Investigating the Impact of Atmospheric Factors on Solar PV Panel Performance

This paper investigates the impact of atmospheric conditions on the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. The study includes an analysis of two case studies, in which the voltage, current and power of clean and dusty panels were compared, and the effect of different particulates on the panel efficiency of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels was examined. The effect of varying panel temperature and irradiance was also observed through Current-Voltage and Power-Voltage characteristics. To further demonstrate the impact of atmospheric factors on PV panel performance, Monthly data from a 3.3MWp grid-tied, ground-installed solar photovoltaic plant at Aligarh Muslim University in North India was analyzed. The research also investigates the challenges faced by the PV panels installed in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi, another city located in the northern region of India, which is known for its high levels of pollution. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering atmospheric factors when evaluating PV panel performance and the need to understand how these factors can impact panel efficiency in order to maximize the output and effectiveness of solar energy systems.