Effect of Dust Accumulation on the Performance of the Grid Connected 60 kWp Photovoltaic System at the University Autonomous Metropolitan in Mexico City
Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) technology for electric generation has already proven its diverse applications worldwide and during the last years has had a significant growth not only in rural but also in urban areas. An appropriate design in addition to an accurate installation that theoretically optimizes the solar irradiance of certain location can potentially ensure a sustained yield from a PV system. Nevertheless it can happen that unforeseen events like the deposition and accumulation of dirt and airborne dust on the surface of PV modules could cause troubles and diminish the predicted performance of PV modules. If the dust accumulation continuously increases in the course of time, PV cell efficiency may fall to very low values after only a few days or weeks. The presence and frequency overcast skies, rain, wind speed, as well as humidity and ambient temperature can also have an important role on performance drop.