Yes, dust can indeed affect solar panels. Dust particles can accumulate on the surface of solar panels and obstruct sunlight, thereby reducing the panels' efficiency and energy output.
Why are solar panels Dusty?
Oftentimes, solar farms are placed on dirt grounds, leading to an excess production of dust. This dust can stick to the solar panels and make them less effective, which hinders energy accumulation and loses money for the company.
The actual effect of dust on solar panels will vary from system to system, as dust is not the only factor in the decrease of energy efficiency. It also includes air, humidity, temperature, wind speed, the type of dust particle, and the material of the PV cell.
How to remove dust from solar panels?
But the best way to eliminate the effect of the accumulated dust on the solar panels is to clean the panels. Cleaning the solar panels is normally by washing which is tedious and cumbersome and also expensive in terms of the labour involved and time. In practice cleaning of solar panels should be frequently done.
Can a waterless cleaning method remove dust from solar panels?
Dust that accumulates on solar panels is a major problem, but washing the panels uses huge amounts of water. MIT engineers have now developed a waterless cleaning method to remove dust on solar installations in water-limited regions, improving overall efficiency. Image courtesy of the researchers.
The amount of dust that accumulates on the panel varies geographically. For example, an experiment performed in Tehran, Iran shows that the dust concentration on a local solar panel (accumulated over a period of 70 days) ranges from 4.0599 g/m 2 to 10.3129 g/m 2.
Why do solar panels need dust?
One of those challenges is dust accumulation on the solar panel, which acts as a layer of shade preventing sunlight from penetrating the cell and being converted to electrical current.