Effects of Dust Accumulation on the Performance of the Photovoltaic Panels on Buildings: A Case Study

Abstract

This study examines the effects of dust accumulation on the performance of photovoltaic (PV) panels in an urban environment through 1 month of field experiments. Three PV panels—clean (P1), lightly soiled (P2), and heavily soiled (P3)—were installed on a rooftop test bed in two configurations: horizontal and latitude-tilted (45° North), using black tar paper and brown cellulose fiberboard as roofing materials. On the reference day, the panels showed minimal performance differences, with discrepancies of 0.37% in maximum power (P_max) and 0.43% in short-circuit current (I_sc). However, dust accumulation led to significant power losses in P3, averaging 23.4% in the horizontal position and 15% when tilted. P2 showed minor losses (1%–3%) throughout. Thermal monitoring revealed that dust raised the front surface temperatures of the soiled panels, while the clean panel exhibited the highest back surface temperatures. The greatest temperature differences occurred in the tilted configuration, with a maximum of 6.03 K on the front surface. Roofing material also influenced thermal behavior, with the black tar paper absorbing more heat than the cellulose fiberboard. The results highlight the importance of regular panel cleaning and optimal tilt angles to minimize dust-related performance losses, providing insights for improving the efficiency of PV systems in built environments.