Experimental Analysis of Photovoltaic Module Performance based on Ambient Temperature, Module Temperature and Dust Accumulation
Authors/Creators
- 1. Mechanical Engineering Dept.,Faculty of Engineering, Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia
- 2. Electrical Engineering Dept., Faculty of Engineering, Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia
Description
In recent years, the shift in interest from fossil fuel-based power generation to renewable energy has led to a significant increase in the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology. Therefore, studying its performance is a priority in research in the solar energy field. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is notable for its vast area and contemporaneous climate change. The current study analyzes the combined effects of ambient temperature, module temperature and dust accumulation on the efficiency of solar modules. To achieve this goal, an experimental set-up was conducted at three different locations in different cities within the kingdom. These cities are Al-Jubail, Jeddah and Al-Baha. As a result, it was found that dust accumulation adversely affected the performance of solar panels. As the ambient temperature increases, the temperature of the solar module increases. Additionally, elevated ambient temperatures adversely affect solar panels, leading to reduced efficiency. Increasing the temperature of the solar panel will reduce its efficiency. The results also showed that different geographical locations had different influence rates for these parameters.