An overview of dust cleaning methods for solar photovoltaic systems: Jordan case study

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Al Hussein Technical University, Jordan
² Deoartment of Energy Engineering, Al Hussein Technical University, Jordan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

As global energy demand increases, transitioning to renewable energy sources becomes essential to address different environmental and economic limitations. Jordan experiences significant economic strain due to its reliance on imported fossil fuel energy sources, a reliance that also contributes to various environmental impacts, including elevated greenhouse gas emissions. The National Jordan Energy Strategy seeks to expand the share of renewable energy sources, with particular emphasis on solar and wind power, leveraging the country’s favorable climatic conditions and geographical location. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are crucial for managing peak energy demand and optimizing energy utilization. However, there are different variables that impact the efficiency of PV panels including dust accumulation, which can severely decrease power efficiency and service life through solar radiation reduction, panel temperature increase, and the change in electrical characteristics. The average power loss of solar PV panels due to dust accumulation is significant, potentially reaching up to 1% per day. This paper provides an overview of different PV panel cleaning mechanisms, including manual and machine cleaning, automatic wipers, electrostatic precipitators, and self-cleaning coatings. These mechanisms can increase the solar PV panel efficiency between 15 to 20% with 25% improved output energy.