Soiling Measurement Characterisation System Over a PV Solar Field in the Southern Spain: Soiling PV Characterisation

Joaquín Alonso-Montesinos; Enrique García-Campos; Andrés García-Rodríguez; Verónica Abad-Alcaraz; M. Mar Castilla; Manuel Pérez; José Antonio Carballo; Domingo Álvarez-Hervás

doi:10.52825/solarpaces.v3i.2481

Authors

Joaquín Alonso-Montesinos University of Almería https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0902-5680
Enrique García-Campos University of Almería
Andrés García-Rodríguez University of Almería
Verónica Abad-Alcaraz University of Almería https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5045-3050
M. Mar Castilla University of Almería https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4073-7800
Manuel Pérez University of Almería https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6269-7638
José Antonio Carballo Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0529-5672
Domingo Álvarez-Hervás University of Almería https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2791-8105

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v3i.2481

Keywords:

Soiling, Photovoltaic, Digital Cameras, PV Production, Solar Energy

Abstract

Soiling is one of the main problems that cause power losses in photovoltaic plants. This article presents a method to determine dirt in a photovoltaic plant using three digital cameras and analyzing the average (Red, Green and Blue) RGB values obtained from each of them. The study also incorporates inclined, global, direct and diffuse irradiance data, as well as suspended particle data PM10, PM2.5 and PM1, where the number indicates the size of the particle in µm. In this investigation, three digital cameras were strategically placed to capture images of the panels at regular intervals. From these images, average RGB values were calculated to quantify the level of dirt on the panels. These values were correlated with solar radiation data, the photovoltaic power of the plant and the concentrations of suspended particles. The results demonstrate that analysis of mean RGB values provides a reliable and non-intrusive method for monitoring fouling in PV plants, contributing to more efficient maintenance strategies and an increase in energy production.

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Soiling Measurement Characterisation System Over a PV Solar Field in the Southern Spain

Soiling PV Characterisation

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