Impact of Environmental Factors on Solar PV Output: An Experimental Approach

Renewable energy, specifically solar PV systems, is garnering considerable attention and experiencing substantial growth and widespread adoption. This study investigates the impact of environmental factors on the performance of a 31.2 kW Solar Photovoltaic pilot plant installed at the University of Technology Bahrain. The system consists of PV panels arranged in four rows, each generating equal power and cleaned at varying intervals. It is directly connected to the Bahrain national grid to supply electricity to the university. A weather station located near the PV panels collects various weather data. The power output of individual panels, along with weather data, is continuously monitored using a data logger. During the ten-month investigation, a specific 7.8 k W section of the system was intentionally left uncleaned for 24 weeks, revealing a significant 12.01 % decline in power output attributed to dust accumulation. Every four weeks, dust mass was gathered and assessed. The analysis showed that 67.5% of the components originated from materials used in cement production, likely due to the nearby presence of a concrete ready-mix factory. Wind speed exhibited minimal impact, with 94.9% of measured wind speeds falling below 4 mis, it still influenced the dust accumulation to some extent. Elevated humidity levels have the potential to increase dust particles' adhesion to the surface of the PV panels. The analysis of the dust composition indicated that 27.2% of the dust composition was attributed to loss on ignition, which represents the moisture content and organic materials sprayed into the dust layer.