of natural dust accumulation by wind, bird droppings etc., over time which is of great importance especially for the areas where the rain density are high [1, 2]. In this study, the effect of the pollution on the solar power plant panels of 114 kW belonging to Teknopark located in the campus of Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, is analyzed. The values of the panels exposed to radiation depending on the three different fall angles of the sun three times in a day were read and interpreted. In order to measure the energy loss due to pollution, the values of 4 inverters, have been examined. A comparison was made between the values of cleaned panel array connected to the inverter 1 and of the not cleaned panel array connected to the inverter 2  Module readings(power, current, volt) will decrease as they accumulate over time. The angle of inclination of the PV modules was investigated on a single angle because the panels of the plant we measured were stationary. The effect of pollution on the efficiency was examined by cleaning the panels at specific periods; once every three weeks and once a month [3]. In the readings, efficiency losses were observed as 3% weekly for 2 weeks and 5.5% for 4.5 weeks. In this study two important parameters were clarified. First, the uncertainties related to dust for a long period of time and evaluated the results. Second, the frequency of cleaning according to the optimized time schedule and acceptable efficiency loss limits over time.