A Review on The Effect of Dust Properties on Photovoltaic Solar Panels’ Performance

Abstract

Nowadays, due to the increasing demand for energy and the problems of non-renewable energies, renewable energies are growing. In a country like Iran with a radiation potential higher than the global average, utilizing solar energy is a priority among other renewable energy sources. In areas affected by the dust phenomenon, one of the main challenges is the performance reduction of photovoltaic solar panels due to dust accumulation. By conducting a comprehensive review of related studies, the present study categorized the properties of dust and how they affect the performance of photovoltaic solar panels. Also, the dust origins in Iran and the frequency of dust phenomena in the country were studied. It was shown that the different physical properties and chemical composition lead to different effects on the performance of photovoltaic solar panels. Therefore, the effect of physical properties (color, temperature, dust accumulation rate, adhesion, concentration, moisture content, specific gravity, and plastic index) and chemical composition (size, charge, shape, material, and distribution of particles) of dust on the performance of photovoltaic solar panels were studied and classified. The present study can be used as a general reference for additional research in this field according to the dominant dust type in the target region.