On the investigation of photovoltaic output power reduction due to dust accumulation and weather conditions

Certain environmental conditions such as accumulation of dust and change in weather conditions affect the amount of solar radiation received by photovoltaic (PV) panel surfaces and thus have a significant effect on panel efficiency. This study conducted an experimental investigation in Surabaya, Indonesia, on the effect of these factors on output PV power reduction from the surface of a PV module. The module was exposed to outside weather conditions and connected to a measurement system developed using a rule-based model to identify different environmental conditions. The rule-based model, a clear sky solar irradiance model that included solar position, and a PV temperature model were then used to estimate the PV output power, and tests were also conducted using an ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller STM32F407 as a standalone digital controller equipped with voltage, current, temperature, and humidity sensors to measure real time PV output power. In this system, humidity was monitored to identify dusty, cloudy, and rainy conditions. Validated test results demonstrate that the prediction error of PV power output based on the model is 3.6% compared to field measurements under clean surface conditions. The effects of dust accumulation and weather conditions on PV panel power output were then analyzed after one to four weeks of exposure. Results revealed that two weeks of dust accumulation caused a PV power output reduction of 10.8% in an average relative humidity of 52.24%. Results of the experiment under rainy conditions revealed a decrease in PV output power of more than 40% in average relative humidity of 76.32%, and a decrease in output power during cloudy conditions of more than 45% in an average relative humidity of 60.45% was observed. This study reveals that local environmental conditions, i.e., dust, rain, and partial cloud, significantly reduce PV power output.