Investigating the theoretical and experimental effects of sand dust and sandstorms on photovoltaic power plants in arid environments

Saharan sand dust events present notable challenges to solar energy systems, particularly in regions with prevalent solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment. Experimental measurements and simulations using PVsyst software were conducted on two identical PV power plants—one cleaned and the other exposed to sandstorms. Empirical findings, supported by simulations, indicate that sand dust accumulation has negative effects on energy and output power, with a soiling rate of 0.25 %/day. Monthly power generation, energy generation, PV efficiency, and performance ratio decreased with increasing soiling percentages. Simulation results show that in July, for stationary PV power stations, monthly energy generation decreased from 661 kWh to 633 kWh and 576 kWh, with soiling percentages of 5 % and 15 %, respectively. Similarly, monthly power generation for two-axis solar tracking systems decreased from 984 kWh to 946 kWh and 865 kWh under the same soiling conditions. Simulation results indicate that in July, for fixed PV systems, the monthly PV efficiency could have declined from 10.96 % to 10.55 % and 9.55 % under soiling percentages of 5 % and 15 %, respectively. Similarly, for two-axis solar tracking systems, the monthly PV efficiency was found to decrease from 10.87 % to 10.45 % and 9.56 % under the same soiling conditions. In July, simulation results indicated that for fixed PV systems, the monthly performance ratio could have decreased from 73.53 % to 70.43 % and 63.98 % under soiling percentages of 5 % and 15 %, respectively. Similarly, the monthly performance ratio for two-axis solar tracking systems was found to decrease from 73.18 % to 70.34 % and 64.34 % under the same soiling conditions. The study highlights the importance of understanding soiling effects for investors, PV engineers, and researchers to develop mitigation strategies and maintenance protocols for PV power plants in dust-prone regions to sustain high performance.