Smart Solar PV Soiling Loss Detection System

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels are commonly used to generate clean Renewable Energy. However, Dust Accumulation can cause a reduction in solar radiation. Manual testing and cleaning the panels at certain intervals may not be effective due to environmental factors. The aim of this project is to design a simple, low cost solar PV soiling detection and alert system. A LDR sensor is used to detect changes in Light Intensity. The analogue signal from the sensor is sent to the Arduino UNO, which compares the sensor reading to a threshold. The status of the sensors will be shown on the LCD. If the threshold has been exceeded then the system will alert the user by turning on the LED and Buzzer. This system can be used to monitor the change in readings. The simple, low cost and easy to implement prototype can be used for educational purposes and small scale solar monitoring. Further electrical measurements would be required to see how much the Photovoltaic has been affected by the dust