Development of Model for the Estimation of Solar Panel Dust Accumulation

Abstract

Recent advancements in technology have significantly expanded the applications of the Internet of Things (IoT), making it an integral part of our daily lives. In the realm of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems, there is immense potential to leverage IoT-based solutions for enhancing power generation capacity and minimizing energy losses. Energy losses in PV systems can occur due to various factors, and this study specifically focuses on the impact of dust deposition. To address this issue, an intelligent IoT framework is proposed, which follows a modular design approach. Each module incorporates a dedicated front-end controller to digitize the status of the affected PV panels. The relevant data from the PV modules is captured and stored in the cloud for real-time analysis. Additionally, a custom software system is developed to analyse the no-load voltage of the photovoltaic modules. This analysis provides valuable insights to users, enabling them to efficiently plan and execute maintenance activities throughout the lifecycle of their PV system. Through the implementation of a functional prototype, the primary objective of automatically detecting unexpected voltage drops in solar modules caused by dust accumulation has been successfully achieved. The system promptly reports these incidents to the relevant stakeholders, facilitating timely interventions and ensuring the optimal performance of the PV system.