The Impact of Fine Particular Matter (PM2.5) on Photovoltaic Energy Yield - A Study on the Example of New Delhi

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a public health hazard with acute and chronic effects to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. High concentrations of PM2.5 particles are also the main cause of periods with reduced visibility, an effect known as haze. Haze events go along with a reduction of solar insolation reaching ground levels, reducing the generation of photovoltaics (PV) electricity. In recent years, haze events have become frequent in New Delhi with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding hazardous levels of 300 μg/m3 for periods amounting to almost four weeks per year. In this paper we present a study relating PM2.5 concentration to a reduction in insolation. We find that insolation is reduced by 12±3% relative for every 100 μg/m³ particle concentration. Over the studied period (May 2016 to November 2017), we project that the total annual insolation was reduced by 11.5% from 1770 kWh/m2 to 1570 kWh/m². For a Si solar panel with an efficiency of 20% this would mean that annual yield is reduced by about. 40 kWh/m².