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Soiling mitigation potential of glass coatings and tracker routines in the desert climate of Saudi Arabia
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  • Muhammad Zahid Khan,
  • Guido Willers,
  • Abdullah Ali Alowais,
  • Volker Naumann,
  • Mark Mirza,
  • Erik Grunwald,
  • Hussam Qasem,
  • Ralph Gottschalg,
  • Klemens Ilse
Muhammad Zahid Khan
Hochschule Anhalt
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Guido Willers
Hochschule Anhalt
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Abdullah Ali Alowais
King Abdulaziz City for Science And Technology
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Volker Naumann
Fraunhofer-Center fur Silizium-Photovoltaik CSP
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Mark Mirza
Fraunhofer-Institut fur Silicatforschung ISC
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Erik Grunwald
Fraunhofer-Center fur Silizium-Photovoltaik CSP
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Hussam Qasem
King Abdulaziz City for Science And Technology
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Ralph Gottschalg
Hochschule Anhalt
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Klemens Ilse
Fraunhofer-Center fur Silizium-Photovoltaik CSP

Corresponding Author:klemens.ilse@csp.fraunhofer.de

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Abstract

High levels of airborne dust, frequent dust storms and infrequent rain events are some of the reasons why soiling can drastically reduce the energy yield of photovoltaic modules in desert areas. There are ongoing and increasing efforts to identify appropriate and economically feasible strategies that can be used to mitigate soiling in deserts. Both innovative tracking with adapted resting positions during night and anti-soiling coatings (ASC) are considered as potential solutions to reduce soiling. In this study, the individual mitigation potential of both ASC and tracking routines as well as the combination of the two approaches are investigated. For this, outdoor exposure tests were carried out in desert region of Saudi Arabia. Coated and uncoated glass samples were tested in different tilt configurations: fixed, 1-axis tracking with horizontal stowage (facing the sky) and 1-axis tracking with vertical stowage during the night. Both methods indicate significant soiling reductions, especially for the combined solution of ASC and tracking with vertical night stowage, where soiling losses can be reduced by up to 85%. In addition, it has been shown that by adapting tracking, the relative ASC performance can be improved compared to fixed tilt or standard 1-axis tracking scenarios.
03 Apr 2023Submitted to Progress in Photovoltaics
03 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
03 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
06 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Jul 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Jul 20231st Revision Received
25 Jul 2023Submission Checks Completed
25 Jul 2023Assigned to Editor
25 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jul 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Accept