Performance Degradation of Photovoltaic Panels Due to Dust Accumulation: A Case Study in Al-Bayda, Libya

Abstract

The build-up of dust on photovoltaic (PV) panels reduces sunlight reaching solar cells, which causes a decrease in the PV power output. Besides reducing solar irradiance, the dust also changes the angle at which radiation hits the surface of the panels, further diminishing the efficiency of PV energy conversion. This study investigates the impact of dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panel performance through a 12-month experiment carried out on the rooftop of a residential building located near industrial activities and high vehicular traffic in Al-Bayda, Libya. Our experimental results show that, over one year, dust deposition reduced power output by nearly 7.42%. Additionally, in spring and summer, the reduction in output power reached 15.49% and 12.4%, respectively, while in winter and autumn, output power decreased to 4.86% and 3.55%, respectively. With accurate year-long experimental data, this research can support the formulation of dust-resistant solar technologies, thus serving the PV system designers, engineers, and researchers working on PV systems. The findings are particularly relevant to Libya as the country moves toward adopting solar energy to diversify its energy sources and decrease its reliance on fossil fuels.