Investigating PV Soiling Mapping: A Case Study in a Desert Environment

The efficient operation of photovoltaic (PV) systems is essential for sustainable energy production, and one critical factor affecting their performance is the accumulation of dust and particulate matter, known as soiling. This work presents the investigation into PV soiling in a desert environment, using a case study in the State of Qatar. The study employs a multifaceted approach, including the analysis of the morphological, structural and compositional properties of the dust particles, the effect of soiling as measured by hemispherical transmittance at different wavelengths and by different soiling quantification methods, including particle mass, surface coverage, transmission loss, and cleanliness index (Delta CI), are compared, revealing insights into the nature of soiling. The results reveal a very low mismatch of approximately 0.02% between dust IQ and Delta CI thus validating the use of these advanced sensors for soiling assessment.