Experimental and Performance Evaluation of the Soiling and Cooling Effect on the Solar Photovoltaic Modules

Solar photovoltaic (PV) system technology is a significant energy source that has no moving parts and can accomplish the desired work with less effort. The technology can help to alleviate the climate change phenomena and achieve sustainable development. One of the most important challenges to address before installing a solar PV system is dirt deposition, e.g., soil/sand/ash. The tiny debris particles accumulate on the top surface of the panel, which decreases the PV conversion efficiency and subsequently lowers the overall performance. This work aims to investigate the effect of soiling deposition (soil, sand, and ash) and surface temperature on the performance of PV modules. In this regard, the fabricated test rig was performed for experimental cleaning and cooling on the top of solar PV modules. Therefore, the module's performance in terms of the current produced, the voltage generated, and module efficiency is evaluated for different dust deposition volumes. The results indicate that the ash affects the PV performance badly, reducing 50 to 60% of current production for only 50 mL volume, compared to sand and soil. Furthermore, the results also indicated that the efficiency of photovoltaic modules increases by 3–4% when water is used for cleaning and cooling purposes.