Decrease in Photovoltaic Module Efficiency Because of the Deposition of Pollutants

The deposition of pollutants on the surface of photovoltaic (PV) modules reduces the efficiency that can be achieved in given climatic conditions. This results in the loss of energy yield obtained from the solar installation. A number of factors determine the scale of this problem. The first of these is the amount of impurities deposited, the associated amount of precipitation, and the speed and direction of the wind. A second aspect is the type of pollution, and the composition and structure of the sludge, which depends on the location of the installation. The type of installation, either stationary or sun tracking, is essential because the angle of inclination of modules, depending on the latitude, will determine the amount of dust deposited, especially for stationary installations. The observed decrease in the efficiency of PV modules covered with dust equals 6-10% of the efficiency of a module free of impurities. This means that the user should maintain the module surface and schedule routine cleaning.