Study of effect of seasonal variations on the performance of the polysilicon-based solar power plants

The performance of solar power plants (SPPs) is subject to seasonal variations, which can impact their overall efficiency. The problem is aggravated when seasonal modulation results in power shortages, system failures, and solar power–dependent technology anomalies. Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying phenomenon governing such performance fluctuation in solar panels concerning seasonal modulations. This research article investigates the consequence of seasonal variations on the efficiency of polysilicon-based SPPs in Clement town region in Dehradun, with a focus on analysing key parameters of photovoltaic cells such as open circuit voltage, short circuit current, and overall efficiency. The study encompasses three distinct seasonal periods: November–February, March–June, and July–October. It has been found that the SPPs show an efficiency drop of 8.979% during the July–October period, whereas the SPPs seem to provide better performance during the November–February period, as they show only a drop of around 2.378% in efficiency. From March to June, the highest performance drops of around 22.142% was recorded. These findings provide valuable insights for plant operators, researchers, and policymakers to optimise the operational strategies of solar power systems, enhancing their overall efficiency and output.